Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-30

WASHINGTON, Jan. l6, 1855.
My DEAR Sir: Controversy having arisen
IN various quarters in regard to the issues in
volyed In the recent election in Kansas, result
ing IN your return as delegate from that Terri
tory, allow me ask that you will, if you think
proper, inform me what grounds were taken by
you IN the canvass, and what were the questions
which that election may, in your opinion, be
regarded as deciding.
Most respectfully yours,
HARRY HIBBARD.
Gen. John w. Whitfield, Delegate from
Kansas.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
January II, 1855.
DEAR Sir: / am in receipt of yours of the
10th instant, in which you ask me to inform
you "what grounds were taken by me in the
late canvass in Kansas Territory, and what
were the questions which that election may, in
my opinion, be regarded as deciding"
In reply, | beg to submit to you the follow.
ing extract from letter addressed by me to
gentleman in Tennessee, and published in the
papers of that State:
In relation to the political aspects of things
in the Territory, the passage of the Kansas and
Nebraska bill las it is called) Of Mr.. Douglas,
was an act of simple justice to the people, who
otherwise would have been placed under an
unfair and anti-American restriction. It was
the RECOMMENDATION of great principle first
promulgated in the charter Of our liberties
Upon the principle of this bill went through
the late contest, and triumphed, having been
supported by persons from slaveholding as well
as non-slaveholding States, who had faith in
their rights and capacity for self-government
vfrn0 tl.o o.r>1, -. al, L II
have taken their stand, and whatever shape
they, in their wisdom, may give to their institu
tons when they form State government
though to some it may be source of regret
according to the views they may happen to en-
tertain-to none can it afford just ground Of
complaint"
The above extract contains, | believe, d.
rect and explicit answer to your question in
relation to the ground occupied by me in the
late canvass / was elected as AN ADNINsTRA-
TON DEMOCRAT. 1t may, also, conceive, be
considered as equally explicit in reply to your
second interrogatory-viz: "what questions
the election may, in my opinion, be regarded
as deciding" / regard the election as decid-
ing the question whether the settlers of Kan.
sas believe themselves capable of regulating
their domestic affairs in their own way, and
determine, so far as the decision Is left to them
to uphold and maintain their rights of self
government against all interference and dicta-
ton from abroad. The people of that Terri.
tory, composed Of settlers from all sections OF
the Union-Americans in loyalty to the consti-
tuition, Americans in the spirit of adventure
that has led them to their new homes, Ameri-
cans in consciousness Of their intelligence and
capacity and rights as freemen-hsve declared
by the late election that they ask Of the gene
ro1r =, Xzf
Of mature age, and not the treatment due to
vassals or miners Severing the ties which
bound them to other States, they have identi-
fed themselves with the fortunes and the des-
tiny of Kansas. To them, they conceive, land
have so declared by the late election,) belongs
the exclusive right Of shaping the institutions
under which they are to live, and which they
will transmit as an inheritance to their chill
dren.
Hoping, sir that this will be satisfactory
reply TO your questions and that it may remove
all doubts which have heretofore existed in re
lation 10 the ground occupied by the people o.
Kansas and by me, their delegate.
i am truly yours
J. w. WHITFIELD.
Hon. HARRY HIBBARD, House of Representa-
tives, Washington.
We feel deep interest in all that concern,
Kansas and in all that relates TO the practical
carrying out Of the just and admirable princi.
Piles of the bill to which it is indebted for its
Territorial organization. We took warm and
lively interest in the contest which resulted
in the election Of the intelligent and energetic
delegate from Kansas-General Whitfield
But we. frankly acknowledge that the above
letter is, by no means, satisfactory. We have
all along been led to suppose that one Of
the issues in that exciting canvass--indeed
that the only important and vital issue was
whether Kansas should or should not be open
to slavery. We know full we'll that the election
Of delegate to Congress did not and could no,
involve Legislative settlement Of the question
and give to slavery the binding and sovereign
efficacy Of law; but we had been led to believe
and we thought it natural, that the vital issue
Of slavery or no slavery, entered as the CONTROL
ing element in the canvass. We thought tha
those who we're in favor Of slavery in Kansa,
would vote for a declared proslavcry man
and those opposed to it would vote for a de
clared anti-slavery man.
But in enumerating the issues involved in
the election, and in stating the grounds
taken by him in the canvass, General Whitfield
no where mentions slavery. We are thus left
10 conclude that be kept that vital element out
of the canvass and that his triumphant election
furnishes no indication as to the sentiments OF
the people of Kansas on the subject. He tells
ms in his letter that "upon the principle Of this
1.-THE Nebraska bill, / went through the late
canvass and triumphed, having been supported
by persons from slaveholding, as well as non.
slaveholding States" He tells us again-"I
was elected as an ADMINISTRATION DEMOCRAT"
We confess, that in common with many
others, We should have felt far less interest in
the Kansas election, had we known at the time
that it only settled--what il was obliged by law