Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-08
DAILY RICHMOND ENQIIRER.
SENATOR PUGH'S BILL FOR The ApMiS-
SION OF KANSAS.


FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY :, iso>'
SENATOR PUGH'S BILL FOX The Apmis-
SION OF KANSAS.
Tho K.nsas difficulty has perhaps given rise 10 az
,,cb animated discussion and al many theories and
su,oe.tions for its solution and settlement, as amoat
any question that has ever occupied the minds OF the
Federal representatives Of the American people
The latest proposition Of adjustment is the bill intro
duced few DAYS ago by Senator Pugh Of Ohio, a
sterling Democrat, and, we believe, a gentleman OF
ability and promise. It's principal features are, that
the slavery clause shall again be submitted 10 Inc
popular vote and that the people shall have 'he gn'
10 call another Convention through their egls'aluFF'
and amend the Lecompton Constitution. OF ADOPT an
other for the State of Kansas whenever they may
think proper to do 80. We are strongly inclined 10
doubt IL the Senator'S bill will answer. The slavery
provision of the present Constitution has already been
referred to the peoples and they decided ntaVor
of it's adoption.
That the vote wss a full one, we do not mean TO
aver, That it was fair one, We will not MAINTAIN
But Il cannot be denied that, If the opponents Of
slavery are in majority, they are said to be- they
have no reason or right TO complain of the adverse
TO 90 BY default If they had the numerical strength
70 defeat that which has succeeded they can a'ac"
blame to none others than themselves for the conae,
ousnce Men who refuse 10 vote, muet % supPoeeu
to acquiesce; and they must expect to aode Inc oec
sion of those who participate in and control the eiee
ton Whether the vote upon the slavery clause OF
the Constitution was free from fraud or not s que'
tion which. we presume, even if dehnitlVeiy de'er'
mined, would not materially affect the legitimate re-
.ult: since, if there was fraud, it is but rea-
sonable TO infer that it was confined 10
neither one side nor the other. And If both
parties praoced it, we may admit that they dia 60
an equal extent and then the result is lett as before
in favor of the slavery provision. A perfectly ioii
and fair vote of the people difficult to Obtain even
ON the moot important occasions, and under the os'
exciting circumstances in the old States. And how
much more so must it be in newly territory
torn With factions and feuds and dsordered socially
and politically by imbittered prejudices and Vru'
lent passions. Hence, an election duly announced
and regularly conducted, whether the vote poll
ed be large or email, must necessarily be ac'
cepted, as exposing the popular sense IN us
result; unless indeed, there is suhcieht evil
dence of ilegalty, or unfairness on ,he one sloe'
10 show that the genuine votes cast give preponder'
ance to the other. This ia the only practical mode
of testing the sense of the people, and conducting
elections in republic Taking this view
of the subject we cannot zee the necessity proprey
or policy of again referring the slavery clause OF the
Lscompton Constitution to the people of Kansas. Ii
the anti slavery men are in majority, and they have
allowed themselves to be defeated by obstinatey retu
sing to take part in the election, they should not be al
,owed 10 redress their own wrong at the cost OF
hazardous Intervention of Federal authority tor their
especial accommodation. The election has been
held and the result should stand as it is, until aer
Kansas becomes a sovereign State.
The other point in Mr.. Pugh's proposition, to which
we have referred presents itself more plausoy. hr'
from that too, after due elaboration, we are con
strained to dissent. II the Lecompton Constitution
expressly provides that it shalt not be amended or
superseded by another, until the expiration OF oer'
tain length of time, submit that Congress cannot
otherwise order It. without debating an organic en-
sctment for the people Of Kansas and that too IN d.
rect contradiction to tho decision OF Convention
which is recognized as legally and regularly repre-
senting the people. II the "Calhoun Constitution
is legitimate and genuine in part, 1t must De ackno"
,adped m he 40 in the whole Aud If il is maintained
that Congress has the right to alter in one part
must also be admitted to have the right 10 overthrow
the entire instrument, aud substitute another. Ihis
il, seems TO u.s. ia the inevitable deduction from the
second condition of Mr. Pugh's proposition TO admit
Kansas into the Union after the Lecompton Constr
tutou shall have been altered as to expressly DE-
clare the right Of the people to amend or undo H. al
their option. We can easily imagine an emergency
which would justify Congress in ven'uring upon me
delicate exercise Of its right as guardian OF the terrific
res to return the whole of Constitution to the people
for approval or rejection But by the very principle oil
tina Nebraska Kansas act, to cay nothing OF States
r,pb,p, it is eloquentIy argued and emphacally de-
o,,rsd that the Federal Government cannot, constu
.onsy revise the organic laws of territory prepar
ing to apply for admission as State, or even inter
fere in any way in their formation: And now TO con
tend that Congress may direct an alteration in one
the clauses of the Constitution of Kansas as condi
ton of its acceptance, is not only to consrovert 'he
vital principle of the Nebraska bill itself, but 1t Ii
pslpaby Inconsistent and contradictory to the lie
mocratic doctrine relative to that Constitution
If the Lecompton Constitution deserved TO be
received by Congress, it does so Deserve be
cause /. was legitimately framed by regu'
iarly elected and duly organized convention
because II must be considered the exponent OF Inc
eense of the sovereign peoplein one part and IN all
and being 30 considered how it be altered in th'
least by Congress- without encroaching upon and VI
olating that very popular sovereignty by the sacred
rights of which it is maintained that the Lecomptor
Constitution ia genuine To admit that Congress
may amend that Constitution order it to be amend
ed Is to admit either that The people Of Kansas havt
not the exclusive right to form their institutions
or that the Constitution ia not legitimate The one
admission would imply that the Black Republican:
are right in coutendng that Congress may control b'
territories in all respects whatever: the other would
close the doors of the Union to Kansas until the form
Gtion of another Constitution. That Senator
Pugh would Indignantly recoil FROM either
alternative, we have not a doubt. Yet it
is to one or the other Of these conclusions that the
second salient feature of his bill would inevitably lead
u.s. We thus differ from Mr.. Pugh on a constitution
a, point. And We also doubt that there il any real
necessity as matter of fairness and practical jus
tce 80 far as the slavery question is concerned for
such an amendment Of the Lecompton Constitution
as would clearly grant to the people the power to
adop. another whenever they may be pleased to do
go. That they ought to have that right we also
strenuously contend. But the laws of man are but
feeble barriers to the laws Of nature; and if negro
elavery is adapted 10 Kansas-in other words, it is
found to "psy" better than white labor-the germ
planted there will continue to grow and rsmify its
roots, until it is beyond the power of fsnaticsin 10
eradicate it. Ii it does not prove profitable,
stuona provision in ts favor can prevent it's decay
and ultimate oblterston from that sell. We still
greet that the whole Of the Lecomp,on Constitution
was not submitted to the people by the Convention
:hatframedit But since it lie not so we see rene
dy which is not worse than the wrong and since the
slavery clause. which contained at last the gist Of
the whole matter, has been submitted we are in ia