The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-02-11

on the question OF Slavery. 1t is because they
have refused to sanction or recognize any other
Constitution than that framed at Topeka Had
the whole Lecompton Constitution been submitted
to the people, the adherents of this organization
would doubtless have voted against IT. because,
il successful they would have removed the obsta-
cles from the way of their own revolutionary con
stitutiou. Such being the unfortunate condition
OF affairs in the Territory, what was the right aS
well as the duty of the law abiding people were
they silently and patiently TO submit to the To-
peka usurpaton, or to adopt the necessary meas
ures to establish Constitution under the organic
act of Congress |
That this law recognized the right OF the people
of the Territory without an enabling net OF Con-
gress to form State constitution is too clear FOR
argument. Ii is impossible that any people could
have proceeded with more regularity in the lorna
tior OF constitution than the people OF Kansas
have DONE 1t is necessary, first, to ascertain
whether it was the desire of the people to be re-
lieved from Territorial dependency. and establish
q State government For this purpose the Ter
ritoria legislature in 1855, passed q law for ia
king the sense of the people on the expcdency of
calling q convention to form constitution, at tho
general election to be held in October, 1886. The
sense Of the people was accordingly taken, aud
they decided 10 favor Of q constitution 1t is true
that at this election the enemies of the Territorial
government did not vote. because they were Gu
gagged at Topeka, without the slightest pretext oil
lawful thorty, III framing constitution OF their
own for subverting the Territorial government,
| In pursuance of this decision in favor OF tho con
veniou, the Territorial Legislature, on the 9Th OF
| February 1857 passed all act tor the election oil
delegates, to take place on the third Monday OF
| June, 1887 to frame u State constitution This
law is rs fair iii its provisions, as any that ever
passed legislative body for similar purpose.
The right of suffrage AT this election Is clearly and
| ,laEn citiz of thn
United States above the age of 2l, who had re-
sided therein for three mouths previous to that
date, was entitled TO a vote. In order to AVOID all
interference from neighboring States and Terrific
ries with the freedom and fairness OF the election
provision was mode for the registry of bona fde
voters and, pursuant thereof 9,253 voters were
duly registered. Gov Walker did his who's duty
in urging all qualified citizens to vote at this eleC
| ton.
The President argues that the Topekaites by
refusing to vote at the election for delegates 10
the convention, authorized those who did vote to
act Tor them. The consequence of their refusal TO
submit to the lawful authority, and vote, may yet
prove to be OF the most deplorable Character
| Our only safety consists in obedience aud conform
ity to law. Should general spirit prevail against
its enforcement, this would prove ialal TO us as n
| nation.
| Mr. Buchanan main aims that the Lecompton
Convention was legally constituted and invested
wi tn the power to form u constitution He iusti-
fes the Convention FOR submitting only the slavery
question to the people. 1t was OF character so
| paramount in respect to the condition OF Kansas,
aS to rivet the anxious attention OF the people OF
| the whole country and no person thought of any
other question For my own part, when instruct
cd Gov. Walker in general terms, in favor of sub
ltting the constitution to the people, | ha no
object in view, excepting tho all absorbing one Of
| ylu In, u,h,t G II
might regulate their other concerns was not the
subject which attracted my attention 1t was
never my opinion that, independently OF this act,
they would have been bound to submit any por-
tlon oil the Constitution tn a popular vote in order
| to give it validity Had | entertained such an
opinion, this would have benin opposition to many
precedents in our history, commencing in the very
best age OF our republic. 1t would have been in
opposition to the principle which pervadcs our in
stitutions, and which is every day carried into
practice that the people have right to delegate
to the representatives chosen by themselves their
sovereign power to frame constitutions enact laws
aud perform many other important acts without
requiring that these should be subjected to their
subsequent appreciation. 1t will be most ncon-
venient limitation of their own power, imposed by
the people on themselves to exclude them from
exercising their sovereignty in any lawful manner
in which they think proper.
II 10 uuc tuaI Ihc people O hiuSaS illSnt, II
they had pleased required the convention to sub
NIT the constitution to popular vote but this
they have not done. The only remedy therefore
in the case is, that which exists in all other cases.
If the delegates who framed tho constitution have
in any manner violated the will of their consltu-
ents, the people always possess the power to change
their constitution or laws according to their own
pleasure The subject Of slavery was submitted
TO the election of the people, on the 2lst of d.
n1nha lolt in nhnIIn Tho data anft t,n
constitution. Here, again, fair opportunity was
presented to the adherentS OF the Topeka consli.
tuition, if they were the majority, to decide this
exciting question in their own way. an thus re-
store the peace of the distracted Territory but
they again refused to exercise the right Of popular
sovereignty and again suffered the election to pass
by default. | heartily rejoice that u wiser aud
better spirit prevailed among large majority Of
these people, on the first Monday of January and
that they did, on that day, vote under the lie.
compton constitution, for Governor and other
State officers, member of Congress, and mem.
berS Of the Legislature This election was warm
iy contested by the parties aud u larger vote was
polled than at any previous election in the Terri
tory.
j We may now reasonably hope that the Topeka
organization will be speedily and finally abandon.
ell and this will go fur towards final settlement
OF the unhappy differences in Kansas. II frauds
have been committed aU this election by one or
both parties, the Legislature and people of Kan
5 sas, under the Constitution, know how to redress
themselves. and punish these detestable, bat too
/; common crimes without outside interference
, The people of Kansas have, then, in their own
way. and in strict accordance with the organicIact
5 framed Constitution and State government have
submitted the a-important question OF sayery TO
} the people and have elected a member Of Con-
gress Governor members of the State Legisla-
ture, and other officers and they now ask alms-
sion into the Union under this Constitution. Re.
publican in its form, it is for Congress to decide
whether they will admit or reject the State which
has thus been created For my own part, am
decidedly in favor offs admission. This will ter
inmate the Kansas question this will carry out
the good principle of non intervention, sanctioned
}, by the organic act which declares in express Ian
Il In E,Vnr of Ihn