Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-05-26
s PIt &c II
SENiT0R WiDE. OF OHIO.

MIR. PRESIDENT; 1t - 10. my purp 81
4; this time, after The general qnrsi i'm
has b~en - elaboralcIy discussed, /, dc
tain the S-nate al any length hy anv-
ihins that may have 10 srN a shi~ =
ri ii of the debate But, sir. we av.
how before u$, rs we are told. new
proposition altogether. We are told that
it is Ia the nature f anew bill, havin"
but eiy liiiic connection with anNihin :.
that has proceeded it. / must corf.sS
that | am a-ilui-hed at the nature of Ihr
proposition which the gentlemen comps s
iag the committee OF conference h.v.
brought in Tor our consideration Un
irammeile,l as The Committee seem 10 have
been by anything that has been dore-
81 they say--and being about TO initiate
a new proposition altogether, ths fac,
shat their minds should have n tened IN.
on snch a thing as ;nis, iS well cnlcula
I'd, think: :, surprise anyb1ly. If ius
'icr IGN; and equal regard to the insli
;ulion, of the South ant of The North
were to be considered by that comniliec.
it appears 10 me that All unsophisrical.d
,.Iln might, in five minures, have brought
m a proposition against which there
monld have been NJ dissenting Voice il
either branch Of your Legislature.
W. had been divided here upon ques
ions with re1ard 10 the will aud wishes
f the people of Kansas as to The Con<'i
lu;i II under which they should live. |
wsS contend, d on thr on side fhnf tn
people, acting through The f;iruS Of Law.
had framed a Cous-tu ion WI ich on. h.
tn be obligatory. OIc the other hand.
that Constitution was asSalcd h. re- by the
Opposition, upon The ground that il ". 9
an utter prryerSion of the will of the ina
iprity of the people of kInSaS; that it
vas got up by lrickcry and by fraud,
and that the majority # lhr people ou2h,
not 10 be governed by it Thus we were
at issue upon this thing called the L.
compton Constitution. 4 portion Of h,
people had called Convention, - hich
framed this instrument. aud called it a
Constitution. The people hal previnusl,
met AMI fraaed another Constitution
which they called their Constitution, ani
which ihey said embodied the will of th.-
great mass of the people of Kansas
sliuie 10 the Topeka Constitution.
Now, sir, when this committee wer,
about TO pass by all the propositions Iha
had gone before, AMI 10 substitute a new
bill, how easy it would have been for
them 10 say, in perfect justice and fair
uess 10 all, eve will not lake the frs
Constitution made at Topeka, becaus. it
i denied on the other sid. 10 b. the will
of the people; We will not lake the Lee
compton Cans'iiu'ioH, because il is alleg-
ed to b. fraudulent. ani not 10 cmboiy the
vii of the people; but we will throw
both aside, and We will provide, under
every safeguard that can srcuse an hon
esi and fair election, for submitting lis
cOnpicard and veXa,iuuS question again
/, the people, aud they shall be at liberty
10 tram, their Constitution For thai
prIpps,. the commi'ee might have :, lee;
ed any precedent they wished-lhcv
mi 5hl have taken the enabling act tor
Minnesota, or any similar one; and they
wOnlJ have found 10 objection t. it. We
should al! have voted Tor proro oi
that kini, jus, 10 all paries; we should
have peruilfed The people 10 come mp
now fairly 10 the work OF framing a Goa
we should have >aid 10 them
it republican in iorni; submit l.
10 our consideration; and it We find
ii 10 be such, We will admit you with it.
Why dad II not occur 10 this commit
tee thai That WAS the way TO settle tire
controversy. il a settlement Of it was in
reed desired! Tns proposition which
thsy have made, while it seems to me in
Il certain aspect 10 be humiliating TO TIE
SJdth, Is unjust, If not an open IL at, TO
Ihe North. Its humIliating to The Spulh
becaust it is Il total and entire ablnIon-
ment of the principle on VII ch IN ny OF
them Siak, their Determination not To
exist il the Uhi1n at all; lir they "a d,
let us have the Lecomplon Consli,u
Il N, or We will 60 out If the Union our
selves" That proposition they have
surrendered; they have given it up; they
do not pretend that they can stand bg il.
unless II Is IN some sOr, submitted aad
thrown bnck to the psopl. 10 pass upon.
81 far ii is right; SO far it is insi; and |
Was glad TO see the committee yisld thus
far 10 the reasons aud arguments which
had baen addiesscd to them, showing
that their Lecomplon concern was f'aui
uleni; that il did not embn6v the will OF
the people; tina, il was f'aud; and that
their legal position was fraughl with
~ ranny ami danger in all subscqlfni
time. That position has been rcpldiated
aud abandoned by them. We hear NJ
more of tie omnipoience of Convention,
assembled 10 frame Constitutions. We
hear no more of their being armed Wit,
supreme power TO put upon The necks OF /
Il people Just such Constitution as lhe>
please, without the power TO get rid oft
That was the position we heard runr in !
our ears from Southern gentlemen DAY |
after day, but little while ago. Now |
they have thrown this absurd position 10 |
The winds and thank God for il. They |
seem 20 admit that the people, after all, |
Lhust nave tne rlght, IN some shade, 10 |
pass upon the institutions under which
Ihey are 10 live. So far, it is great i'm
on the Lecompion co1cern--l
liut II The people are TO pass upon the
L. compton Constitution, why not let them
10 Ii directly! Will any man b. deceiv
ed by the yerbiage in which this PROPOSE
ion Is couchcd! Have YOU moi lcf; the !
people to pass upon il! II 50 why not
submit it IN such plain and fair man
ier lhGt the people can understand il?
Sir, ih'S proposition reads upon its face
is though ii was premium for voles.-
Are the people 10 vote directly uron the
Constitution under which they live? Not
'y any means; but they are TO vote up