The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-02-13

i- tIar which raisls mall other similar causes.
lf ihr delrgtrf Wh1 framed lhg Kansas Com
situation haYr boz UUY manner violated lff
will oft lhrir constituents, che people Away
possess ihr UnUrrtD change llrir constitution
10 laHa according Co lhrr 0pn pleasure.
tHr question nf slavery Waa submitted %
thr elfri.0n Di tho people ON the 2lsi Of Dec.
IasL boo obedience 90 thg mandate Of the con-
|almtI0D, here lgHu q fair opportunity was
presented 90 lhr udhercnts ni the Topeka
Constitutional fhry were the majority Ga
decide ibis exciting question iu tbrIr own
way, und thus restore lhe peace oi that dis
tmcird Territory, lait thg- again refused o.
exercise The right of popular sovereignty, aud
again suffered The election 90 pass by default
] heartily rci0iced thlt o wiser aHA better
spirit prevailed among % large ty NJ
p. those people on tho frat Monday U muuay,
and that ihry did on that day vote under the
lorlmptOn Constitution llr Governor and
Iother State nilicera, member Of Congress
aud members Of the Legislature, This elec-
ton Wus warmly contested blythe parties, and
larger yolgpullcd than 90 any previous cleo
rirn ipths Territory,
We may uoW reasonably hopt that the rev
,pluiuUnry Topeka organization viii be- speed
'ily mi finally abandoned, and THE will 60 lar
towards % final settlement Of the unhappy diff
fraucrs in Kansas,
II frauds have been committed NJ this olcc-
ton hy ono on both parties, The Legislature
and the people ofkansns, under their tonstl-
Wli0u, know how a. redress themselves aud
punish these dfcstnblc but too common
crimes, without our Interference,
The people Of Kansas have then, In their
own way and la strict accordance with the
organic law, framed Constitution and State
GOycrnmcut-hayo submitted the Al-impOr-
/ tlut question of slavery a. the people, and
have elected Governor member Of Con
gross, the State Legislature and other State
officers aud they now ash admission into the
Union under this Constitution, republican In
H. form,
Il is for Congrcsfto decide whether they
viii admit or reject the State which Inns thus
been created, For my own purt, ! am decided
ly in favor uf its admission, and thus tcfmina-
ting the Kansas question.
This will carry out the great principles Of
non-uterycntiun, sanctioned by the organic
net which declares in express language in ia
yor of the uon-iutCUcution Of Congress with
slavery iu the States and Territories, leaving
the people perfectly f,cc 10 form and regulate
their domestic Institutions Ia their own way,
subject only 10 the Constitution Of the United
States,
In this manner Of localzug the question Of
slavery and combining IL TO the people whdoro
Is expected tlnt the que tion would be- ban,
i,hcd from the halls al Congress, where il has
always CNcrcd hauciuiiuiucucc throughout
the country,
II Is proper that should refer 10 the 'cl0c-
tons held under the act Of the Territorial
Legislature on the first Monday Of January,
on the Lgcumpton Constitution. This Clcc-
ton was held after the territory had been pre-.
pared for admission into the Union rs q SOW
crcign State aud when no authority existed
in the Territorial Legislature, which could
possibly destroy its existence or change it,
character.
The election, which was poaccnbly c5uduc-
ted under my instructions, involved strange
inconsistency A large majority Of the per.
sons who voted against the Lccompton Con
stitution, were at the same time and place re-
cogni2ing is valid existence in the most solid
mud authentic manner by voting under rs pro-
visions, have as vet received no official in
formation of the result of this election as
question Of cXpedioncy after right.
After IL hns been maintained, II may be wise
] 20 reflect upon the benefits 10 Kansas and the
| whole country that will result from it's immc-
diatc admission into the Union, as well Ms the
disasters that may follow its rejection domcS-
tic peace will be the happy consequence ofthc
admission, aud that fine territory, hitherto
torn by discussions, will rapidly Increase in
population and wealth. and speedily realize
the blessings and comfort which folow agr-
culture aud mechanical industry.
The people then will be sovereign aud can
regulate their own affairs in their own way.
If the majority Of them desire TO abolish do
nestle slavery within the State, there is no
other possible mode by which il can be ciIcc
ted SO speedily Us BY IT, prompt admission.
Tho will Of tho nlainritl-i4 S-pre!ae- &i4I i've
sstehlc when expressed in AN orderly and
lawful manner. IL can make constitutions NJ
pleasure, it would lee absurd TO say that they
can impose fcttcr5 upon tiJCir own power wiiirii
they cannot afterwards remove. If they co,ll
do this they might tie their own hands lust
las well FOR q hundred as for ten years.
Those are the fundamental principles of A.
mcrican freedom, and are recognized in some
form by every State Constitution. md If Con-
gress in the act OF admission shall think prop
cr to recognize them, can perceive no objec-
ton This has been done cmphaucally in the
Constitution Of Kansas, 1t declares in its
bill Of rights
"Kll political power is inherent in the peo-
pic, and ait free governments arc. FouRlea on
their authority and instituted for their benefit.
and they therefor have at all times an nnlicn-
able and indcicasabc right to alter, reform
and abolish their form of government in such
manner as they may think proper. -
The great state Of New York is at this mo-
mcnt governed under n Constitution framed
and established in direct opposition to the
mode prescribed by previous Constitution.
If therefore provision changing the Consti-
tuition of Kansas after the year 1864 could by
possibility be constructed into a prohibition,
it would be wholly unavailing. The Legisla-
turc already elected, may Mt its first session
submit the question to a vote of the people,
whether they will or not hnyc CONTENTION
to amend their Constitution, and adopt all
necessary means for giving effect to the pop
ular will.
II has been solemnly adiudged by the
highest judicial tribunal, thnt slavery exists
in Kansas by virtue ofthe Constitution of the
United States Knnsus'is therefore at this
moment as much a slave state as Georgia or
South Carolina. Without this the equality
of the sovereign States composing the Union