The Kanzas news., 1858-02-20


present day IN framing new Constitution.
L then believed, and still believe, that, un-
der the organic act, the Kanzas Convention
/ were bound to submit this all-important
question of Slavery to the people. 1t was
never my opinion, however, that, independ-
emily of this act, they would have been
bound to submit any portion of the Consti-
tuition to popular vote in order to give it
validity. Had l entertained such an opin-
ion, this would have been in opposition to
many precedents in our history, commenc-
ing in the very best age of our Republic
1t would have been in opposition to the
principle which pervades our institutions,
and which is every day carried into prac-
tice, that the people have right to delegate
to the representatives chosen by themselves
their sovereign power to frame Constitu-
tons, enact laws, and perform many other
important acts, without requiring that these
should be subjected to their subsequent ap-
probation. Itwould be most inconvenient
limitation of their own power, imposed by
the people upon themselves, to exclude them
from exercising their sovereignty in any
lawful manner which they think proper.
1t is true that the people of Kanzas might,
If they had pleased, have required the Con-
vention to submit the Constitution to pop
ular vote, but this they have not done.
The only remedy, therefore, in this case
is that which exists in all other similar cases.
If the delegates who framed the Kanzas
Constitution have in any manner 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 91st of December, in obedience to the
mandate of the Constitution. Here, again,
fair opportunity was presented to the ad
herents of the Topeka Constitution, if they
were the majority, to decide this exciting
question Gin their own way" and thus re-
store the peace of the distracted Territory !;
but they again refused to exercise the right
of Popular Sovereignty, and again suffered
the election to pass by default. I heartily
rejoice that wiser and better spirit pre-
vailed among large majority of these peo-
pie on the first Monday in January, and
that they did on that day vote under the
Lecompton Constitution for a Governor and
| other State officers, a member of Congress,
and members Ofthe Legislature. This election
was warmly contested by the parties, and
larger vote polled than at any previous
election in the Territory. We may now
reasonably hope that the revolutionary To-
peka organization will be speedily and final
! ly abandoned, and this will go far toward
final settlement of the unhappy differences
/ in Kanzas. If frauds have been committed
at this election by one or both parties, the
| Legislature and people of Kanzas, under
! their Constitution, know how to redress
| themselves and punish these detestable but
! too common crimes without outside interfe-
| renee.
The people of Kanzas have then, Gin
their own way" and in strict accordance
with the organic act, framed Constitution
and State Government, have submitted the
all-important question of Slavery to the
people, and have elected Governor, a mem
Der of Congress, members of the State Leg
| islature and other State officers and they
now ask admission into the Union under
this Constitution, republican in its FORM
1t is for Congress to decide whether they
will admit or reject the State which has thus
/ been created.
For my own part, am decidedly in favor
of its admission, and thus terminating the
Kanzas question. This will carry out the
great principle of Intervention sane
toned by the organic act, which declares in
express language in favor of the non-inter-
vention of Congress with slavery in the
States and Territories, leaving the people
perfectly free to form and regulate their
domestic institutions in their own way,
subject only to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States.'' In this manner, by localizing
the question of Slavery and confning it to
the people who are Immediately concerned,
every patriot anxiously expected that this
question would be banished from the halls
of Congress, where it has always exerted a
baneful influence throughout the country.
| 1t is proper that I should refer to the
/ election held under the act of the Terrific
rial Legislature on the first Monday of Jan
uary on the Lecompton Constitution. This
election was held after the Territory had
been prepared for admission into the Union
as a Sovereign State, and when no authority
existed in the Territorial Legislature which
could possibly destroy its existence or
1 change its character. The election, which
was peaceably conducted under my instruc-
tions, involved strange inconsistencies. A
large majority of the persons who voted
against the Lecompton Constitution were at
the same time and place recognizing its valid
| existence in the most solid and authentic
manner by voting under its provisions. l
have yet received no official information of
the result of this election.
AS question of expediency, after righ.
has been maintained, it maybe wise to re-
feet upon the benefits to Kanzas and the
whole country that will result from its i'm
mediate admission into the Union, as well
as the disasters that may follow its rejec-
1 ton. Domestic peace viii be tie happy
consequence of the admission, and that fine
Territory, hitherto torn by dissensions, viii
rapidly increase in population and wealth,
and speedily realize the blessings and COM
forts which follow agricultural and meehan-
ical industry. The people, then, will be