The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-11

friends only for popular effect, is
proved by the overwhelming fact
the abolitionists in Kansas inserted
in their Topeka Constitution the
following more Objectionable pro-
vision
AMENDMENTS III THE cossTIrrTlOS--AR.
rIcLE XIV.
Section l. All propositions for
amendments to the Constitution shall
be made by the General Assembly.
Sec. 2. A concurrence Of two
thirds of the members elected to
each House shall be necessary, after
which such proposed amendments
shall be entered upon the journals
with the yeas and nays; and the Sec
rotary of State shall cause the same
to be published in at least one news
paper in each county in the State
where newspaper is published, for
at least six months preceding the
next election for Senator's and Rep
resentatives, when such proposed
amendment shall be again referred to
the Legislature elected next succeed
ing said publication. If passed by
the second Legislature by majority
Of two-thirds of the members elected
to the House, such amendment shall
be republished, as aforesaid, for at
least six months prior TO the next gen.
eral election, at which election such
proposed amendments shall be sub
mitted to the people for their appro-
val or rejection, and if the majority
OF the electors voting at such election
shall adopt such amendments, the
same shall become part of the Con-
stitution.
Sec. 3. When more than one
amendment il submitted at the same
time, they shall be 50 submitted as
to enable the electors to vote upon
each amendment separately.
Sec 4. No convention for the
formation Of q new Constitution
shall be called, and no amendment
to the Constitution shall be, by the
general assembly, made before the
year 1865, nor more than once five
years thereafter
The second reply is this Sup
pose the grievance real, and that it
ought to be redressed, it is necessa-
ry for Congress to unlawfully inter-
fere for that purpose, inasmuch as
the Lecompton Convention has pro-
vided full, lawful and perfect rem
edy for every conceivable grievance,
and placed that remedy in the I'M
restricted hands Of the majority of
the people, by inserting in the Con-
stitution of Kansas the following
distinct and uncquivocal recognition
Of power, viz
All political power is inherent in
the people, and all free governments
are founded on their authority, and
insti Eated for their benefit and there
fore they have at all times an ina
lienable and dcieasible right to alter,
reform or abolish their form of gov
eminent in such manner az they may
think proper,
The abolitionists of Kansas have
thus far sought power by methods
unknown to the law and by violence,
and not through the peaceful agency
of the ballot box Claiming to have
a majority of the voters in the Ter.
ritory, and therefore able to elect
Legislatures and Conventions, they
ask Congress to wronfully do for
them what they may, at legal times
and legal places, rightfully do for
thcmselve: that is. change or abolish
their Constitution And in case Con
gress refuses Ia comply with their
unconstitutional demands, they threa-
ten to afilict the country with an at
tempt at bloodshcd and revolution
Unless Congress will do for them
what they assert they are numerous
enough to do for themselves, but
which they wilfully refuse to do, they
threaten TO plunge the country into
civil war. This conduct is 40 ex.
cccdingly unreasonable as to force
the conviction upon the country that
they are conscious OF being in a
hopeless minority, and only expect
to be able to compass their unwar-
rantable ends by extorting them from
the general love of peace and quiet.
If your Committee are not greatly
mistaken, these reckless men mis-.
Judge the American people, and will
be required to seek peaceful meth
eds for the redress of all their griey-
ances. whether they be real or ina
ginary.
The Committee do not approve the
ordinance accompanying the Constr
tuition, and report against lis allow
ance; but they do not regard it rs
j L -