The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-09

of admiration wherever she appears in Euro
pean ports.
The Policy Of Mr.. Buchanan ON the Kansas
Question.
We yesterday published despatch from
Washington giving the rumor that Mr. Buchanan
is in favor OF the admission Of Kansas as free
State. Complicated indeed has been the issue on
his subject during the recent Presidential cam
paign. 1t has been presented in every shape
incidental to SO serious question, with all the
ingenuity Of sophisry on the one side, and all the
natural indignation Of outraged liberty on the
other. The most incredulous, however, have
been startled 10y the facts in the case, and the
most phlegmatic have resisted the extension of
slavery by fire and sword. The tremendous
popular vote for Fremont, the mighty phalanx of
States who have opposed the overthrow of con-
stitutional principles in Kansas are indications
enough Of American sentiment upon this great
question.
Notwithstanding all the special pleading, the
false issues false constructions and false reason
ings which have been put forth to disguise the
true state Of the case, it now stands forth on its
own merits, and as such it is to be and must be
met. What Mr.. Fillmore and his supporters
dodgel can no longer be evaded. 1t is specially
before Mr.. Buchanan and before the nation: Is
Kansas to be free or q slave State?
There is no doubt that the pro-slavery men
in the South will lose no time on their
part to mature their plans. A pro-sla-
very State Convention viii be called in
Kansas, pro-slavery constitution win
be adopted, and at the first session Of the next
Congress they viii knock at its doors and ask ad-
mission. The Missourians viii take care to be
on hand and in full force, at these preliminary
movements, and the Southern States win make
the Capitol resound with their demands. What
viii be Mr.. Buchsnan's policy under this state
of things. Under the compromises Of the constitu
ton, under the force Of its provisions, be may
deem it safe, and wise. indeed, to maintain the
equilibrium Of the States in the general govern
ment, by an equilibrium OF power in the Senate;
and cannot this be carried out by the division Of
Texas into other States? To this course there
can be no legal objections. 1t was foreseen and
a foregone conclusion, from the very circum-
stances which attended her coming into the
Union. But the admission Of Kansas is attended
with great difficulties. The unfarness of the first
attempts made by the organizations in Missouri
and other Southern States, to forestall the whole
question; the fraudulent and violent means used
to prevent the expression Of the popular voice
in the Territorial elections; the Illegal choice and
organization Of the Territorial Legislature; the un
constitutional, unlawful, repulsive, and violent
avs passed by it to prevent even the future ey-
Of citizens settling in the Territory for the opin-
ions they might entertain; the test oaths, the
wrongs TO jurors and officials elect. If they
do not sanction all these outrages, have made an
indelble impression upon the freemen Of this
country, and have damaged our Institutions all
over the world. There is no doubt-there can
be no dispute Of the fact-that the bulk Of the
Iona fdc settlers in Kansas, men, women and chill
drcn are free State settlers Ii fairly epumerat-
ed, perhaps not less than nine-tenths Of the bonn
fde voters Of Kansas are or will be free State
men. Notwithstanding this fact, they have been
deprived of their constitutional rights by Mssou-
II Iufiianism and the undue exercise Of the mill
AIRY power Of reckless administration.
There can be no peace with the Introduction OF
q new slave State by such processes as these. Ii
viii neither give security TO the South nor allay
the embittered spirit Of the North. IL viii be an
open and continual sore, TO infect, rankle in and
weaken the body polite. IL would seem, there
fore, to be the policy Of Mr.. buchanan to act in
reference to the will Of the actual settlers Of Kan
sas TO ignore all coercive measures. all military
forays and expeditions, and TO supersede the
policy OF Pierce and Atchison by one Of good
faith in carrying out the popular principle Of the
Kansas and Nebraska bill. There is no question
that on the adoption OF policy like this rests
he final settlement OF the matter, and that IL It
was adopted upon a fair expression OF the
actual opinions Of the actual settlers in the
Territory, IL would result in a free State
convention. free State constitution and the
admission Of Kansas as free State. II is in this
view Of the subject that symptom Of an indie
pendent and conservative course which Mr.. Blu
chanan is shaping out for himself IL furnished by
the information given US by our despatch from
Washington. 1t leads us to imagine that his
policy will be TO favor the admission Of Kansas as
a free State, under the conviction that the de-
which have been made, Of the will
Of the majority Of the iona de settlers Of the Ter
ritory, demand such a course of conduct No
doubt this viii produce an intense excitement
OF the South; but nevertheless, when it shall be
made to appear that Il is nothing more nor less
than an application Of the principle Of the Kan
sas and Nebraska act, the law abiding and the
Union loving citizens of the United States in the
South as well as in the North, will acquiesce in
the measure, and especially at the South, If e.
new States are admitted from Texas, TO preserve
the political equilibrium Of the United States
Senate.