New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-16
THE FIRST DUTY OF CONGRESS.

THE FIRST DUTY OF CONGRESS.
II 10 a fair presumption that majority of Con
qress desire that Kansas should be a Free State.
We give the Northern members credit for believing
that Freedom il better than Slavery, and no doubt
few of the Southern are of the same way of think
ing. On this suppostion there is very decided
majority of the House and more than one half the
Senate who would prefer to-day to see Kansas
made Free State. But this is simply their natu-
raj aid not their political condition. Members Ofpo
tical bodies do not always vote according to their
honest convictions And this is the charge we so
often lay at the doors of those who are forever
playing into the hands of the shareholders instead
of rcsolutey standing out for the right. If men
would always act honestly, we should have small
difficulty in settling the whole Slavery question.
But they will not They see the right, but
pursue the wrong And this it is that adds so
much to the labors of those who are struggling for
the triumph of truth Thus although the fact is
as we allege in regard to a majority OF Congress,
the greatest difficulty exists in getting it papably
manifested. The members of either House who
are opposing the friends of freedom in Kansas are
party, and with view TO that partys present good
and ultimate success, instead of obeying their
own convictions of their present individual duty
This is the weakness OF man. The individual fails
to assert his proper manhood, but permits himself
TO be tool in the hand of circumstances. The part
of freedom and progress in this country. as in all
countries, is the only party whose members ap-
30 foo a of indiv id tal actin
Hence it is, that outside of the Republican ranks,
we fail to discern what the Members of Congress are
likely to do OH the all-absorbing topic OF the day.
We have at times hoped that the strength of their
CONVICTIONS in regard to what ought to be done for
Kansas, would prevail over the line OF conduct
marked out by the Slavery-extension leaders But
we have had much experience of Congressional
weakness, that it has always been impossible not
to feel doubt upon this matter. The vote of the
House on Thursday, by which it flung the Kansas
question into the maelstroOm of the Committee Of
the Whole instead of referring it to the Committee
On the Territories, where it would be Immediately
acted upon, more than confirms that doubt. By
this act Congress assumes the attitude OF inactivity
on the question. 1t virtually declares itself ready
Thus Kansas is left to itself rather to the tender
mercies of the Border Rufians
Congress having, in this manner, come to the de-
cisiOn to do nothing at present on Kansas affairs,
the question arises when will it be preparedtO act
What further progress in this perllous history
must be made beforehand And what will its ac-
ton be when ut last it is undertaken As We
20 haf no
members outside the Republican ranks and those
affiliated with them on the question of Slavery ex-
tension, will do. Being guided by considerations
foreign TO the merits of the controversy, and under
the lash and spur of Pro Slavery leaders, it is vain
TO conjecture TO what extent and in what manner
they will act 1t is far easier to adopt the alterna-
tive of non-action Congress did, substantially on
Thursday, than TO decide upon specific course Of
active proceedings. We may thus infer that the
do-nothing policy is likely topreva for the present.
But il is a policy full of peril. Members from the
Free States who persist in standing with folded
bands, while events are ripening in Kansas which
may drench its plains in carnage and convulse the
entire country must not forget that they are incur
ring fearful responsibility. If it shall turn out
tHut, through tntlI supluchtec VI "oht Va PNN
ence, civil war shall rage in that devoted Territory,
and its soil be wet by the blood of their countrymen
diving in defense of liberty, it will be difficult to
exsggerate the measure OF their criminality.
Considering the outrages upon the right OF suf-
rage in Kansas, the armed inrOads of the Border
RufiSns, the numerous murders OF unofending set
tiers of which the existing authorities take no no
tee, the general arming Of the whole resident pop
ulatiOn to protect themselves against invasiOn-in
fine the state of incpient war in which the Terri
tory at this moment lie, it is not too much TO say
that Congress is called upon 10 act promptly on
one side or the other. 1t is bound to take notice
of the conyused state of affairs there and to adopt
some policy in reference to it. 1t should declare
that the people of the Territory, in defending their
rights and in aiming to secure peacesble possession
of their homes against the semi-savages who hover
around them. are right or wrou, 1t should Do