The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-02-10
.Lecompton Constitution.

PTerlde1tis is tue to his pledges and The
interests qf his country. While others
who have made more ,u9ie than: he hns
about Kansas, the rights of the South &c :,
have seized upon triflng prclcxt 10 aban-
don their former positions, he remains 6ru,'
and has taken II stand that entities him 10
the nd mira,ion and gratitude of the whole
canntry> For allpg whle past g,e Upiop
has been in state Of excitement about
Kansas, that has more than orce threaten
ed our favored laud, with the hurrors of .ci-
vii war. A Convention to form II Cpnstitu-
tion was lawfully called and lawfully clcc.
ted. That Convention famed a ,Consti,u.
.tion that recognized slavery. The slavery
clause was submitted TO the vote of the
people for their ratification or rejection.
sume time in December last, and was rati.
fled by large vote. 1t is uader this consii
tuition that the territory is now seeking ud-
of Judge Douglas is based upon the objcc-
lion that the whole Constitution, and not
n part only, should have been submitted -
The position, early, assumed by Ihe Judge
WAS this that the people of Kansas should
adopt their own Institutions and in their
own way, without the Interference Of Con-
gress. During the peudency of the Kan
sas and Nebraska bill, he was its peculiar
champion, and was then and for long
time subsequent, regarded rs one of the
chlefest friends of the South. But now he
turns his back upon Kansas ; and on the
ground that the people have not approved OF
the Who le Constitution. This is ut war, he
says with his G"ed principle that the pco
pie Of Il te = tory shall determine their own
Institutions and in their own way. This is
but prcteXt to cover the shame OF his
apostacy and has not. even the semblance
of plausiblity to recommend it. The peo
pie chose the convention, and the conven.
iion submitted as much of The Constitution,
us by the organic law, it was requircd.-
Was NOT this Tie people Of Kansas acting
for themselves I Besides the people Of
&anSa', when they voted on the slavery
clause, did not complain that the whole
was not submitted. Why then shouli
Judge Douglas ! More than this Judge
Douglas cannot fail to perceive, that in his
a,temp pit to force the people Of Kansas to
adopt Constitution in his way: he is war.
ring on he.very principle he contends for
Why, how can they determine their own
in fb.,.-
G" ngrcss forces them to adopt Con,ti.
tuition in Judge Douglass pay 1t
would perhaps, have been better, to have
submitted the whole Constitution, but they
have chosen to submit it in their otan ,oau
and it is not for Judge Douglas, nor any
ono else 10 gain say It. There Is but little
doubt.no nlatt.r how the Constitution might
have bcep ratified, but that Judge Doug
las could have found some objection, aud
have done just what he has dnne-turn his
back upon his former political friends aud
principles to play into the hands of the
freesoilers.
There is another party opposed to the
Lecompton Constitution. They say ma.
jorty Of the people are opposed TO it; and
the reason they assign for this OPPOSITION l.,
this Mr.. Stanton, Gov. Walkers Secretary
and acting Governor of the territory, short.
ly after the Convention framed Con sltu.
ton and submitted the slavery clause to tn {
vote Of the people, to please the abolition.
lists, and render himself popular. called TO-
gether the territorial legislature {; ard this
body ordered that the Constitution be sub
mlted to the people for ratification or re.
lection on the 4th Of January last. On that
day the aboIilionists voted and cast lar
ger number OF votes than the pro- slavery
men did in December This say they, is
evidence that minority Of the people are
opposed TO slavery. To this the just re-
ply is, that the territorial legislature did
what it had no legal authority to do. The
Convention, the proper body, had submit.
ted the Constitution, and therefore it was
unnecessary that The territorial legislature
should do so in addition to having no au-
thority. II the aboitlonsis had u majority
VI ItsHi NobcISb WY tUcl lOl cast lntln
at the proper time! Why refuse to vote at
all then, and appoint time Of their own.
without law, and with judges of election of
their own stamp, receive qualified and un-
qualified votes-a ragtag and bobtaiI crowd,
that could not have been produced from the
states in time, for the vote in December -
Ii is palpnbls that this transaction is charac-
terised by the usual deceit and fraud and
low cunning Of the aboIitionisis.
Amid nil this tfeachery aud basgness, il
Is peculiarly gratifying Us before remarked,
to lind the President honest and true. He
has sent the Lecompion Constitution to
Congress, with a Message Recommending.
that Kansas be admitted into the Union
Appended hereto is telegsnphic synopsis
Of the contents Of the message.
WASHING TON, Feb 2-The mes sage of
the President upon Kansas affairs is iu type
and amounts To four columns. 1t was read
TO Congress to-day.
The President says that delusion prevails
ms In th.... I'D, e l., Il