Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-04-07
MR.. MONTGOMERY'5 AMENDMENT.

The amendments to the Senate bill for the
admission of Kansas into the Union, which
passed the House last Thursday. was propo-
sed by Mr. Montgomery, member from this
State. It is in substance the same as that
proposed by Mr.. Crttenden, iu the Senate
It provides, that Kansas shall be admitted in
to the Union; the Lecompton Constitution to
be referred to vote of the people of the Ter
ritory. II the l.ecompton Constitution is re-
jected by the people, a convention is to be
called to frame new Constitution, which is
also to be submitted to the people. is soon
as the result of this election as knoarn to be
in taror Of The rew Constitution, tie Presi-
dent shall issue his Proclamation, declaring
Kansas State Of the LnioE ,ritiout anyfr-
hter Legislation on the part Of Congress-
The provision Of Inc act which we have
itaGcised, is clearly violation Of the Consti-
tuition of the United States Tha, instrument
provides, that the United States shall guar
antee 10 every State in this Uniou. a Kepub-
lican fern of gOTernment Mr.. Mont Eomery's
Amendment makes ii the imperative duty OF
the President to admit Kansas into the Tn
ion, whether she presents Republican Con-
stltution or not. The provision is a direct
violation of the letter and spirit of the Con-
stitution, and we sincerely rejoice that the
Senate has rejected 1t Congress has no
right to admit new State, without first ex-
| amining its Constitution and ascertainin q
that it is Republican in form.
The vote in the House last Thursday.
shows an absolute backing down by the Black
kepubiican mcmbers from the platform
which they occupied during the Preside ntial
contest of 1886. Their rallying cry then
was, opposition to the further extension OF
| slavery BY any means whatever" They now
| vote fo- the admission Of Kansas under the
Lecomptcn Constitution. Which recognizes
slavery us domestic institution of the new
State, If majority of the people approve it.
Where now is the horror Of slavery and slave
! hoii1ers on the part of the freedom shrickers
abous which hey prated 50 loudly two years
ago. It would really seem that all their sym
pathy for the Poor Slave" and bleeding
Kansas" has vanished
'Gone gmmcring through the the drcsms .,
things that were,
a schoolboy' tale, the wonder of an hour"
The anti-Lecompton Democrats have also
backed down, from the POSITION which thew
occupied at the beginning of the present ses-
sion of Congress. They then declared tba,
the Lecompton Constitution "was conceived
IN fraud and brought forth in iniquity y
They declared that the Lccompton Couyep.
ton and the result of its labors were alike
traudulent--a bogus Convention and boeu,
Constitution. BY their vote last Thursday
they acknowledge that the Lecompton Con
stitstlon Is genuine document" framed !,
pursuance of lawful authority, deficient onl,
IN one thing-the neglect to submit the en-
tire instrument to a vote of tho people of tb,
territory. Thus all the talk of the opposition
about the l.ecompton 'swindle." fraud
'infamy," contamination" &c, is show,
TO have been mere clap-trap, and all the rep
) utation which they had acquired for honest,
and purity Of purpose vanighcs into air
: Think OF 1t, Democrats of Cambria
Black Republicans and auti-Lecompton dem
ocrats voting TO admit Kansas irto the Tn
ION under the Lecompton Constitution, not
wI'hstaAding they have again and again de
ciared that it is swindle, conceived !,
fraud and brought forth iu iniguily." Oh
consistency. consistency
"HheTc Is thy home or whittier hast thou fed ?,
Not to- the camp of the anti-Lecompton
tics. certainly,
flrssaDt-ihc wculh,r