White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-01-07
The Kansas Observation-Disclosures
Oiffculties On the Increase.

The Louisville Democrat disseats boldly from
the position Of the Washington Union, With ref
erenee to the action Of the Kansas Constitution
al Convention, 1t has already become apparen
that the Administration has taken false posi-
ton, and that Mr.. Buchanan must either reeede
Tor encounter formidable opposition in the rank
oe his own party. The Democrat in leading
editorial, from which We make the annexed ex
tract, SAYS the editor Of the Union has underta
ken task, in advocating the work Of the late
Convention in Kansas, that he will be tired Of
before he is done:"
The great material fact is, that the Constitu-
ton is not submitted to those who must live un-
der it for their approval. We grant that Con-
stitutions have be N received by Congress with
out such submissioni but that was, when no in
terest was felt in constitutional provisions. such
as is now everywhere felt. No State has lately
changed her Constitution without such submits
sion; and we may safely predict that no change
in any State will be made hereafter without this
action. In the special acts lately made providing
I for calling Conventions in Territories, provision
has been made that the Constitutions made,
should be submitted to the popular vote. 1t was
so provided for Minnesota and Oregon, and why
should the people of Kansas be treated other
wisel On the contrary, We affirm that the Dem
ocratic party are pledged beyond redemption to
insist that the people of Kansas shall approve
their own Constitution. They made the pledge
in the Kansas bill; they made it in their Nation
al Convention; they made it in all their address
ses and speeches to the people of the States;
and a failure to see that this pledge is redeemed
to the letter, would be gross dereictiOn Of prin
ciple, and gross breach Of faith.
The slavery questionis constantly referred to-
The only question of interest then, is slavery,
it is assumed, and therefore, as it is submitted,
there is no call for a submission of the whole;
but is there no other question: Shall we assume
that the Constitution contains no other proviS-
ion that the people would have otherwise7 What
right have we to make such an assumption when
We know nothing about it7 Why we're not the
people asked to say yes or no on the whole sub
lject7 1t wasn't because il was announcement or
expensive, for all the inconvenience and expense
| is incurred in submitting one point. That point
is not clear, and means are taken 10 repel voters
from the exercise of their right. They must
vote for the Constitution with slavery, or for
the Constitution with no slavery. In either case
he must vote for the Constitution, to which he
may have insuperable objections.
Then il is provided that if the voter is clal-
I no 10
ton of the United States, and the Contribution
Of Kansas, if it he adopted. How many voters
will approach the polls with these difficulties In
the wayl 1t certainly wears the appearance Of
an effort to restrict the voting to such only as
concur with the Convention. As to the slavery
question, there is nothing to be gained or lost in
the matter. II Kansas be made a State, she will
have her own way, If it must be gained by revo-
luton. We believe she will have no Constltu.
tional way to change her Constitution, until
1864; nor then, unless two thirds of the Lsgis-
lature shall agree; but these restraints will not
control determined majority. 1t is said the
Constitution may be received, and the State adj
mitted into the Union, and the people there can
do as they please. II will be more for the cred
il Of Congress, If they be allowed to do as they
please in advance, and not subject them to a
Constitution they do nit approve, on mere fic-
ton of law that the Convention were the peO-
pie. ....-
We do not hold that Congress has any power
overthe kind of Constitution that NAV be framed;
but they certainly have power to inquire If
State has really made application to be admit
ted. To assume that the Convention in Kansas
were the people, is to assume fiction tina. win
deceive nobody. 1t is acknowledged to be false
BY the very fact Of a refusal to submit the Con-
stitutiOn TO the popular vote. Il Is idle TO 60
before the country with such hetion. TEismas-
ses will laugh it to scorn. II is false, and will
be pronounced false by the whole country
When we said the people of Kansas should
frame their own Institutions, Il was understood
that the people should do it. not Convention.
The difference, all understand.