The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-03-13

vote for a Convention, and declaring tht
right of the Legislature already elected tC
call Convention, by majority vote, in
violation of the Constitution under which
its members were elected, and which they
| were sworn TO support.
The President can perceive no objection
to this; but what right has Congress to in
| tervene and annul, alter, or even construe
| the provisions of State Constitution, and
| license the members OF the legislature to
disregard their sworn obligations to support
the Constitution, under which they hold
their Offices?
When Constitution has once become the
supreme law of State, what lawful manner
| is there Of changing it, except the one pro-
vided and permitted by the Constitution
Iagree with the Fr sident that there are
two ways Of doing this; but one is lawful,
and the other Revolutionary. Suppose the
line of policy indicated by the President is
pursued, and Kansas admitted under the
Lecompton Constitution, what relief will it
be to the oppressed people, unless Mr.. Cal
houn should set aside the fraudulunt returns
from Delaware Crossing and Kickapoo, in
order to insure a majority in both branches
Of the Legislature in favor of an immediate
change.
1t is worse than mockery to talk about
the right of the Legislature to make a change
at its yer first session. Mr.. Calhoun's re-
turns have not vet been declared, though
more than a month has passed since the elec-
ton. Any argument or proposition found
ed on the idea that the people Of Kansas
will have the opportunity of changing the
Constitution by peaceful means through
the instrumentality ofth Legislature, must
I.l he tan La
mated, their only alternative will be sub
mission or revolution. Revolutions are
sometimes peaceful and sometimes bloody;
does the history Of the Leconpton Constitu
ton, the character and p rpose OF the men
engaged in the movement furnish US assur-
ance that they will permit th-r power to be
subyerie!? They will demand the protec-
ton Of the Federal Army; or should it be
made a Judicial instead Of political qI-S-
ton. would not that court b. compelled -
decide that the Constitution, having once
become the fundamental Law OF the State,
must DC obeyed as such until changed:
Should there be two State governments
in Kansas. one organized under thc Lecomp-
ton Constitution. and the other established
By the people. which viii the President re-
cosnize as valid, and which Will he dgnounce
as a revolutionary government, adhered to
with such reasonable per.tnacity a, to make .
ID bis duty, under the Constitution Of the
United States, to put down the insurrection
and crush out the rebellion with the FEEDER .
al troopsz IL IS important that this ques- .
ton should be determined, in order that the 4
people of Kansas may know how they are .
10 exercise that geart indefeasible right Of
which the President speaks when he says
- They can make and unmake Constitutions
at pleasure"
Does he mean that inaleniable right OF
revolution to which every people may resort
wnon TIER oppression is .ntolerabe and sub
mission is a less evil than resistance. If
81, | fear thai the bright anticipatioas OF th, /
President would not be fully realized when
he imagines that the speedy admission Of
hanSns into the Union under the LccoInpt-
on Constitution would rest re peace and
quiet II the whole county, and enable him
to withdraw the troops Of the Uuted
States from Kansas and employ them on
brenches OF tia service where they are much
needed -