The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1855-11-22
From tic Albany Argus.
KANSAS AND THE ADMINS
IRATION


We take pleasure in lay ing before
our readers an elaborate article from
the Washington Union concerning the
course Of the President in relation to
affairs in Kansas. The Argus has
steadily defended the great principle
upon which the Kansas bill was bas-
ed, of leaving the people Of the Terri
tory perfectly free to form and regu-
late their own domestic institutions in
their own way, subject only to the
constitution ofthe United States
We saw in that principle funda-
mental democratic doctrine, which
runs through our wnoie system Of
government, and which has especial
ly constituted a dividing line between
the two great political parties into
which our people have been classcd
the docriEe Of the capasity Of the
people togOycln themselves. From
it5 application 10 the slavery question
we anticipated the same bencf :ial re-
suits which have marked its opei alton
in reference to other subjects Of dom
este regulation, and we saw no rca-
son why the right of the people to self
control should cease when this topic
was approached. We had conf
dence in the capacity of the people
to take care of themselves, and we
know no reason why this capacity
should not be al strong and inestima-
bic a right in tn, citizens Of Nebraska
and Kansas a in those of Massachu-
sets and New York. In a word, we
have never for amomeut doubted that
the theory Of the Kansas bill was
sound, and that it only required fair
play to work lis own vindication.--
Hence we hay. watched with much
interest and anxiety the progress Of
events in Kansas-deprecating every
interference with the ordinary pro
gress cf emigration and population
and with the free volition of her clti-
2ens, with a view to the control OF
her Institutions We were quite viii
ling that the hardy pioneers who
choose to subdte her soil and to re
claim her prai.ics should exercise the
right of self government, and shape
for themselvesthc framework Of civil
society and social life. We, ofcourse
preferred rtosee them establish insti-
tutions which accorded with our own
. views and tastes, but the right and re-
sponsibllity ofaction were with them
and with neither did we desire to
interfere, or to see others interfere.
The article which we copy from
the Union, so far as it may regarded
a. expressing the opinions Of the Pres.
ident, places him r4Uarcly upon this
great principle Of local sel-govcrn-
ment, and commits him to its defence
by the use ofsuch means for that por-
pose "a the ooastitutjon aad the law
have placcdla his hands, OF course
we cannot do less than approve OF
this position Of tho Chief Magistrate
1t accocd= with all our convictions OF
right AMI demands from lis a mere
partisan attachment could prompt
The article in thc Union disapproves
in the name Of The President, in dis.
tinct torm, Of the forciblc interfer-
cncc by citizens Of Missouri with the
affairs Of Kansas, as we'll rs of the
Off ,ious Ne lsachusctts intermed-
ding which provoked it. The reader
viii doubtless, do the President the
justice to note what is said of his cx-
ercise ofall powers which he is cloth
ed to protect the actual settlers in the
enjoyment Of their rights, and the dis
avowal which is made Of any intcn-
ton, in the removal Of Gov. Reeder
Of approving of the Missouri invas'
ion.
Doubtless, as the Union seems to be
well advised, great misaprehcnson OF
the real position ofthe President upon
this subject has gone abroad, mainly
through the perscvcring efforts ofthe
abolitionists and fusionists at misrep-
resentation. But the mists of error
are clearingu and, whatever differ,
cnces of opinion may prevail concern
ing the administration upon Other
questions Of policy or politics, it has
only on this sdbject to adhere reso-
lutely and impartially to the doc
trine of allowing the people-the ac-
tual Observation-Disclosures to settle the
slavery question for themselves, and
it will assuredly, IN that course of ac'
ton, command the appreciation OF
northern as well a. southern public
| sentiments.