, 1855-08-31
The Attitude of the Question.

congressman reStrlctlonS never Kept
slavery out of any State. Whether such res
triction$ exist or not, the problem of slave
ry will always be worked out by every pco-
pie, for themselves, in their own way. Iii
nois is free State, but the ordinance Of
1887, which was spread over her, did not
make her free Wien a territory, her leg
islature authorized slavery. Her first CON
stitutioD, under which she was admitted
into the Union, recognized slavery. From
> 1922 until 1924 fierce local coutcst-as
fierce struggle as has ever been known
ragged TO determine whether slavery Should
exist or not. The people determined the
matter for themselves. 1t was the people
Of Illinois who alone decided it, not the or
dinance Of 1881, nor the Congress of the
United States. Neither one nor the other
had power over the question.
Just so it must be with Kansas. What
ever may be the opinions of class Of pol
iticans as to the power Of Congress over
the Territories in their inchoatc condition,
there are few who question the right of Il
people, in forming State constitution, TO
regulate every domestic question. There
is no doubt about the right ANY other
doctrine is absurd A S'atc, after admis-
sion, may change her constitution in any
aud all respects, without reference TO Con
grcss How ridiculous, then, the prclcn"c
that Congress may impose restrictions upon
the admission Of State.
/ Now, respecting slavery in Kansas. II
/ all the accounts as to fraud in the late cleo
ton are true-if the legislature about to
meet is not tho choice Of the actual settlers
of the territory, but Of IN armed mob from
! MisSouri-we should be inclined TO the
I opinion that its acts, whatever they may
be, ought to be treated MS nugatory. II is
immaterial whether it ltgaize slavery or
4 prohibit it-abolition can no more be im-
posed upon people against their will than
slavery But when the ACTUAL SETTLERS Of
Kansas act.--the pioneer popnlation-the
men who live and have cast their fortunes
on its soil-who are subduing its forests,
and planting civilization in its borders
when these men take up the question Of
slavery and decide it, their decision will be
conclusive, and without appeal to any 9th
er tribunal No other principle eau he tol-
erated--no other principle can stand.
We hope Kansas will determine that her
interests DO not require negro slavery,
chiefly for the reason that VIC believe her
interests will be immensely enhanced by
prohibiting it. II we viewed the question
simply with tho eye of a philanthropiSt, VIC
might wish that slavery could bo diffused,
not only over Kansas and Nebraska, but
the whole country. If slavery be an evil,
we suppose there arc none who question
that diffusion will mitigate it, If it was
spread over the whole continent, the black
race would labor under less rigorous bond
age than if confined within narrow area
In this light, We say, if We viewed the
question simply with the eye Of philan-
thropist, we should exert ourselves for the
extension Of negro scryitude rather than
for contraction. But, after all, would not
this be exclusive negro philanthropy p
4 Would, il not be seeking the paramount
happiness Of the black man at the expense
of the white? Does not higher consider
alton than philanthropy urge that the in
quiry should be, in the case Of Kansas, and
Of every other new territory, whether the
interests Of the white population will be
subserved by the introduction Of slavery !!
, We think SO and in this light we hope
Kansas will determine to become free
: State. a.r
But the higher consideration than phi
lanthropy is the one upon which we must
steadily look The questions of philanthro-
: py, cxpediency and interest in this case be-
long exclusively to the peopIe--the bona
fde people--of Kansas The North, no
more than the South, has nothing TO do
: with them. The higher consideration is,
that when the territories are erected into
States by their own action, that, in the for
nation of their constitutions, under which
they ask admission, the people of the terri
tories have the most perfect right to give
their own form to their own institutions aud
in their own way"
A more beautiful, more republican, u
more democratic doctriue was never euun'
ciaicd than this. 1t IS the doctrine Mr.
Calhoun was willing to stand upon in lS47
] 1t is the doctrine Gen. Cass proclaimed in
lS48. It is the doctrine two democratic
national conventions have abidcd by. 1t is
the doctrine of the Kansas Nebraska act
! for therein it is declared. at is the true
: intent and meaning Of this act not to legslatC
: slavery into any Territory or State, nor to
! exclude it therefrom, but TO Icarc The peoptc
0 thereof perfectly free to form and regulate
S their domestic Institutions IN their oioE lcay
! subject cnly 10 the constitution Of ne Cnifea
: States"
ii G,suurpF n oru IN Sorrtt H,UnttN, -