The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-02-10

The question Of slavery was submitted to the election
Of the people on the 2lst Of December, last, in obedienc,
to the mandate Of the Constitution. Here, again, a fail
opportunity was presented to the adherents Of the To
peka Constitution, if they we're the majority, to decide
think proper. 1t is true that the people Of Kausa.
might, il they hal pleased, required the Convention "a
have not done. The only remedy therefore in this cas-.
is that which exists in oil other cases. If the delegate.
have in any manner violated the will of their con.
~s,itueuts, the people always possess the power to change
their constitution or laws according to their own
pleasure.
the pefce Of this distracted Territory but they again
refused to exercise the right Of popular sovereignty, and
again suffered the election to pass by default.
heartily rejoice that . wiser and better spirit pre.
vailed among a large majority Of these people on the
FIRST Monday in January, and that they did on that day
and other State officers, q member of Congress, and
members OF the Legislature. This election was warmly
contested by the parties, and a larger vote polled than
1t any previous election in the Territory. We may now
reasonably hope that the revolutionary Topeka organiza-
ton will be speedily and finally abandoned, and this
VT! 60 far toward a final settlement of the unhappy
differences in Kansas.
1t frauds have been committed at this election by one
or both parties. the Legislature and people of Kansa.
under their Constitution know how to redress themselves
and punish these detestable but too common crimes
without outside interference.
The people of Kansas have then in their own way,
and IN strict accordance with the organic act, framed a
Constitution and State Government, have submitted the
allimportant question Of slavery to the people, and
have elected a Governor, u Member of Congress, mem
bers Of the State Legislature, and other officers, and
they now ask admission into the Union under this Con-
stitution.
Republican in its form, it is for Congress to decide
whether they will admit or reject the State which has
thus been created. 1885,
For my own part I am decidedly in favor of its ad.
mission, thus terminating the Kansas question. This
will carry out the great principle of NON intervention
Sanctioned by the organic act which declares in ex-
press language in favor of the non.intcrvention of Con-
gress with slavery in the States and Territories leaving
the people perfec ly free to form and regulate their
domestic institutions in their own way, subject only to
the Constitution of the United States. In this manner,
by localizing the question of slavery and conining it to
the people who are Immediately concerned, every patriot
anxiously expected that this Question would be banished
from the balls of Congress, where it has always exerted
a baneful influence to the country.
Mr.. Buchanan further suggests: 1t has been solemnly
~adjudyed 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 a slave State az Georgia or South Carolina.
Without this, the eqality Of the sovereign States CON-
posing the Union would be violated, and the use and
enjoyment of territory acquired by the common treasure
OF all the States, would be closed against the people and
property Of nearly half of the confederacy. Slavery can
therefore never be prohibited in Kansas except through
the means of constitutional provision, and in no other
manner can this be obtained so promptly, If the majority
Of the people desire it, as by admitting her into the
Urion under her present Constitution. On the other
hand, should Congress reject the Constitution under the
idea Of ~afording the disafected in Kansas a third op.
portunity to prohibit slavery in the State, which they
might have done twice before, if in the majority, no
man can foretell the consequences. If Congress, for
the sake of these men who refuse to vote on the 2lst of
December, when they might, as they claim, have stricken
slavery from the Constitution, should now reject this
State because slavery remained in the Constitution, it
is manifest that the objection upon this subject will be
renewed in a still more alarming form than it has ever
before assumed.
Mr.. Trumble looked on the message as a perverted
and incorrect history from beginning to end on the diff:
6culties in Kansas He said there was no usnrpntiou
IN Kansas further than that committed by the President !
and the army which had been ordered there without au.
thority Of law. He argued that the admission of Kan
sas under the Lecompton Constitution would be a viola.
ton of the Kansas Nebraska act.
MIR. Douglas would not now 20 into an argument rela
tive to the questions raised by the Presidents message.
HIS op mons had been clearly expressed on previous &c
caslcns. He thought the better course would be to re-
fer the message to the Committee on Territories Hop
ing that course would be adopted, he asked leave to
present a re'nonstrance signed by certain gentlemen, as
the Governor and State officers Of Kansas, against the
reception Of that State into the Union under the lie.
compton Constitution, which he moved be referred to
the mmi on Territories and printed.
mr.. Toombs expressed bis hearty approval of the
Presidents policy. Adjourned.
Il