The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-02-10


the speech of Mr.. Hickman, Democrat
ic member Of Congress from Pa, against
the Lecompton Constitution.
w President Buchanan has sent in
to Congress the Kansas Constitution, ac-
eompanied by lengthy message. We
hope in our very soul that the President
may not succeed in getting this measure
through Congress. The reasons he ad-
vancss in Its support may be satisfactory
to him, but we think they are not and can
not be to the great body of the people Of
this country. The President, in his Mes
sage. says:
x C the people have right
to delegate to the Representatives chosen
by themselves their sovereign power to
frame Constitution, enact laws, and per-
form many other important acts, without
requiring that these should be sabjsetse to
their subsequent appreciation. 1t would
be most iRcoEvenient limitation of their
own power, imposed by the people upon
themselves, to exclude them from exerci-
sing their sovereignty in any lawful man
ner which they think proper. tbs true
that the people of Kansas might, if they
had pleased, have required the Conven-
tion to submit the Constitution to pop
alar vote, but this they have not done"
1t may be that we have read the hists-
ry of this Kansas affair wrong, but if we
have not, then is the President mistaken
in saying that the people Of Kansas did
not require the Conventisn to submit the
Constitution to a popular vote. Prior
to the election for delegates the candi-
dates in the NEST solemn manner, in prin-
ted addresses, and in speeches, pledged
themselves to submit the whole Constitu-
tion to a vote of the people, and then
refused so to do No one doubts that
the people may delegate to the represent
atives chosen by themselves their sovereign
power to frame Constitution; but, in the
ease of Kansas, such q thing was never
thought of prior to the election of dele
gates.
The President further says in his Mes
sage:
The question of slavery was submitted
to the election of the people, on the 2lst
of December last, in obedieHcs to the man.
date of the Constitution. Here again a
fair opportunity was presented to the ad-
herents of the Topeka Constitution, il
they were the majority, to decide this 'ex.
citing question in their OWE way" and
thus restore the peace of the distracted
Territory; but they again refused to exer-
else the right of popular sovereignty, and
again suffered the election to pass by de.
fault"
If it can be called fair Submission O.
the slavery question that the people wsr.
compelled TO vote for the Lecomptor
Constitution before they could vote for ol
against slavery, then can the election o
the 21st OF December be called far op-
portunity to decide this exciting question
otherwise there was nothing fair about
it.
In speaking of the election held on the
4th of January, being the day fixed by the
Lecompton Constitution for the election
of State officers, member of Congress
aud the members of the Legislature, the
President says:
"If frauds have been committed at thi.
election by one or by both parties, the
Legislature and people of Kansas, under
their constitution, know how to redress
themselves and punish these detsstable
but too common crimes, without outside
interference"
The news from Kansas is that the Free
State party, at that election, carried thu
State ticket, the member of Congress anG
q majority Of the Legislature, and yet Cal
houn, to whom the returns were to be made
certi6es that the pro-slavory party have
elected their State ticket and majority
sf the Legislature. Now is 1t at all pre-
sumable that the Legislature will punish
Calhoun for his "detestable crime?" No
Our readers will reeollect that the las
Legislature. elected by the people of Kan
sss in their territorial capacity, was largel.
Free State; and that that Legislature
authorised an election to be held on thu
4th Of January, (the same day fixed b!
the Lecempton Constitution to elect off
GERS under it) to vote for or against tha
Constitution. Of this election the Presi
dent says:
! "This election was held after the Ter
ritory had been prepared fer admission
into the Union as sovereign State, ant