The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-12-15

may prescribe"
An election was held throughout Kansas,
in pursuance Of the provisions Of this act, on
the second day Of August last, and it resulted
in the rejection, by large majority, of the
proposition submitted to the people by Con.
gress. This being the case, they are now
authorized to form another constitution, pre-
paratory to admission into the Union, but not
until their number, as ascertained by cen
sus, shall equal or exceed the ratio required
to elect member to the House Of Represen-
tatives.
1t is not probable, in the present state Of
the case, that third constitution can be law
fully framed and presented to Congress by
Kansas, before its population shall have reach.
ed the designated number. Nor is it to he
presumed that after their sad experience in
resisting the territorial laws, they will at
tempt to adopt constitution in express ylo-
lation of the provisions of an act of Congress.
During the session of $50. much of the time
Of Congress was occupied on the question of
admitting Kansas under the Topeka constitu-
tion. Again, nearly the whole of the last ses-
sion was devoted to the question of its admIs-
sion under the Lecumpton constitution.
Surely il is not unreasonable to require the
people of Kansas to wait, before making a
third attempt. until the number Of their in
habitants shall amount to ninty three thousand
four hundred and twenty. During this brief
perioh the harmony of the States, as well as
the great business interests of the country,
demand that the people of the Union shall
not for third time be convulsed by another
agitation on the Kansas question. BY wait.
ing for short time, and acting in obedience
TO law, Kansas will glide into the Union with
out the slightest impediment.
This excellent provision, which Congress
have applied to Kansas. ought to be extend
ed and rendered applicable to all Territories
which may hereafter seek admission into the
Union.
Whilst Congress possess the undoubted
power of admitting new State into the Tn
ion, however small may be the number of its
Inhabitants, yet this puwer ought not, in my
opinion, TO be exercised before the popua-
tion shall amount to the ratio required by the
act for the admission of Kansas Had this
been previously the rule, the country would
have escaped all the evils and misfortunes to
which it has been exposed by the Kansas
question.
or course, il would be unjust to give this
rule retrospective application, and exclude
State which, acting upon the past practice
Of the government, has already formed its
constitution, elected its legislature and Other
officers, and is now prepared to enter the
Union.
The rule ought to be adopted, whether we
consider its bearing on the people of the
Territories or upon the people Of the existing
States. Many of the serious dissensiOns
which have prevailed in Congress and through
out the country, would have been avoided,
had this rule been established at an earlier
period Of the government.
Immediately upon the formation Of new
Territory, people from different States and
/ iron foreign countries rush into il, for tht
laudable purpose Of improving their condi
/ tion. Their first duty to themselves is Il
open and cultivate farms, to construct roads
to establish schools, to erect places Of religi
ous worship, and to devote their energies
generally TO reclaim the wilderness and {,
Iay the foundations of a Furnishing ant
| prosperous commonwealth. II, in this Incl
pent condition, with population Of a few
thousand. they should permaturely enter III,
Union, they are oppressed by the burden o
State taxation, and the means necessary foi
the improvement Of the Territory and IL,
advancement Of their own interests. are thu,
diverted to very different purposes.
/ The federal government has ever been q
liberal parent 10 the Territories, and a gen
erous contributor To the useful enterprises OI
the early settlers. Il has paid the expense.
Of their governments and legislative Assem-.
blies out of the common treasury, and thus
relieved them from heavy charge. Under
these circumstances, nothing can be better
calculated to retard their material progress,
than to divert them from their useful employ.
ments, BY prematurely exciting angry politi-
cal contests among themselves, for the bene-
fit Of aspiring leaders. Ii is surely no hard
ship for embryo governors. senator's, and
members OF Congress. TO wait until the nGm'
Der Of inhabitants shalt equal those Of sin.
g,e congressional district. They surely
ought not to be permitted to rush into the
Union, with population less than one.haii
Of several of the large counties in the inter.
ior Of some Of the States. This was the con.
dition Of Kansas when IL made application to
be admitted under the Topeka constitution.
Besides, IL requires some time 10 render the
mass OF population collected in Hew Terri
tory, at all homogeneous, and to unite them
on ANYTHING like a fixed policy. Establish
the rule, and all will lupk forward TO il and
govern themselves accordingly.
But justice to the people Of the several
States requires that this rule should be estab.
lished BY Congress. Each State is entitled
to two senators aud at least one representa-.
tive in Congress. Should the people Of the
States fail 10 elect Vice President, the pow.
er deyolyes upon tie Senate 10 select this
officer from the two highest candidates on
tie list. III case Of the death Of the President,
the Vice President thus elected by the Sc.
nate, becomes President Of the United States.
On ali questions Of Legislation. the senators
from the smallest States Of the Union have
an equal vote with those from the largest.
The same may be said in regard TO the rati.
fcation Of treaties. and Of Executive appoint.