The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-04
The Lecompton Constitution-The Duty OF
Congress.


The Lecompton Conssitution-The Duty OF
Congress.
The bill for the admission of Kansas under
the Leoompton constitution is now fairly before
the Senate in connection with the new State Of
Minnesota; and it must now be manifest to
every dispassionate mind that it is the first duty
of the Senate and of the House to pass this
measure as speedily as possible. The conserva-
tive masses Of the people of all sections are
anxious for peace; and our commercial and
business classes of all kinds desire above all
things that this embarrassing sectional agitation
about Kansas and niggers shall be brought to
an end.
The admission Of Kansas under the Lecomp-
ton constitution, conformity with the admission
OF Minnesota, will settle the question. Mr..
Senator Pugh, of Ohio, has given notice C. an
amendment to the effect that the people Of
Kansas may alter or abolish their form of gov
ernment in such manner as they may think
proper, so that il be republican and in accord
ance with the constitution Of the United States
The object of this proviso is to remove what.
ever objections may exist to that provision Of tht
Lecompton constitutional schedule which pre-
cludes any amendment of sid constitution until
the year 1864 But, although the President
in his Kansas message has suggested some such
proviso, there is in reality no necessity for Il.
II can give no power to the people of Kansas
which they do not already posses, and the sim
pie act Of admission under the Lecompton pro
gramme can take no right Of popular sove-
reignty" away. Upon its face the 1864 clause
in the Lecompton schedule is dead letter for
ment of their constitution till the year 1864,
what was to prevent them from extending their
interdict to the year 1874, 'si, or '94f
Next, in regard to the extensive catalogue Of
enormous election frauds, swindling tricks, for
geries and perjuries charged against John Cal
houn and bis associates in the work Of this Lee
compton constitution. Admit them all, and the
paramount facts still remain that his conven-
tios was legal body, legally elected by legal
voters, possessed Of the legal authority to form
State constitution, and that its ratification
with slavery" on the 2lst December, was the
legal contamination OF the work. Our attention
is next called to the remarkable indecision Of
John Calhoun in reference to the organic
State Legislature under the Lecomptoo pro-
gramme. Some Of the Southern ultres cay
that on an appeal from the President be has
agreed to save the administration and its party
in the North by giving the said Legislature to
the free State party; while, on the other hand,
our black republican wiseacres declare that in
spite Of the discovery of the Delaware Crossing
election returns in the candle box under the
wood pile, and in spite Of the sworn testimony
Of The election judges in some other cases, Cal
houn will still decree pro-slavery Legislature
in order TO get himself elected to the United
States Senate.
But what has an this to do with the question
before Congress, which is the admission Of Kan
sas under the Lecompton constitution? The
State Legislature Of Kansas is certainly an
affair beyond the Jurisdiction of Congress But
supporting that Calhoun, with the admission Of
Kansas, should give bis certificates of election
in behalf of pro-slavery Legislature, and that
no should thus secure an election TO the Usited
States Senate, how long would he remain there
IL the facts In the case be as they arc repre-
sentedS With bis admission into the Senate
the legality Of bis election would certainly and
properly come before that body, and the ques-
ton wonld inevitably involve full investigs-
ton Of all the facts in the case. Is IL likely
that he or bis partisans would dare TO
confront the consequences II he and they
be the guilty election forgers and swindlers
they are represented to be by his enemiess
Surely not At all events, his decision, pro-
slavery or no slavery, in reference to the CD