Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-02-16

ine. Popular Sovereignty can be exer-
cised lere only through the ballot; and Il
the people will refuse the exercise of IL in
this manner, as they have done in Kansas,
in the election Of delegates. it is not for
them to complain that their rights have
been violated The Kansas Convention,
thus lawfully constituted, proceeded to
frame Constitution, ana having COM
pleted the work, finally adjourned on the
7th of November last They did not think
proper to submit the whole of this Con
stilution to the popular vote, But did sub
nit the question whe,Eer Kansas should
be n Free or Slave State to the people
This was the question which had convused
the Union and shaken it to its very center
This was the question which had lighted
tho flames Of the civil war in Kansas, and
produced dangerous sectional parties
throughout the confederacy.
II was of character 50 paramount in
respect to the condition Of Kansas rs to
rvet the anxious attention Of the people Of
the whole country upon it alone No per-
son thought of any other question. For
my own part, when instructed Governor
Walker in general terms IN favor Of sub
nllllInT ln6 SOISAllutOIi W lHo L
had no object in view except the all-absoIb-
ing question of slavery. In what manner
the people of Kansas might regulate their
other concerns was not the subject which
attracted my attention. In fact, general
provisions of recent State Constitutions,
after an experience of eighty years are 50
similar and excellent, that it would be
difficult TO go far wrong ut the present day
in framing new constitution. then
believe, that under the orgaric act Of the
Kansas Convention were hound to sub
nit this Oll-important question OF slavery
10 the people.
1t was my opinion however, that indie
pendently of this act, they would have
been bound to submit any portion of the
Constitution to n popular vole, in order to
give it validity. Had entertained such
an opinion, this would have been in OPP
position to many preccdents in our histoly y,
commencing in the very best aye of our
republic. [. would have been in opposi-
tion to the principle which rervades our
institutions, and which 10 every day carried
into prac;ice--that the people have Il right
10 delegate to the representatives chosen
by themselves, their sovereign power TO
franc Constitution, enact laws, and per-
form may other important acts, without
requiring that these should be subject to
their subsequent approbaiion 1t would
be most inconvenient limitation of their
own power, imposed by the people upon
themselves, to exclude them from exercis-
ing their sovereignty in any lawful manner
which they might think proper. 1t is true
that the people of Kansas might, if they
had pleased, have reqnired the Conven-
ton To submit the Convention to popular
rote, but this they lave not done.
The only remedy, therefore, in this
case, is that which exists in all other sim,
liar cases. Ii the delegates who framed
the Kansas constitution have in any man
rer violated the will of their constituents,
the people always possess the power
TO change their constitution or laws
according to their own pleasure
The question Of slavery was submitted to
the election of the people on the 2lst of
December last, in obedience to the man
date of the Constitution. Here again n
fair opportunity was presented to the ad
herents of the Topeka Constitution, if they
we're the majority, to decide this exciting
question ''in their own way" and thus
restore the peace Of the distracted Terri
tory; but they again refused TO exercise the
right of popular sovereignty. and again
suffered the election to pass b y default
heartily rejoice that wiser and better
spirit prevailed among large majority Of
these people on the first Monday in Jan
uary, and that they did on that day vote
under the Lecmpton Constitution, for a
Governor and other State officers, mem
Der of Congress and members Of the Leg
ielaturc.
This election was warmly contested by
the parties, and u larger vote polled than
at any previous elec ton in the Territory,
We may now reasonably hope the revo-
lutionary Topeka organization will be
speedily and formally abandoned, and
this will 60 far towards inal settlement
Of the unhappy differences in Kansas.
If frauds have been committed at this
election by one or both parties, the Leg
islnture and people of Kansas, under their
Constitution, know how to redress them
selves and punish these detestable, but
too common crimes without outside inter
ference. Tho people of Kansas have then
lin their own way, and in strict accor-
dance with the Organic Act, framed a
Constitution and State government, have
submitted tie all-mporlant question Of
slavery to the people, and have elected IL
member Of Congress, members of the
State Legislature and other SIae officers, ="
and they now ask admission into the
Union under this Constitution, republican
in i;s form. II is for Congress to decide
whether they will admit Or reject the
State which had thus been created.
For my own part am decidedly in "a
,or of its admission, and thus terminating
the Kansas question. This will carry ont
the great principle Of non-ntervcrtion,
sanctioned by The Organic Act, which
declares in express language in favor OF
the Intervention of Congress with sla-
very in the States and Territories. leaving
the people perfectly free to form and regu-
lata tba;r dOyoact;n inctitOtiopa IN thai,