The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-03-18
Letter of Hon: Ks J. Walker to the
Eal.Ff.lbuS Convention


STNE, AND OTHERS, COMMIT
gh:-Your letter of the 22d ult
4tteived, inviting me TO attend and
a mass meeting Of the Democracy Of
rOhio on the 10th Of this month. | regret that
1t Is impossible for me to be with you ON that
occasion, but most cordially concur in the
great object of your meeting.
For the first time in our history, an effort is
now made TO force Constitution and govern.
ment upon an nchc ate State, against the well
known will Of large majority of its people,
Nothing can be more clear or conclusive than
the evidence demonstrating the fact, that an
overwhelming majority Of the people of Kansas
are opposed 10 the Lecompton Constitution.
This Is indicated by the disfranahisement of hall
the counties Of Kansas in the election of Dele.
gates 10 the Constitutional Convention, by the
skeleton vote given to those Delegates, ayerag-
ing not more than thirty for each, by the with.
holding of the Constitution by the Convention
against their well known pledges, from the p CO.
pie, By the result of the election Of the Terrific
rial Legislature in October last, when both
parties participated, by the miserable frauds
and forgeries perpetrated by the minority, to
supply the place of real electors, and finally
rendered certain by majority of ten thousand
against the Constitution, in the election holden
Onthe 4th of January last.
The last vote was taken under the call of the
Territorial Legislature of Kansas, the same au-
thority by watch the Convention was assembled,
and tlIis law was enacted by that Legislature
before any vote had been taken by the people
on the Lecompton schedule. Now, the Conven-
tion derived its authority exclusively from an
act passed by the Territorial Legislature, under
the comprehensive powers vested in that body
by Congress, but before the act Of that Conven.
tion was consummated by popular vote. and
whilst the whole proceeding was as yet imper-
feet. the Territorial Legislature, by valid law,
authorized the people to vote for or against the
Constitution. The vote under that law indcat-
ec an undisputcd ma jority Of more than ten
thousand of the people of Kansas against the
Lecompton Constitution. Indeed, one Of the
reasons given why the Lecompton Constitution
should be adopted by Congress is this: tha! if il
he'd been submitted to vote of the people, it
would have been rejected by them at the polls.
The fact then is proven incoptestably, nay,
it is conceded, that majority of the people of
Kansas are opposed to the Lecompton Consti-
tution and that il this instrument is ratified
by Congress, it will be forced upon that people
against their will. This is The great control,
ling fact which stands out in bold relief, and
thus presents case involving that fundamental
principle of public liberty and Of the Const-
tieni shall approved and admitted minority seek
to establish Constitution and government for
the people Of au inch0ate State? The great doc
trine OF State rights and State sovereignty lies
at the foundntion Of all our inst tutions.
The most vital Of all the rights Of State, is
the establishment of a Constitution, and if this
right can be disregarded by Congress, the whole
doctrine Of State and popular sovereignty is
discarded and overthrOwn. In doing suoh an
act, we are setting most fatal precedent; we
are undermining the very pillars upon which
rePoscs the whole fabric Of popular liberty.
We are permitting small minority to super
sede majority in framing State government,
aud Congress is becoming the ally and accom-
plce Of that minority, In overthrowing the
rights of the people. These are solemn and mo.
mcntous questions the real issue is, Shall the
minority or ma jority of tho people of a State
frame their government That is vital qucs-
ton; it involves the precise difference between
Democracy aud Oligarchy, Monarchy or Des-
potsm. 1t Is the first and | fear the last step
towards the overthrow Of our free institutions,
and If this can be done now, and by an author
ity so high as Congress, what will be the de
mand next made by the minority? Why that
they the minority shall control, not only Kansas
but the Federal Government, under threats of
overthrOwing the Constitution aud the Union.
lfsubmission is now yielded to this doctrine,
| it is very plain to me that the Federal Govern.
ment itself must pass into the hands of a min.
ority, and that the great Fundamental principle
| n ( must ha
subVerted.
cannot by single vote for solitary mo.
ment, sanction doctrine which must gradual.
ly undermine our system, and lead directly to
anarchy or despotism, 1t is not the case of
Kansas alone on which We are now celebrating
but upon great fundamental principle, which
ls now to be sustained or subyerted. That prin-
ciple comes home to the heart and judgment of
every eleCtor in the Republic. Shall the elec.
tive franchise become an empty form? Shall
the votes ofthe majority prevail, or shall they
be superseded by technical quibbes unworthy
the consideration of statesmen, or by an organ
lied system of frauds and fOrgeriesY Shall the
most clear aud palpable evidence, which would
carry conviction to the breast of any honest
judge or jury, be suppressed or superseded by
crimes, which should condemn their authors
and accOmpliccs to disgrace and punishment
There is a great moral as well as political ques.
lion involved in this controversy. We are ask
ed not only to sanction the overthrow of great
fundamental principle ofpublc liberty and the
Constitution, but to approve also series OF
frauds and forgeries, the most palpable and the
most wicked which have ever disgraced any
age or country, and thus forfeit our own self.
respect, aud that Of the whole civilized world
which must be the spectators of this iniamy.
II fthere be any crime which is more afro
cious than any other, 1t Is the forgery of olec'
ton returns, and especially In an election in
volving all the dearest rights of free people
in the establishment of State government. II
is now proved incontestably, by legal evidence
taken on oath before Legislative Committees
that in four precincts only in Kansas, where
more than three thousand votes were pretended
to have been given that four-flths OF the whole
were entirely fictitious, and that the returns
were forged and fraudulent, No man can oil
dare deny this testimony, From en- intimate
: and personal knowledge Of each and every one
of these precincts, know that this testimony
Is true, and yet we are asked to sanction Con.
} stltulon based upon crimes like these. Would
we not become accompliCes Of these crimes il
we should aid in the establishment Of gov.
3 ernment based upon themY If success can be
achieved by these aud kindred atrocities, aud
the high sanction Of Congress can be obtained
for them do we not open forever the food gates
OF vice and immoralityi Repdas are based
upon public virtue, and whal IT, ~. spbVerted,
, the vital spark oil Liberty viii - VI extin.
guished. The parchmentuPoa rIgAe Con.
stitntion is written may stu ri but the
lIfe-gwing principles Ofpopula Eer and Z.
public virtue will heve gone lOrsSz U y : sss.
But, althOughthe justice Of the = eipies for
which We contend may be admiltea by cur