Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-02
WILL KANSAS BE ADMITTED WITH THE
JECOMPTOS CONSTITUTION

WILL KANSAS BE ADMITTED WITH THE
LECOMPTON CONSTITUTION
Little time will be lost, We presume, in presenting
the Lecompton Constitution TO Congress Tor accept.
ance. Whether it will be received or rejected, is
question: which seems to be still involved in great
doubt. 1t is to be hoped, however, that all efforts to
defeat will be unsvsing. The Administration lie
committed in favor of its adoption. The Southern
Democracy, will few. very few exceptions, are ur.
gent in recommendation of lis reception. And by
very large proportion of the Northern Democracy
too, the admission Of Kansas, without farther quarrel
and agitation, is, We believe, warmly advocated. But
there true aud patriotic Democratsu in both sections
who stillcontend that until the whole Constitution is
submitted to free and full vote Of the people,
justice, in fairness and in conformity to the prnci
pie of popular sovereignty, Congress ought not to
accept it, From its inception until now, this ques.
ton, seemingly and really so easy of solution and of
settlement upon its inherent merits has present.
I'd itself, or rather it has been presented, in such
variety Of phases and in go complicated character
to have rendered II one Of the most difficult and
dangerous problems that have ever been presented
to the American Cong rsSs. The Nebraska act
itself at the time Of its enactment thought to
embody principles and propositions plain enough TO
place them beyond the misconstrucion of the most
captious caver or ingenious critic. 1t regarded
as the exposition Of understanding between the
North and South, the terms of which bad only
to be rigidly observed to put an end to the
disputatlons relative to the mode of establish.
ing or repudiating slavery in the territories, when
they we're about to become States. lis pervading
prncpe-the right of the people alone to decide for
themselves directly derived from the very genius OF
our government could not but be- acceptable TO every
man, who processes to support the Constitution and
maintain the honor Of his country. But upon the
application Of this act, seemingly full Of fairness,
of justice, Of practicability and of promise to the
Union difficulty after difficulty arises. Kansas is
rapidly ripeuug to maturity. She will soon be pre-
pared to apply for admission as sovereign State.-
The abooniss make haste to pour into the territory
apopustiou caught up and bought up for the pur'
pose Of colonzing the territory with enemies of slave
ry aud thus bringing new free State into the Uuion
The Southern people on the other band were also
tive In their efforts to induce the emigration Of friends
of slavery. At last legitimate Cow lie called
for the formation Of the organic law Of the new State
II would be irrelevant to refer 10 the official
duct Of those Governors Of the Territory, who have
played their respective parts and passed off the stage
And therefore the smple question arises: Shall the
Constitution framed by Convention, which ia &C
knowledgsd 10 have been legitimate, be accepted OF
rejected by Congress Those who say il ahould moi
be accepted tell US that the Nebraska Kansas act ex
pressy provides that The people Of the Terrtoriei
shall have the exclusive right to determine upor
the domestic institutions of the new States thai
there ia no evidence Of the approval of this Ccns
tuition by the people that there is indeed reason te
doubt seriously that il does command their spproba
tion. And, therefore, that Congress owes to iti
own integrity Of purpose, to the honor of the coun
try, to fairness and equality, to refuse to receive it,
At one time, It will be remembered there was an ami
mated discussion as to rao rcre the people, contem
plated by the Kansas act, and recognized by right
usage and law. That point, however, is also
passed by now, and is almost forgotten among
the curious contents Of the first few chap
ters of the Kansas controversy. Aud the whole
matter, as We have said, is now submitted in
the Lecompton Constitution. Let us see how far
it's Democratic opponents right and how far they
are wrong. They maintain that the people should
it. We agree with them. They hold that Congress
has the power to refuse it; and also concur with
them. But Congress has not the right 10 presume that
the popular will is msrepresented. The Lecompton
Constitution is acknowledged to be the work Of law.
fu Convention. Aud Congress- must have positive
proof that it 10 frsudulenty forced upon the people
aganstheir wishes before il can venture upon ts rejec
ton. And even them the effect might be worse than
that which would result from receiving it, when the
people have opportunity Of amending overthrow
ing it as coon as they may think proper TO do co.
Some Of the opponents Of the Lecompton Cons,itu.
on contend that the submission Of the slavery clause
does not carry out the design OF the Nebraska BILL
Let us ask if that bill would ever have been dreamed
Of but for the difficulty Of settling the slavery ques
ton in the Territory Was it discussed with refer
ence TO any other domestic institution 1t epun.
ciates the principle Of popular sovereignty-aud the
principle Of popular sovereignty comedies supremacy
to the people. Very we'll. But We would ask If the
right Of the people to rule has been denied in
this country by any party or on any occasion, er.
cept by The Black Republicans on the siarery
question in tie territories? 1t was with refer.
epce to this identical denial alone, that the doc,
trine Of popular sovereignty was earnestly urged
and the Nebraska bill was offered and passed. Aud
when the people Of Kansas declared at the polls
whether s,hey would recognize negro slavery or
not, we maintain that then the Kansas act was car
red out, and the principle Of popular sovereignty
affirmed upon the only point on which it has ever
been disputed.
We have never thought that Kansas would be q
slave State. The came opinion was expressed by
several distinguished and discerning Southern Sena.
tors long before the contest between the free
State and the slave State men, for its occupancy
And now, although the vote is in favor Of slavery,
no man entertains the belief that the institution will
flourish there even if the laws recognizing it are al
lowed to stand. 1t s therefore, the great principle
of equality for which We are contendng. And when
the people are left free to say whether they will have
slavery or not, what more can the South demaadl-
But the oppouests of the Lecompton Constitution
contend that in not referring the whole Of for pop
ulsr approval or condemnation, the Convention
forces it upon the people nolens poens. 1t is true it
may be In opposition to the popular will in many of
i.s provisions But Congress cannot proue to be so
,eithout returning to be oOted by tie people. And
We hold that it should mol be returned unlesss it has
been preuousy proved to Congress to msrepreat the
popular will. On this ground its acceptance is un.
avoidable.
Had the Convention referred the whole Constitution
to the people, thers would have been farther Difficult
IT, But because an error was committed in the refusal
to do .o we cannot agree that Congress ought to inter-
vsne upon presumption or probability of the oppo
sition of the people to it. On the same principle,
pushed little farther it might be contended that
man should be considered elected to Office, until is
ascertaiued not only that he received majority Of
the votes cast, but also that he has majority Of all
the legal votes, poled and unpsled. In other words
no election would be held valid If majority refused
20 vote, or If there 10 reason to believe that among
those who stay away from the polls there are enough
ooncurring With the minority al the polls to overthrow
the majority.
The Kansas question has given trouble enough to
the country; and We heartily hope that the Lecomp.
ton Constitution will be received by Congress- and
r