The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-11-10


ators and newspapers into n great south.
ern victory, led the South into the delu.
sion that Kansas might be made slave
State, and induced it to join in false
and useless issue, which has kept the
whole country in turmoil for the last four
years, and gave fresh life and vigor to
the abolition party.
Through the most disgusting, as well
rs tragic scenes of fraud and force, the
Territory of Kansas at last came before
Congress for admission as u State, with
what is known as the Lecompton Consti.
tuition. embodying slavery among its pro.
visions. But at the same time the con-
vention, by an ordinance, demanded Of
the United States some twenty three NIL.
lions of acres of land, instead of the four
millions usually allowed TO new States
containing public lands. It was almost
certain that a majority Of the people of
Kansas we've opposed to this constitution,
but would not vote on it; and this addi
tioual nineteen millions, which, if allowed
would probably have kept them again
from the recent polls, was what the South
was expected TO pay Tor that worthless
slavery clause, which would have been
annuled AS soon as Kansas was admitted.
| confess my opinion WAS that the South
herself should kick that constitution out
OF Congress. But the South thought
otherwise. When tie bill for its adoption
was framed. with what is called the Green
Proyiso, strenuously objected to it. and
felt very much disposed to vote against
the whole, but again gave up To the South
which accepted it Ly acclamation. Iftha,
proviso meant nothing, and so interpre-
ted II, it was nonsense aud had no bust
ress there, being without precedent. Ii
II could be made TO mean anything, it
must have heen something wrong and
dangerous. But, as ] said, the South
took that bill far and wide. The House
rejected it. They passed then the Crit
tendon substitute, which proposed TO sub
init the Lecompton Constitution 10 vote
of the people OF Kansas and to accept it,
If ratified by them. The Senate had pre-
viousl y refused that substitute. and did so
a second time. 1t then asked :. commit
tee Of conference. That committee repor
ted wha, is called the English Bill
Bv that bill Congress accepted the LIE
campton Constitution pure ana simple
without proviso. The Land Ordinance
Of the Lecompton Convention. which was
in no wise part Of the constitution, but
separate measure, demanded, as have
said, donation of some twenty-three
millions OF acres Of laud, being nineteen
millions more than had been given TO any
other land State. The English Bill cut
this down to :he usual amount OF four
millions OF acres, and required that the
people Of Kansas should raii!y this mod.
iticalion, and surrender all claim to the
remainder of the lands, as the condition
OF her final admission. Such requisilion
has been made on every new State, cary
eel out OF the public lands, that has been
admitted into this Union--someti,nes in
the enabling act, and where there WAS
not enc, always after accepting the con
Stitution. Go to the statutes Of Congress
and you will find it in every one of them.
IL is the custom, IL is re;esSarv, and this
feature in the English Bill was in accor-
dance with strict precedent. The only
difference is this that usually the Legis
lature OF the State has been required to
accept this compact by an rrevocable act,
but III this case Il was referred TO the peo
pie of Kansas directly. In this there was
no sacrifice Of principle whatever, nor was
1t without precedent altogether, for in the
case Of the State last before admitted,
Iowa, this question had been submitted
TO the legislature or the people, as Iowa
might prefer. This is the whole sum and
substance of this English bill, except :hat
it further declared that unless The people
OF Kansas accept this modified ordinance,
they should not be admitted Us State
until they had population that would
entitle them to one Representative under
the fedel al apportionnent. voted for
this bill; ] voted properly; Voted no
compromise; | sacrificed no particle OF
principle or southern interest. IL is true
IFS phraseology is halting and hungling.
Ii was drawn up hastily and in great ex.
element. objected to the wording Of it
IN several passages, but assured myself
that nothing sinister was designed. and
voted for it leaving its authors responsible
for its diclion on the statute book.
thought 1t preferable TO the first bill the
Senate passed, and voted for il more will.
ingly. Il is true some northern demo.
Gratis who voted against the Senate bill
voted for this, aud thus it was carried =.
But was that q reason why should not
vote for il? Does that prove lhst sac
riticed any principle. They found them.
selves wiong, and perhaps wanted some
excuse to rctrace their steps. was hap
py to assist in giving it to them without
cost TO ourselves. | Wac particularly
pleased to get rid of the mysterious pro.
viso Of the first bill, and TO require a
solemn compact in regard to the public
lands, which had not been properly pro.
yided for in that bill.
The only principle involved in this
whole Kansas atfsir-if an affair so rot
ten, from beginning to end, can have a
principle at all--was this; Would Con.
gress admit slave state into the Union
The Sanata said yps The HOusa h.,