Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-02-12


committed at this election 10y one or both
parties, the Legislature and people Of Kan
sas, undor thcif Constitution, know how 70
redress themselves md punish these detes.
table, but too common crimes, without out.
side intorfefence. The people Of Kansas
have, then, in their own way, and in strict
accordance with the organic act, framed n
Constitution and State Government; have
submitted the all-importaut question oI
Slavery to the people; and have elected o
momber Of Congress, Governor, member
Of tho State Legislature, and other officers
and they now ask admission into tho Unior
under this Constitution. Republican in iti
form, 1t is for Congress 10 decide whether
they will admit or reject the State which
has thus been created. For my part, ar
decidedly in favor Of its admission. This
will terminate the Kansas question; thi,
will carry out the good principle Of non-in
tervention, sanctioned by tho organic act
which declares in express language in favor
of the nonintervention of Congress with
slavery in the States or Territories, leaving
the people perfectly free to form and regu
late their domestic institutions in their owr
way, subject only TO the Constitution of the
: United States. In this manner, by local
izing the question of Slavery, and confining
it to the people who arc Immediately con
cerned every patriot anxiously expected
that this question would be banished from
the halls Of Congress where it had always
exerted banefu influence on the country.
j II 4, cl rnco. a. H.
election held under the act of the torritori-
al legislature, on the first Monday of JAN
uary, on the Lecompton constitution. This
election was held, after the territory had
bcen prepared for admission into the Union
as sovereign state, and when no authori-
ty existed in the territorial legislature which
could possibly destroy its existence or change
its character.
Tho election which was peaceably con-
Quoted under my instructions, involved
strange inconsistencies. A large majority
Of the persons who voted against tho Lc-
compton constitution were at the same time
and place recognizing its valid existence in
the most solid and authentic manner by
voting under its provisions. | have yet re-
ceivod no official information of the result
of this election. As = question of expedi-
oncy, after right has been maintained, it
may be wise to reflect upon the benefits to
Kansas and the whole country, that will re-
suit from its immediate admission into the
Union, as well rs the disasters that may
follow its rejection. Domestic peace will
be the happy consequence of the admission,
and that fine territory, hitherto torn by dis
scnsions, will rapidly increase in population
and wealth, and speedily realize the bless
ings and comfort which follow agriculture
and mechanical industry. Tho people, then,
will be sovereign, and can regulate their af-
fairs in their own way. If the majority of
them desire to abolish domestic slavery
within the state, there is no other possible
mode by which it can DO effected so speed
lily as by its prompt admission. The will
of the majority is supreme and irresistible
when expressed in an orderly and lawful
manner 1t can unmake constitutions at
pleasure. 1t would be absurd to say that
they can impose fstters upon their own pow
er which they cannot afterwards remove. If
they could do this they might tie their own
hands Just as well for hundred rs for ten
years. These arc the fundamental princi-
pies of American freedom and are recog-
nizcd in somo form by every state constitu-
ton; and if Congress in the act of admis-
sion, should think proper to recognize them,
I can preceive no objection. This has been
done emphatically in the constitution of
Kansas. 1t declares in its bill of rights
that "all political power is inherent in the
people," and all FREQ governments are found
ed on their authority and instituted for their
benefit, and therefore have at all times an
naIienable and indefeasible right to alter,
reform and abolish their form Of govern
ment, in such manner as they may think
proper"
The great state of New York is at this
moment governed under a constitution
framed and established in direct opposition
to the mode prescribed by previous con-
stitution. If therefore, provision chang
ing the constitution of Kansas after the year
1864 could by possibility be construed into
prohibition to make such change previous
to that period of prohibition, it would be
wholly unavailable. The Legislature already
elected may, at its first session, submit the
question to a vote of the people, whether
they will or not have convention to amend
their constitution, and adopt all necessary
means for giving effect to the popular will.
1t has been solemnly adjudgod by the
highest judicial tribunal, that slavery exists
in Kansas by virtue of the Constitution of
the United States. Kansas is, therefore, at
this moment, as much of slave State, as
Georgia or South Carolina. Without this,
the equality of tho sovereign States COM
posing the Union would be violated, and
the use and enjoyment of Territory acquir-
ed by tho common treasure Of all the States
would be closed against the people and
property of nearly half of the members Of
the confederscy. Slavery can never there
fore be prohibited in Kansas, except through
the means of constitutional provisions; and
in no other manner can this be obtained so
promptly, if tho majority of the people de-
sire it as by admitting her into the Union
under her present Constitution.
On the other hand, should Congress re-
jsct tho constitution, under the idea of af-
fording the disatfcctcd in Kansas q third OPP
pOriunity to prohibit slavery in the State,
which they might have done twice before,
if in the majority, no man can fortel the
lconS0a,ancaa II GonOrass far tho caka of