The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-03-24

Never in the history of our country was
such an opportunity presented for san
exempliieation of the truth of this re-
mark, as at present, and if the signs of
the times do not deceive me, never will
there be, nor can there be, 4 more tri-
umphant v~indication of its truth til an
there will be afforded by the result of
the present agitation and excitement on
the affairs of Kansas.
In the month of May, 1854, after q
violent struggle in Congress, and in the
midst of an almost unprecedented agita-
tion of the public mind, the "Kansas-
Nebraska Bill, "was passed, by which
the people of Kansas were declared to
possess the right of managing their do.
nestle institutions in their own way,
subject only to the Constitution of the
United States. "-Fhe adoption of this
measure by a. Democratic Congress
forms q new era in the history of the
Republic; and, though now repudiated
by its authority, is dear to the heart of
every true Democrat, as one of that brill
liant series of triumphs which bave mark
ed the progress of the principle of self.
government in its struggles with despo-
tism from tho first conflicts of these OPP
posing elements, on ths plains of Lex
ington and the heights of Bunker Hill,
to the present time. The passage of
the Nebraska Bill, though a victory,
was a victory of theory only. 1t was
the recognition, on the part of the Rep
resentatiyes of the people, of an abstract
principle which all candid men admits
to be true, but was still untried, untest-
ed by a practical apl i%ication to any of
the Territories previously organized.
The opponents of this great measure
failing to defeat it in Congress, have
sought 20 defeat it on the plains of Kan
sas, by throwing every conceivable oh
stacle in the way OF its practical and
peaceable application, to the political
condition of the Territory. Emigrant
Aid Societies formed under the auspices
of VIOLENT anti Slavery propagandists /;
revolutionary conventions resistance
to the laws, to the legally constituted
authorities; military organizations, got
ten up at the instance of reckless un-
principled demagogues, broken down
politicians and adventures, with Sharp's
rifles, have been the agencies and in
strumentalities employed to thwart the
| hCIlOu VI OOhS1Co u III ShS
present and lato Administrations in their
honest endeavors to uphold the laws. and
3 secure a fair test of the capacity of the
| people of a Territory for self govern,
i. ment. If there have been scenes oil
violence in Kansas, irregularities, frauds
9 blcodshed, let the blame rest on those
who have instigated and fomented these
| disorders, to whatever section they be
long let no one, on account of these
d~isorderly proceedings, delude himsel
with the idea that injustice has beer
done the people Of that Territory by thu
Administration, or that the result of tn
present unhappy agitation will rot vim
o dictate the policy Of the present Chic
Magistrate, and settle forever a question
$ which has too long disturbed the publi
s repose, and unsettled the friendly rela
ton which ought ever to exist between
r different members of the same grea
: family of States.
The action of the late Convention a
Lecompton, is made the occasion of al
agitation which, though at first violen
and threatening, is rapidly subsidinI
n under the sanitary operation of tina
e "sober second thought to which tn
public mind is always brought, whel
passion has ceased to rage, and reason
resumed hec
The objection most strongly urget
against the Lecompson Constitution is
0 that it was not submitted to the peopl'
d for their acceptance or rejection,--tha
the Convention had a right to TRANSMIT
the Constitution to Congress witheu
such submission, I presume none viii
deny. To deny it, is to place sevefa
10 of the new States without the pale o
the Union for several have been ad
mitted, whose Constitutions were no
1T previously Submitted and ratified by
vote of the the PEG lie and in neari
every case where a Constitution ha
been so submitted, it has been rattle
by a minority of the whole number Q
voters. It is a little singular that thi
objection should be urged against tn
1t Lecompton Constitution by the san
men who less than two years ago wer
;, clamorous for the admission of Kansa
Il under an instrument adopted at Topeka
which in no respect whatever eoul
claim to be alegalEand authentic expires
v sion of the popular will, and whose au
thors seem never to have dreamed @
submitting it, or any part of it to tn
people for their approval or rejection
ie and it is still more singular to fin
Democrats, heretofore prominent in til
Of party, and distinguished in the Council
of the Nation, cooperating with thes
men, voting as they vote, aiding an
ST encouraging them in their oppositio
: to the policy of the Administration upo
d. this important question. They hav
made a mistake, and will have to whee
into line, or before long they will flo
: themselves in full fellowship with til
l. Black Republican party. Kansas ough
to be, and will be brought in under tn
Lecompton Constitution, peace and quie
will be restored to the country, the diff
! %culties will be located, the people wi
!. alter, amend and change the Genstitr
= ton as they please, the Administrative
: will be sustained, and in 60 the DENT
cratic party will be united and stronge
than ever before.
5To,the distinguished speakers who wi
doubtless be with yon on the occasion
your meeting. 1 must leave the argr
ment of this question, if argument b
needed to convince any candid and hou
est Democrat, that the Lecompton Cor
8. stitution has the sanction of law, an
that the peace of the country demand
t: that it shall go through Congress with
L out delay. The public has been surfeit
ed to nausea with discussion on the al