The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-24
THE LEooMPros CONSTITUTION RATIFIED.


1t turns out that the spurious government" Of
Kansas are told, by gigantic election
frauds''-is endorsed by clear majority of the
people Of the Territory in organizing under it and
electing, by unequivocal vote, a complete State
ticket fhto 'A&et"4
1t is said the free-sol men have triumphed upon
the governor and both branches Of the legislature.
This may be not. The number of votes polled
is quite large enough to establish the fact that the
people Of Kansas, like sensible men, have concluded
to accept the constitution just framed and to consult
the future upon the subject of it's modification. We
would like to hear of the triumph of the democracy
We believe in the principles, doctrines, and men of
party and feel abiding faith that federal and
State affairs best conducted while in their hands
But if we defeated in party sense, we succeed
at least in establishing the fact that the people in
Kansas not half as silly and mpracticable as
many people out of Kansas.
We have heard it repeated often-so often that we
shall not attemptto defend ourselves for any misstate
ment in this partcular--that the Lecompton consti
tuition is great fraud, and that those who sustain it
become actual parties thereto, and are morally re-
sponsble with the original perpetrators thereof We
submit that there are two three ways at least by
which individuals have maintained the legality and
binding force of the constitution in question FIRST
it is politically sustained by the administration in
Cnngress and throughout the States secondly it is
sustained it seems, by majority of the people Of
Kansas. We are willing to admit for the sake of the
argument that that majority opposed to the
constitution. We concede in this way that had the
people all voted at the election of delegates in June
last, as they certainly did not they would have
chosen men, perhaps, of ultra free State tendencies
But they had fnespun theory that refusing to vote
invalidated elections that the majority was kind
powers of government and again unleaded at pleas
ure They could not be made to see that one ballot
under our system is worth ten protests outside
the box. They simply made mistake. BY re-
fusing to vote, they consented that they should
have voice in the government. They were
simply political nonentities Thus the Kansas con-
stitution was framed. The convention had power to
frame it. That power was plenary, absolute The
people reserved nothing to themselves. That was
their omission on the one hand and their implied as
sent to results on the other If they desired con-
troll and that the constitution should be submitted
them for ratification rejection they could have
said SO but they did not Atlast appears they have
walked up to the realization that the very best way in
the world to control elections is to majority
of the voters that the surest way to get govern
ment to suit themselves is to help make it. They
have thus decided to go into the elections and exer
else legal control, and they have done So They
IN N
tight place. They are, then, parties to the origina
fraud No question of morals is better settled than
that you cannot cure error you may repent and
avoid its repetition, and thus effect the substantial
ends of reform. In judgment, the people of Kan
have adopted this theory of moral responsibility
and duty and have determined at last that the iber-
ties of the people not altogether locked up
instrument of their making called constitution.
They have chosen to be sensible-to elect represent
atives-to elect governor of their own-to confer
offices of trust and honor connected with the dis
charge of duties imposed upon their agents for their
own benefit.
We have word Of coincidence, then, to offer to
our republican friends. They desired an opportunity
to get upa revolution in Kansas. With all their
love of organic laws and their devotion to constitu-
onal forms, they still would not lose occasion to
revolutionze that government But it is in their
own hands--eIected by their votes, under regula-
tons prescribed by their constitution. They
cannot certainly think Of pitching out their friends
in order to install again the border-rufhans. That
will never do. The game is blocked 1t is stale
mate, a failure They have not only endorsed the
constitution, but they have assumed the Offices of
government under it. They should be denounced
by the republicans at once or we shall be without
republican party.
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