The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1858-02-26

on which q govcrnuient rests, 10 s.
evidence ofits decay. The violation
ofthe principle Of Popular Sovereign.
|ty wastes the life-blood Of tho Re
public. ... J
i Again: in popular government,
where the rulers are but servants,
anarchy steps in when principle 10
forgotten and expediency is made ,he
guide.
| Again: The concentration Of pow.
Ter in the hands Of q Convention Like
that Of Lecompton, 10 not an A ueri.
can idea 1t is borrowed from those
republics Of Europe which were not
capable Of existing long, for the very
reason that power was 30 conc.ntra-
ted. 1t is derived from the worst ex-
amples Of the worst periods ofirevo.
lutionary France, when minorities
usurped power over nation ny rer-
ror and reckless daring. III the rule
of the minority convention is form.
ally sanctioned by Congress, it will
be a most dangerous precedent; an
instrument Of wrath. treasured up Tor
q day OF wrath. We appeal against
this system to the whole Democracy
Of the Territory; we appeal to all
the people who love order aud jus
tice, and freedom. This city, for its
numbers, is the wealthiest in the
world. | call on the men Of wealth
in this great city to take to heart the
danger Of establishing as principle
that u majority Of q single body,
elected to a convention perhaps in
times OF high excitement, filled, as
will sometimes happen, with men
desperately daring and corrupt, ami
mated, as lnen under such circum
stances are apt ,obe,by personal and
party passions, should assume the
absolute right to change the iunda'
mental law OF the country without q
reference to the people. IL they arc
not alarmed on account OF their own
fortunes. ask them tu consider what
disposition, under such an absolute
convention, might be made OF cor.
porate property what changes in
the management OF trust funds set
apart for purposes OF charity, or ed
ucation, or the support OF religious
worship. Especially, speaking in
sober earnestness to refecting men,
| remind the Catholics OF what might
happen, calling to their recollection
the grievance to which they were
exposed in an Eastern State, and
from which they only escaped by the
reference of the Constitution to the
people. We call on our naturalized
citizens to reflect on their danger
from the principle involved in ac-
cepting the decision Of convention
rs a final and without appeal. Our
country is subject to periodical ex
cirements on the franchise Of natur.
allied citizens; and it may happen
that a convention possessed OF this
absolute power may seek to pcrpet-
uate themselves and their party in
Office 10y one sweeping disfranchi:c.
nent OF the foreign born. We call
on the poor and the laboring men to
come up to the rescue; tor, in the di.
vision that prevails on universal suf.
frage, sooner or later a convention
would be found ready to limit the
right TO suffrage, and to maintain
the limitation by force. We claim
the aid of every irishlnan to a man,
and every decen liant of an lr;shman
for Ireland, through three centuries
shows the bitter fruits OF govern
ment imposed by the completely be-
tween u shameless minority and the
central power.
} We will not make an appeal to the
} South as such; but if any part OF the
: Union has cause for alarm at an in.
crease OF the power OF q convention
suddenly called together, we should
say it is the South, and we're Jeffer
son alive, we should on this occasion
have a protest from his pen. The
guiding principle Of his statesman
ship was, to consult the people and
to revoro the people. But what do
sayl A voice comes to US from one
Of Jefferson's successors in tho chair
of state in the Old Dominion, and in
clear and distinct terms he rejects
the Lecompton Constitution as moi
the act and deed OF tho people oI
Kansas, and he rightly condemns
the Lecompton schedule as not re.
publican. New York will respond
to Virginia, and the great North
West will swell the echo.
The policy OF enforcing the lie.
compton Constitution on an unwil,
ling people is neither wise, nor ex'
pcdient, nor possible. Principle ID
the true divinar's wand by which
tho President Ola free people sway.
the millions, and secures nsjorities
for his measures in Congress The
neglect Of principle for temporizinq
cxpodiency always loses the respec'
Of the majoritles in Congress ant
out OF it. The ship ofstate is water
logged; throw tho fraudulent Le
compton Constitution overheard; lei
principle take the helm, and the bari
will spring forward on its way as il
the beat years OF ourrepublic. Our
is the cause of peace, OF order, o
true democracy, Of union, OF free
? dom. All good omens are with us
! For our part we are resolved to wall
in the central path OF humanity
stunning sectionalism and iansti
cism on the one side, and subservi
ency to diction on the other. Tlu
I. democracy inscribes on its banner