The Kanzas news., 1858-04-17

the sacrifice of their dearest riobts Ioat
which cannot be recognized az valid az, aug
out an absolute disregard of the fund.ma'n- n.'n-
al principles of our Government. ''n'-
To the people of, Kanzas, You. vho..
interests are directly involved in this CoS oe
stitutional movement, we can say, that ron.,
Delegates IN performing the duty entrns,a1
to them, have endeavored to frame c.
stitution adapted to the wants and esIcpI..
ed to conserve the highest interests of r..
zas. They now submit it to yotf for w..
approval or rejection. The limited tiH,a' :,
which the Convention has necessarily con
fined its session has prevented that delibs.
ration with which such instruments are usn.
Eaffy formed. but scrupulous care has baen
taken to avoid incorporating anything beliey.
ed to berepugnant to sny considerable portion.
of the people. The impending dangers have
been kept steadily in view, and because If
them. the aim has been, especially, to make
an instrument which every good citizen
may conscientiousiy approve. The Dele.
gates earnestly hope that they have been
entirely successful in this, for they are con-
seious that your peace and prosperity FOR
years to come, may depend upon their work
They feel that if it is such as to deserve
and receive your ready and hearty rati6ca-
ton, then, not only viii they have been
successful in their efforts, but you, the
people of Kanzas, will have created BY your
sovereign win an instrumentality with which
you may effectually contravene the conspir-
acy against your rights.
There Is urgent necessity that the rati6-
cation of this Constitution be of most
emphatic character, whether the pro-slavery
Constitution, now before Congress, is or Is
not received by that body. By direct
and overwhelming vote you have declared
your hatred to that instrument; by TIL
umphant endorsement of the work of your
own Delegates you viii again express your
hostility to the admission of Kanzas under
"a Constitution which is the embodiment Of
a Fraud, and the result may reach the Ns-
tional Capital in time to prevent the con-
summation of that great wrong already be-
gun by the Senate of the United States.-
But, if this wrong shall have been consum-
mated. then by your vote, you will be
choosing between a Constitution under
which Kanzas would be subjugated slave
State, and one under which it would be fos-
ever free and independent. You have It
within your power to reject and defeat the
hateful Pro slavery instrument by endOrs-
ing this new Free State Constitution.
Itmay be argued by some that such pro-
ceeding would be revolutionary, but the ar
guments are specious and unfounded. The
ad mission of State into the Union is
simple contract, the parties to which are the
people of the State and the Federal Gov
ernment. The terms of that contract can
in nowise include the Constitution of the
State, for if they did, no State could ever
change its Organic Law, without first OBJ
| tanning the consent of Congress. Upon the
admission of State, the Federal Govern
ment abandons its authority represented BY
the Territorial Government and the State
becomes independent in all things, except
wherein limited by the terms of the Fede-
raj Compact, and the people, consequently,
become possessed of full and sovereign
power, to make Constitution for them
selves and in their own way, without refer
ence to the Federal Government. No act
of Congress can give legal force to the
Fundamental Law of State. After the
admission of a State its Constitution de-
pends entirely upon the implied or express
ed sanction of the people for all of its le-
gal virtue and effect, and without that sane
ton it is in fact, and ever must remain,
null and void. With full confidence in
the correctness of these views, we declare
that if you, the people of Kanzas, adopt
the Constitution now presented for ratiiea-
ton and give to it a practical application
and enforcement, upon admission into the
Union, it will become the only lawful Con-
stitution, no matter what instrument Con-
gTess may recognize in the Act of admission.
b Whatever, then, may be the action Of
the Federal Government In regard to the
Lecempton Constitution, your highest and
best interests appeal to you to give to the
present movement all the significance which
the unanimous action of a people can inn
part to it. You have proven to the world
that the Lecompton Constitution is not
your choice. Let the world see, by your
course DOW, that your repugnance to that
instrument has not diminished in the least
You have resolved, never, of your own &C
cord, to live under it. Let it again be
shown that in this determination you are
ipfexible. Even in the absence of such
no people could, without the
violation of the fundamental principles OF
a free Government, voluntarily, submit to
a Constitution forced upon them or one
originated in fraud, and you, who are the
descendants Of iberty-loying race, and
who have suffered SO much and so long in
The pursuit and defence of your; rights,
will. we are confident, express by your en-
phatic vote that the Organic Law of your
State neuer shall derive its origin in any gy
Okatsver from the Leeompton Constitution
or Government, bat viii, demonstrate that
it is now. as it ever. has been, your high
aim and unalterable purpose to dedicAt'
Kanzas forever to Freedom By course
true to principle and worthy of men.
81. - JIM. WALDEN,
JAhEs FLsTcHER,
Tho: EwIse, JRs
e5 80 Isaac T. GooDsow,
HEnRy J. ADAxs.