The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-09-06
WASHINGTON CITY.
SATURDAY MORNING, SEPT. 9, 1856.
THE KANSAS QUESTION.

the compromise measures advocated by Clay Webster and
Cass in 1850 From 1890 to the date named nomi
nal compromise only had existed. 1t kept by
the northern fanatics In that long interval their war
against the geographical line then designated fierce
and incessant They Kept faith in that onesded
measure but repealed 1t in all their associations and conven-
onsin their party conclaves their speeches and their
public acts of every character As long as it lasted they
denounced it the of the land against which they
said they compelled by their grieved conscience
to bear testimony. In 1850 the public men from the
saveholding States proposed, measure of final adj
justment and pacifcation, to the line Of So 30
to the Pacific. The question tried in Congress,
and rejected by compact and nearly united vote OF
the non-slaveholdng States The South was not in
clined to complain cautiously of this Laying aside the
question of the unconsutonaity of the act of 1920 of
which we entertain doubt it had single element of
political philosophy practical craftsmanship to
mend it. 1t attempt under most arully created
of excitement suddenly started by sectional pre-
JUDGE and anmosy to establish arbitrary geograph
cal line applicable to social question. 1t was how
ever repudated by the real sentiment Of the North and the
South The love of the Union deep and strong amongs,
the good both Sides alone sustained it. In $780,
when the question again inevitably by the aequis
would be listened and spirit the part of the North
found willing to sustain it. The practical truth then
first impressed itself upon all men, that the stronger and
the would seize upon the whole heritage
else in the struggle TO do sof Congress- rend this
Union asunder Could it be supposed that under such
circumstances any portion of the States of this Union
would abandon their equal constitutional rights The
statesmen to whom have before adverted thought not
They were compelled resort TO other defnitiye
measure That turned out not to be one but wise
adapted by the principles of perfect justice to per-
manen relief against the repeated agtaons which had
often threatened the destruction of political system
In this connexion it is most instructive to know that
the statesmen of that day found it necessary to go
back and take the wisdom of fathers the best
and only guide. With the institution of slavery it
existed from the first and with constitution they
found other of except the plain, fun
damental principles established by that instrument
They were, that the States should be absolutely
equal in their rights privileges, and immunities The
people Of each territory instead of having arbi
trary, geographical line to settle political questions
affecting their social relations be the only power
to determine the character of their domestic institutions
just as every old had done for itself in establishing
sttuton of the United States This was right at first
and if So right 1t is the only rule by which
ereign communities can live together united govern
ment of States Is it not equal and just Can that be
answered in the negative Nobody has yet SO
swered III and we demand instead of idle pattude that
the man who questions it shall boldly make charge
against the wisdom Of the fathers.
When we say no man has answered 1t we do not mean
include Garrison and his platoon who have long ncul
Gated the idea that this constitution which had not only
the sanction of Washington and the sages of the revou
on but may be said to have been stepped in the blood
shed for independence, is a league with hell but we
that the proposition has been answered by
man claiming lore the institutions Of country In
1854 the indispensable necessity presented Itself Of organ
hing the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska The
prising smgrating spirit of people could not be
pressed The tide would roll on and power could stay
it large aud increasing population would pass into that
vast fertile region and the only question was Shall they be
there Nth or pitom LqWr Had Congress any moral dis
erection in the maer7 Was not their clear duty to pro-
vide for what they should have had inclination to pre-
vent and what they really had power to CONTROL Who
doubts it2 No Of intelligence Yet psrtisans igno-
ranty or wckedy ask, Why this question reopened
We reply that It hds been reopened but that an ur
gent and undeniabe necessity presenting ITSELF the sound
principles asserted n 1850 practically applied for its
That legislation had this extent and
No iust and patriotic deny it. Our countrymen
were invited TO solution Of difficult probem-Ho
nsw path Of advancement and greatness
suggested TO them But took principle ready fur
nished to our hands, and which fundamental in
institutions II is in vain to say that the Kansas and
Nebraska issue reopening of the slavery agitation
It IL false to say that Il the off We do not
deny that II was the leading political incident seized upon
by the artul and ambitious for evil purposes but history
srms that occasion has been wanting for the
last thirty years for all the disturbances upon this subject
which anatcism could produce The preenco for IL has
been found ut different times in every change and color
Of political events and in all sets Of circumstances But
there has been change in the purposes Of hose who
really desire to overthrow the constitution and to make
u.s. instead of being people with more individual and
cial enjoyment and with larger liberty than the world
has ever yet seem the fragments Of glorious repub
lie each and ALL North and South, smiten with unut
teable woe The occasion ofagiaton beginning in 1899
was the existence Of slavery in the District OF Columbia
then the admission Of Texas integral part of the
Union then the compromise Of 1850. We do
not say that each and all of these the real
causes Of the fierce strife Of aboonsm for they we're not
They were however like the Kansas and Nebraska issue
the rsenos, used for the time being stir and name
srt Of sectional preudce and anAtcsm To control