The daily Butte record., 1858-04-05
The Minority Report.

never, read a more able and convincing doc.
ument than the minority report of Senator
Douglas, concerning the admission of Kan
sas under the Lecompton Constitution. The
Hon. JOSEPH G. McKIBBIN, the firm and
consistent Democrat, and honest and fear
lesss Representative in Congress, from Cali.
fornia. has circulated this report extensively
among the citizens of this county, and we
would ask them to give it a careful and at.
ientive perusal, and then decide if the De-
mOcracy can favor the policy of forcing the
Lecompton swindle upon the people of Kan
sas They can then decide for themselves
If the Senate of the United States was justi
liable In refusing to investigate the affairs
Of that Territory, and in proceeding with
undue despatch to establish constitution
repugnant to the people thereof
We ask for it an attentive perusal that
our citizens may determine. rs independent
and thinking freemen, whether they will ad.
here to tho principles of free government
established by our fore fathers, or blindly
follow the lead Of an apostate and con temp
tible sectionalism. We ask them to read it
and then say if they are prepared to sur.
render the Democratic doctrine, recognized
as the fundamental principle of all Ameri-
can constitutions, that the just powers Of
the government are derived from the people.
They are to decide whether. they will sur
render the doctrine of popular sovereignty,
and substitute in its stead central power,
to be alternately exercised by opposing sec
tions. Are they willing to surrender the
great principle embraced in the Kansas. Ne
braska act, that constitutions must be rati.
fed by the people before being accepted by
Congress, as recognized and practised by the
Democracy in tho admission of Wisconsin,
and California, and in regard to Minnesota
1t is for tho people to decide whether they
will consent to violation Of the pledged
faith Of the nation, countenance treason to
the principles of fgovernment, repudate
the doctrine Of non intervention, and ac-
knowledge the right Of II central power to
force constitution upon the people of q
sovereign State, that has been rejected in
the most solemn aud dignifcd manner known
to the law. by the people for whose govern
ment it was framed.
1t is for the people to decide whether they
will surrender the right to create party
tests, and place that power in the function
aries of their own creation. We only re-
gret that the length of the report pre-
vents us from laying it before our read
ers, rs it is by far the ablest document that
has appeared upon this important question,
involving the fundamental principles Of free
government. Firmly believing in the ca
pacity of people for government, we on.
ly desire that they should "think-and
think for themselves" To blindly follow
the lead Of President because he was chos-
en- by the people, is to initiate the fatal prec-
dence of France. A free people cannot
surrender correct principles which consti-
tuto the foundation of free government,
without placing their liberties in tho keep
ing of fallble and ambitious men. Free
government is not mercantile commodity
even at the present enlighted age, and can.
not be conducted in violation of that great
principle declared by the patriot founders of
the Republic that-"All governments de.
rive their justc powers from the consent of
the governed"