The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-03-30

tfertnctc = ~ totS nkdturt tuc aVuiisStOH
OF Kansas iatothe Uniop, upon the Con-
stitufion and form of State governments
regularly established BY her Convention
of delegates.
In an ordinary ease whatever my
own opiuionlI should conform to the
wishes of our Democratic Senators aud
Representatives in the Legislature, with
out any expression of discomfort. At
present, however, l deem it essential to
the peace of The country, as we'll as T..
the peace of Kansas, that the Constitu-
tion established at Lecompton, ON the
9Th of November, 1857, should be
recognized as authoritative aud valid;
SO far, at leas. as to be the constitution
through the medium Of which Kansas
viii fpd admiss OF as a State. The To
peka constitution is revolutionary as
we'll as irregular. and 1 cannot agree to
its recognition for auy purpose or to any
extent. To reject the Lecompton con-
~stitution absolutely, or send it back for
an additional notifications. would be to
p~rolong a terrible controversy for twelve
or eighteen months, and subject the
whole Union, meanwhile, to disturbance
and serious danger. say, gentlemen,
an additional ratification; because it
cannot be pretended, with any regard to
trufh, to history, to the well settled
tion is of less authority when formed by
a convention of delegates; than if sub
United to and approved by a vote of the
people. Looking to the future, and
not to the past. for the elements of a
fair compromise, unobjcciionable in de-
tail, aud cor formable 10 democratic
principles, / believe that Kansas ought
to be admitted, as soop as possible. with
an express recognition of the right OF
her people, at any fms, by the consent
of the Legislature, toamend the present
constitutions, or adopt a new loDc. That
is the shortest practicable method to
ensure justice and peace-a remedy
complete in itself, an ''enabling act" of
the mes. comprehensive character. 1t
would be .be establishment of popular
sovereignty" on a sure basis, and that
basis which, as / have always under
stood, was affirmed in the Kansas Ne.
braska act, and afterwards In the Gin
cinnati platform. If it be true, as
claimed, that frauds have been commit
leu IN tue tioCSlQu vi tuG ICtuTu VI 4C14-
bers OF the Legislature. from Leaven.
worth, johnson, MCGEE and other
counties, each House car fully inves,i-
gate the subject, and arrive At q conclu-
sive determination.
It is provided in the Constitution of
Kansas, article 4th, section I'd, that the
returns of tsevery election" for Governor
shall be submitted to aud capvassed-b by
the Legislature. Whatever the deci.
sion oil Mr.. Calhoun, at FIRST, the cleo
ton for Governor and State officers, on
The 4th of January, must be adjudica
ted lv the legislature of Kansas 6ually,
should a contest occur. Aud as it low
appears from Mr.. Calhonn's statement.
lately published, the Free State parti-
zans ESQ called) have two thirds Of the
House and almost two thirds of the Sc
nate, in that legislature.
Thus, by a simple and sure process,
the fate of Kansas may be determined
and fbe will of her people (whatever
that will isl truly and c~onclusivelY ascer-
tained-in a few months whereas an
"eDabling act" of Congress. or any 9th
er plan, must defer a settlement of the
CODtIOhcfcJ nAbCH toH tuIedtcno " diteu-
ate the slaveholding aud the non-slave-
holding States of eur Union.
The difference between the Presidents
policy aud that indicated by the resoIu-
tions of our Legislature is reduced, in
fact, to a mere question of time. Shall
Kansas be allowed to ameud her Con-
stitution, or adopt a new one, be ore or
after admission, as a State, into the
Union? | am bold to say, without in
tending disrespect, that the difference is
too small-being one of mere form, and
not of substance-to Justify patriotic
statesmen, North or South, in . post.
ponement of the issue o presented
I appeal to the Democracy of Ohio, it,
these circumstances, for their support OF
the policy which I have indicated; con-
6dent that their support win ensure its
euccess. and that it will, fif success
full rebound to our advantage, aud to
the welfare of the country at large.
The Democratic members of the Leg
i~slature ought to be reminded, in this
~conDexion, that power aud responsibility
are inseparabis correlatives; aud that
whenever they assume the control of my
vote, as q Senator, they relieve me, at
once, from all the Consequences of obedi.
ence. On the other hand, whatever my
action, uninstructed, the responsibility
will Lot Be on their heads, but on mine
Imean nothing unkind, and far less, any
thing of q factions character; but, surely
after ten years of almost continuous
public services. during which my devo-
tion to the p inciples and the orgapiza-
tion of the Democratic party has never
been questioned, | may be pardoned a
complaint that our political friends, in
the Ohio Legislature impose on me q re-
striction such as no other D. mocraiic
Legislature has imposed on any Demo-
cratic Senator in this Congress.
Whatever the emergency In which /
am placed on account of the instructions
received from our Legislature, 1 exhor.
you to follow the true principles, the
ancient banner, the reliable Organization
of the Democratic party; there 10 no 9th
or path of safety for ourselves and our
children. 1 eau say this without cer-
sure since, admitting the right of Leg
~isIative instruction, ever SO largely. it
cannot restrain the expression of lny iu-
dividual sentiments Asto the pretence
that james Buchanan, John c. Breck-
inridge, Lewis Cass, Isaac Toucey, aud
~nine-fenths of the Democratic Senators
and Representatives III Congress, with
more than ninety-nine hundred,hs IF the
Democratic party throughout The Uni7n,
have jalsiied their public professions,
or violated the principles of the C;ncIn-