Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-08-19
A short view Of . Long subject.


A short View or = Long subject.
The pseudo Republican party Of to-day
make the welkin ring with the cry of {" breach
of plighted faith, "dshonored compact" &C..
&c, after having themselves so utterly disre-
garded that faith and trampled that compact
beneath their feet, as to render imperative for
the safety of the Union new compromise
upon new basis, and this being adopted, they
turn about and charge the friends of the peace
and prosperity Of the Union with the commits
sion OF the very breaches wrought by them
selves, and for doing that which themselves
had rendered necessary, and abrogating that
which themselves had declared tc be wrong.
unjust, and "in opposition to the spirit of our
institutions" and which they have manifested
no disposition to restore, but on the contrary
have, i'm Congress, at this session, though
tested upon it, refused to revive. Such is their
consistency. But while they thus accuse
others Of breach Of plighied faith" how
does their record stand in another respect?
Look at it as regards Kansas. In 1903, that
territory was ceded to the United States. 1t
was then under laws permitting slavery By
the treaty, which is Of the highest of compacts,
it was stipulated as follows:
"Art. 3. The inhabitants of the ceded terri
tory SHALL BE Incorporated in the Union of the
United States, and ADMITTED as soon as possi-
ole, according TO the principles Of the Federal
Constitution, to the enjoyment Of ALL the
rights, advantages and imnunities of citizens
of the United States, and in the meantime
they shall be maintained and protected in the
enjoyment Of their liberty, property, and the
religion which they profess"
Here was compact in 1903, solemnly bind
ing the United States ito maintain and pro-
tect the property" Of the inhabitants of the
territory until it should be incorporated into
the Union. portion of this property was
sloces, and they could then be held in Kansas.
How could Congress in 1920 annul that com
pact as to those inhabitants, and by its legis-
lative acts prohibit them from holding that
property to which in 1903 it had undertaken
to guarantee protection to within the "ceded
territory" Is the "breach Of faith" in 1920,
with foreign nation, less iniquitous than the
abrogation of the act by which that breach
was committed?
But, again: these Republican accusers
now demand that a restriction be placed upon
Kansas in order to her admission as State.
They require that an inequality shall exist be-
tween that State and the other State sovereign
ties. Aside from the Constitution and the
theory of our Government, is not this direct
"breach OF faith" and violation Of the treaty?
Under that treaty Kansas has a right to de-
mand to be incorporated into the Union, and
admitted according to the principles Of the
Federal Constitution to the enjoyment of all
the rights, advantages and imnsunities of cai-
Gems OF the United States" and Congress has
no right to repel her, when she has sufficient
population, and presents regularly adopted
Constitution, embodying the will of the people,
fairly expressed, with republican form OF
government, and asks admission Congress
has no right in her case, whatever may be its
rights in other cases,) to impose conditions, or
refuse her admission That question was set
tied by the treaty, and it would be we'll for
these censors of the morals of others, while
they are making such a hue and cry about the
mote in their neighbours eye, to look to it that
the beam is not in their own eye.