The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-12-16

The anu-SlaVefy party WeFe tuuS PlaCeu
in the ascendant, and the political power
of the State was in their,own hands.
Had Congress admitted Kansas into the
Union under the Lecompton Constitution
the Legislature might at its very first
session, have submitted the question to a
vote of the people whether they would or
would not have a convention to amend the
constitution, either on the slavery or any
other question, and have adopted all nee
essary means for giving speedy effect to
will Of the majority. Thus the Kansas
question would have been Immediately and
finally settled,
Under these circumstances, submitted
to Congress the constitution thus framed,
with all the officers already elected neces-
sary to put the State government into op-
GRAFTON, accompanied by a strong recon-
mendation in favor of the admission Of
Kansas as State. In the course of my
long public life / have never performed
any official act, which, in the retrospect,
has afforded me more heartfelt satisfac-
ton. Its admission could have inflicted
no possible injury on any human being,
while it would, within a brief period, have
restored peace to Kansas and harmony to
the Union. In that event, the slavery
question would ere this have been finally
settled, according to the legally expressed
will of majority of the voters, and pop
ular sovereignty would thus have been
vindicated in constitutional manner.
With my deep convictions of duty could
have pursued no other course. tits true
that, as an individual, l had expressed an
opinion, both before and during the ses.
sion of the convention, in favor of submit.
ting the remaining clauses of the constitu,
ton, as we'll as that concerning slavery, tc
the people. But, acting ina an official char
acter. neither myself nor any human su'
thority had the power to rejudge the pro
) ceedngs of the convention, and declare
4 the constitution which ii had framed null
0 ty. To have done this would have beer
: violation of the Kansas and Nebraska
!, Act, which left the people of the Territory
e perfectly free to form and regulate thei
, domestic institutions in their own way
Il subject only TO the Constitution of the Uni
tea States.
Il would equally have violated the grea
4 kpripciple of popular sovereignty, at tn
I zine foundation Of our Institutions, 10 de
j prive the people of the power, if the
7 thought proper 10 excise it, of conhnln
IIto delegates elected by themselves tn
hust of framing a constitution, withou
hauiring them to subject their constitr
rs to the trouble, expense and delay Of
6hd election. 1t would have been
k.ion to my precedents in our histC
kumencing in the very best age {
\, of the admission of Territ(
es into the Union, without
9f4be people,approving the
Q lamented that a question s
when viewed in its practic'
The people Of Kansas, whetht
De way or the other, should haV
Reueh fame ofexcitement througl
iLe country This reflection may prov
A,lessen OF wisdom and of warning fc
future guidance. Practically consit
!, The question is simply whether tn
1e 10 of that Territory should first com
the Uuion and then change any pre-
SION in their constitution not agreeabl
IN % themselves, or accomplish the yer
y same object by remaining out of the Ur
Y, ion and framing another constitution in az
Of cordance with their will? In either Gas
is the result would be precisely the sam
y The only difference in point Of fact is, thI
y the object would have been much soon(
a! attained, and the pacifcalion Of Kansa
al more speedily effected, had it been admi
g ted as Stale during the last session
n Congress.
Ill Ny recommendation, however, for Il
immediate admission Of Kansas, failed
r meet the appreciation Of Congress. The
b. deemed it wiser to adopt different mea
ne ure for the settlement of the question. Fl
he my own part I should have been willin
II. to yield nay assent 10 almost any constit,
he tonal measure to accomplish this objec
er /, therefore, cordially acquiesced in VIII
its has been called the English COmpromis
en- and approved the "act for the admissiC
,h Of Kansas into the Union" upon the tern
he therein prescribed.
ed Under the ordinance which accomp
he MED the Lecompton Constitution, the pc
at pie of Kansas had claimed double Il
IA quantity of public lands for the support
IN common schools which had ever been pr
of viously granted to any State upon enteril
10 the Union; and also the alternate secto
ey of land for twelve miles on each side
on two railroads, proposed to be construct
from the northern to the southern bou
o. dary, aud from the eastern to the weste
,p- boundary of the State.
Vi Congress deeming those claims uure
ry sonable, provided, by the act of May
in 1858, to which l have just referred,
Ter the admission of the States, but "upon t
,as fundamental condition" that majority
ne the people thereof stuaag AnIeeti9n to