Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-12-15

lHNIloeIs OF inc state legislature, ms C. |
lection was warmly contested by the two |
political parties in Kansas, and greater |
vote was polled than any previous cleo
ton. A large majority of the members !
OF the legislature elect belonged to that
party which had previously refused to
vote. The Gnti-slavery party were thus
placed in the ascendant, and the political
power of the State was in their own hands.
Had Congress admitted Kansas into the
Union uder the Lecompton constitution,
the legislature might, at its very first ses-
sion, have submitted the question to a vote
Of the people, whether they would or
would net have a convention to amend
their constitution either on the slavery or
any other question, and have adopted all
necessary means for giving speedy effect to
the will OF the majority. Thus the Kan
sas question would have been Immediately
ana iinaiiy settled.
Under these circumstances, I submitted
to Congress the constitution thus framed,
with all the officers already elected neces-
sary to put the State government into OPP
Grafton accompanied by a strong recon-
mendation in favor of the admission of
Kansas as a State In the course of my
long public life have never performed
any official act which, in the retrospect,
has afforded me more heartfelt satisiac-
ton. It's admission could have inflicted
no possible injury on any human being,
whilst 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 Xpressed
will o. majority of the voters, and pop
ular sovereignty would thus have been vim
dicated in a constitutional manner.
| With my deep convictions of duty, |
could have pursued no other course. tits
| true, that, as an individual, | had expi ess-
/ ed an opinion, both before and during the
/ session of the convention, in favor Of sub
hitting the remaining clauses Of the con-
stitutiun. as well as that containing slavery,
| to the people. But, acting in an official
character, neither myself nor any human
authority had the power to rejudge the
proceedings of the convention, and declare
| the constitution which it had framed to be
nullity. TO have done this would have
! been violation of the Kansas and Mes
braska act, which left the people OF the
Territory perfectly free to form and reg
ulate their domestic institutions in their
own way, subject only to the constitution
of the United States" 1t would equally
have violated the great principle of popus
! lar sovereignty, at the foundation OF our
| institutions, to deprive the people of the
power, if they thought proper to exercise
! it. of contding to delegates elected by
| themselves the trust of framing a consti-
tuition, without requiring them to subject
their constituents to the trouble, expense,
and delay of a second election. 1t would
have been in opposition 20 many preceo
dents in our history, commencing in the
very best age Of the republic, OF the ad-
mission of Territories as States into the
| Union, without previous vote OF the peo-
pie approving their constitution.
1t is to be lamented that a question so
insignificant when viewed in its practical
effects on the people OF Kansas, whether
decided one way or the other, should have
! kindled such a flame of excitement
throughout the couutry. This reflection
NAV prove to be lesson Of wisdom and
of warning for our future guidance. Prac-
tically considered, the question Is simply
whether the people OF that Territory
should first come into the Union and then
change any provision in their constitution
not agreeable to themselves, oraccompllsh
the very same object by remaining out OF
the Union and framing another constltu-
tion in accordance with their will? In
j either case. the result would be precisely
the sane. The only difference IN point
of fact is, that the object would have been
much soouer attained, and the paciticatlon
of Kansas more speedily effected, had II
been admitted as a State during the last
session of Congress.
NV recommendation, however, for the
immediate admission of Kansas, failed tc
meet the appreciation of Congress. They
j, doomed it wiser to adopt a different meas
ura for the settlement of the question:
For my own part, | should have been
WILLING to Weld my assent to almost any
constitutional measure to accomplish tins
object. |. therefore, cordially acquiesceo
in what has been called the English Com.
promise, and approved the Act ior lh'
/, admission of the State OF Kansas INTO ths
, Union" upon the terms therein prescribed
Under the ordinance which accompa
MED the Lecompton constitution the peo'
nIo of Kansas had claimed double the
: duantity of public lands for the support o
, common shools, which had ever beeh pre-
. yiously granted to any State upon entering
I the Union: and also the alternate sections
of land for twelve miles on each side o
+ two railroads, proposed to be constructed
fror, the northern to the southern boun
; dory ~ mad from the eastern to the western
boundary of the State. Congress, deem
Ing these claims unreasonable, provided
3 i,ss. oct of Nav 4. 1858, to which ] have
;Tst referred. for an admission Of the Stat
On m an equal footing with the oTigina
: States. but, "upon the fundamental con
dition % rrecedent" that majority Of the
neoDIe S,n, thereof, at an election to be helc
for that purpose, should, in place Of the I
very large grants Of public Janus I.'o,od Wilioi
! thew had demanded under the ordinance
. accent such grants as had been made t.
Minnesota and otl or new States. Unde
+ this act, should a majority reject the prop
ogition offered them, 'it shall be de,eme'
4 and held that the people of Kansas 90 no
1. i f.,ag, 4