The doctrine of the Silliman letter, that "slavery exists in Kansas under the Constitution of the United States," was assumed as a conceded theory.

"In emerging from the condition of territorial dependence into that of a sovereign State," the people might vote "whether this important domestic institution should or should not continue to exist." "Domestic institutions" was defined to mean slavery.

"Free to form and regulate their domestic institutions"-- the phrase employed in the Kansas-Nebraska act--was construed to mean a vote to continue or discontinue slavery.

And "if any portion of the inhabitants shall refuse to vote, a fair opportunity to do so having been presented, ...

they alone will be responsible for the consequences." "Should the constitution without slavery be adopted by the votes of the majority, the rights of property in slaves now in the Territory are reserved....