The Washington union., 1858-03-10

onty Of the people Of the Territory, and have been de
frauded of their rights by small minority
And sir IL il he true that the State party, as IL Is
called, with majority of three 10 one compared To
the called pro osavcry party suffered itself to be OPP
pressed, wronged and down-troddcn by SO small a mi
nority they sir not entitled to our sympathy io
their suicrings but the contrary, deserve our con
tempt for their cowardce and mbeclty. They claim TO
be large majority and IL may bc true hut there is no
evidence OF IL in any election returns with which Con
gress have any They refuse To give the
proof of this In the only way in which it can bc given
by their votes and then nodestly ask IA to take their
word for il that they very large majority, aud that
the constitution framed at Lecompton is not in accord
ancc with their will
In the election for delegates to econventio and the
the slavery clause Of the constitution, the major
ty very large against this party No doubt ii was
reyy large because in facons spirit they rein ell to
vote these occasions. But this their own act, and
they have right to ask Congress to give them relief
from the consequences of their misconduct, by set
ting aside the elections in which they refused to partic
pate. Congress only judge of the result of cleo
ton by votes delivered, and not by votes withheld
In this ID Ia that the only questions
which Congress properly consider with reference to
| its admission not, whether every in the Terri
tory voted not, into every irregulaty which
Cured in theelcoons; whether more frauds were com
mittcd by party the other party in the Territory in
their local elections. With these things Congress has
nothing to do But they may inquire into the legality
of the body which framed the constitution, and to the
vote by which the constitution that part submitted to
the people, adopted And in regard to the legality
of the one and the rncss of the other, there ought to
be dispute.
The territorial legislature elected by the people, rccog
niscd by Congress- by the President and htc President of
the United States by all the governors Of the Territory,
including Governor Walker, fully authorized in
sembling a convention to frame constitution, prepar
atory to its application for admission State into the
Union. The of the people Of the Territory had
been taken to whether they desired To be admitted
into the Union, and large majority were in favor of It,
The territorial legislature then in conformity with their
wishes thus expressed, passed act providing for the
election of delegates to convention to frame constti-
ton The legality Of this ACT is fully maintained by Gov
Walker. He says
were sustained Of Congress authority
Sn, oNa une s Those Who ti course cannot aver he
alleged rreguari, Of the territorial Legislature whose laws in town
corporate other
slavery they acknowledge by their and aquicsccce
that legislature Invalid then without law or order IN Kan
towh ry county organization all legal and in'
yoid all titles no and anarchy eTas throughout
our borlers."
The whole people then nvite;I aud urged to vote
for their delegates.
Nv stanton in his address of the nth of April 1857,
says:
. government, especially recognizes the territorial net which
provides assembling srm constitution with
view mnking application admission
na,o oi voters for delegates convention preccd
ing rernapau rson are hGrsny Repealed I 1 N this s s :, &c, M
n y the peoe through e deos who may be chosen to repre-
sent them in the constitutional convention
And Governor Walker, the 9th of May in his in
augural address, says:
The people of Kansas then arc invite" by the highest authority
known 10 the constitution to participate freely and fairly in the e'c
ti delegates ane constitution and state government
And in the same address he them of the
aucnccs which may result from their refusal 10 exercise
| the right Of suffrage. He says:
You should console yourself win the reflection int
subsequent, vote, defeat the ratification Of the constitution
whs incur the hazard q the preliminary formation Of
constitution ~ m'noty as alleged " yon when majority, BY
But Notwithstanding these Invitations, appeals and
solemn warnings portion claiming to be- majority Of
the people refused to take part in the election and thus
suffered minority to elect their delegates and frame
| constitution in accordance with their own views.
The convention of delegates then thus fairly elected
met and framed constitution ; and among its provisions
is TO be found recognising the institution OF domcs
tic slavery within the State. All the disturbances in Kan
s,s from the establishment OF the territorial government
had their origin this dstracting and dangerous subject
and il provision of paramount Importance, the
convention submitted it to the people for them TO deter
mine whether il should be retained in the constitution
stricken out The question thus ordered by the
vention to be submitted to the people to he decided by
their votes constitution with slavery or consttu
ton without slavery At the time and places ordered
polls opened and the votes received this sin
! gle question.
The convention was not bound as have before stated
by the act of the territorial legislature, to submit the
whole part of the constitution for ratification but
they did submit Ht part of it which related to this qucs
on and the lactous and revolutionary party, in like
they refused to vote for delegates to the con
vcntion refused to vote on this submission. 1t
|
| sas as presented to Congress.
IL seems me- sir, that these people, being in state
of rebellion against the territorial government and the
United States determined to resist from the begin
ming everything tending to quiet settlement of the dis
urnces in the Territory, and the organization of State
government and that may do no mi justice to them,
ask leave to insert what Governor Walker to them
! in his proclamation of the 18th of July:
however, chosen disregard Congress,
territorial by whilst profess
Ing to aknow state government rejected by Congress and
which therefore, exist only by successful cbc aud
all officers the cou and acricgious oath o
socalcd state constitution have IN defiance
the oaie state legislature which refused grant char
local based
revolution The oath which
your ocalcd Topeka State consti
violated the putting operation charter
and necessarily involving such awful
consequences, before disgaccd country
! And will here express strong doubt, Judging from
| the turbulent and rebeous character OF these men,
whether if the whole constitution had been submitted to
them and had been rejected they would have called
convention TO make another think it extremely
doubtful Pretending they do, to regard the Topeka
constitution valid one they would adhere to t For
the sake consistency they would maintain the validity
of their constitution and would hardly vote for any
thing which would destroy the work of their hands
and expose the niluity of their conduct Besides
sir n large number of these do not want settle
of this question That would bring peace not only
Kansas but to the Union &ad their vocation would
be gone 1t is not peace that they seek desire. 1t is
agitation. Did they seek pcaccdid they honestly dc
sire to change the constitution by peaceful and speedy
mcans-they would be here sir, advocating the adms
sion of Kansas State ut the earliest possible day.
that they might then take its into their
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