The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-10

The government especially recognises The territorial act which
making application Congre for admission state into
qaanaon Of voters for delegates rrce
ding restrictions repealed In this s. hs act act
through the DELEGATES who bo chosen TO
that avoid petcx peaceful
ton Of lhi' law ne eonssaon .e ci IN soe @ rrecds i
which haa long ag.aird the people Of Knss to fair yoo Of
security assins, fraud and Violence The easaloa po .s
and the gest'e" g difference M,1 sbahd 70 ne dvn ne Io
Of the states Of the American uuon aud the terri
torial authorities will be immediately Withdrawn
This question of submission has recently arisen and
has been seized upon since the commencement OF this
Congress- and made the basis for ssailng the President
of the United States for honest and patriotic dis
charge of his high duties The President in his instruc-
tions Walker neither intended expected
that any other question than that of slavery was to be
submitted. In his message transmitting the Lecompton
constitution to Congress, he Hys
person thought any other question For my part
submitting the constitution to the people had object in view
1e s a ,Se or M n sub
which attracted attention In fact the general provisions of
80 similar dincult 60 far
wrong at the present day framing new constitution
submit this amportan question
independently act they
portion the constitution TO popular vote IN order 70 gye va
opposition recns in our history commencing in the very
principle which pcrvacs instuon- every day
ed out into practice that the people have tho right TO delegate to
chosen themselves their sovereign frame
constitutions enact laws, and perform many other important acts
without eaus that these ne should ," ssa 70 ,hsr o sanfae be @
imposed by the people themselves TO exclude them from
people might they had pleased have
the convention submit the constitution 70 popular
eny remedy therefore, this
case all other similar If the delegates
who framed the Kansas constitution any
constituents the people always the
change their constitution their laws according to their own
The alleged grievance of the republicans in Kansas
arising ont of the submission is not Of such chaiac
ter would authorize to reject the admission of Kan
State under the Lecompton constitution. They had
opportunity to vote for delegates to form the constitution
also when that instrument submitted with slavery,
without slavery and they refused to exercise the right
But it is urged that they could not vote for against
slavery without voting for the constitution admitting
| this / would ask who is to blame? Surely those who
abstncd from exercising the right of popular
when the delegates elected to the constitutional
venton Here is wilfu determination and repeated,
to take part in any proceeding which recognised the
territorial Legislature and which omission inmy Judgment
stops them from any claim upon right to, sympa-
thes Gov Walker in referring to the selection of del
cgates distinctly them what would be the consc
quences they should not participate in the election He
says
ton Of delegates to frame constitution and State The
law has performed is entire function when i extends TO
duty Throughout whole Unon however wherever
right suffrage authorize those who do for them
the sbsoaees as much bound under the law
majority Of those who do vote all had in tho election
Otherwise voting must be voluntary sclfgovenmeD would he
praabc and monarchy despotsm would tho on
4 aiternatvc.p tsA
This is the true doctrine and have never heard it
questioned. l firmly believe that, Judging by the past
acts of the republicans OF that Territory If this constt
ton is sent back the obstnacy and difficulty will
exist 1t their deliberate intention that the consti
should be presented here with slavery to keep up
that excitement and to further aid and abct those who
seek to break down the democratic party and this honor
able body will fail to assert its rights and protect its
dignity in permitting its attention longer to be occupied
with this subject and these local contentious
The motive and acts Of the republicans have been such
as cannot be recognised without ovcrtnng all govern
mcnt law, and order The evidence is unqucsoncd and
overwhelming that they have been in state of rebellion
to the government since the meeting convened
the 14th or 18th August 1858, which resulted in the
convention, held September 10th Of that year. which
framed the Topeka constitution to be put in operation in
subyerson Of the territorial established un-
der the authority of Congress The organization under
that instrument the assembly fits legislature its acts
the presentation of that constitution to Congress the
passage Of the bill admitting Kansas State under it by
the republican members of the House of Representatives
and its rejection by the Senate the creation Of armed
forces in Kansas to sustain this revolutionary movement
are now matters of history. These demon
stratc the position assume and which is sustained by
the President in his message February z 1858.
This government [terrlioria would long sub
vced had not been protected from their assaults by the troops
inauguration Ever since that period portion Of the people
Kansas rebellion the government
with military at turbulent
They havc acknowledged but have constantly
and dcd the TO which they allegiance
all the time stale OF resistance against it, anhor
They have all tho time been cndeayorng 70 subvert and
establish Revolutionary under the called rook
constitution in stead Even this moment the Topeka lcga
ture are in session.
: Again he says
The truth that IN the present moment, the OF tn
existing still adhere their Topeka revolutionary
tuition and government The very first paragraph the message
Governor Robnson dated the 7h OF December to the Topek
legislature assembled Lawrence open defiance
The convention which framed the constitution Mt Topeka originate
the people Of Kansas Territory They have adopted and rattle
the twice by direct and also Indirectly through mo cleo
tons legislature
pleased the administration regard the whole proceeding
Q lutionary.'
naciy direct opposition the existing govern
recognised by Congress-
character would bc for portion OF tho people
undertake establish
within i limits for the Of edrcsng grievance
imaginary f which they might complain, against the legitimate
Such principle carried into execution would do
o all hwiul authority and produce universal anarchy
In these revolutionary acts may be discerncd the oh
ect of the republicans and that is to agatc until tn
Topeka constitution is accepted This cannot be done
long as Congress recognises the Legitimacy of crritoria
organizations and would be subvesivc of the fundanc
l. tai principles OF government. The question the
arises, does the Lecompton constitution TO in
legal form The only mode in which people of Tel
n ritory form their constitution, or alter it when
State Is through the Legislature This Is the propt
manner Of ascertaining the popular will Applying ti
q rule to Kansas find that the Kansas Nebraska LEI
the pccplc Of the Territory perfectly free to form
regulate their domestic institutions In their way
n subject only to the constitution of the United States
Acting upon the power thus conferred proceedings
- had authorizing the election Of delegates form cor
4.