The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-07-18


and know too little of the circumstances with
which he was surrounded, to be a competent
judge of his conduct in matter so nice as
this"
The inference from this, We understand to
be, that the President does not intend to be
held responsible to the South for whatever
Governor Walker says will happen in Kan
sas under the Laws of nature, as he has no
control in the premises, though it may be
doubtful, and on this point the President is
somewhat ambiguous, whether it was quite
prudent to say anything "Mcn and there -
about higher law" likely to prevent the
continuance of slavery in Kansas, especially
while the friends of the peculiar institution
are finding SO many obstacles from other sour
ccs in their efforts to introduce it there.
The conclusion of the Unions article so far
as it indicates the policy of the administra-
tlon-lts own purpose or the purpose of Gov.
Walker to do justice to all parties in Kansas
admits of various interpretations 1t was in
tended for southern readers and is as follows
" But there arc certain considerations which
will insure Gov. Walker a just if not kind
Judgment from every fair-minded man, cs-
peclally IN the South. A southern man him.
self ne has been uniform and consistent
champion of southern rights The EXTREMIST
men OF the section pressed him upon Mr..
buchanan for the highest place in his cabinet.
lie Is, besides, an able, far-Sccing and sagac-
ious statesman. Us little likely as any other in
the country to impale himself upon a point
of mere prudence. This alone might raise a
presumption that he neither did harm nor in
tended any to southern interests. But when
we see. i'll addition to this. that he is active
~ cooperating with the democratic party in
Kansas. including all the pro-slavery men in
the territory; when we find his whole course
sustained by the pro-slavcry presses there ;
when WE hear of no complaint whatever from
the quarter whence complaint ought to come,
If there were any cause for it, we are con-
strained to think that the Georgia and Mis-
sissippi Democracy have pronounced their
Judgment rather hastily
Governor Walker is a southern man: he
has been sent out by an administration pledy-
cd to the defence of southern rights: he is
surrounded by a corps of officers most of
them from the South. and every one of them
sound national men: he was instructed to
regard the territorial authorizes as legal. and
sustain them against the rebellion of the To-
prka Abotioni>tS; he is acting in concert
with The friends of the South. and gallantlv
fighting their enemies. We cannot help but
think that such a man. SO sent. so instructed,
so surrounded. and so acting. is cntitlcdto sym-
patty. comfort and aid from the South when
ever they can he given with conscientious
regard To truth. With such battle raging
III his front. ii was harsh and ungracious to
open this fire on his rear
This. as We have Just said. admits of var;-
Gus constructions. Does the writer ADM,
here i'll his effort to pacify the South ANYTHING
more or less than the Republican press has
for the last four wears affirmed and still af
firms that the whole influence and power Of
the National Executive has been cxcrtcd to
give to southern men and southern insti,u
tons the performance in Kansas And
does he not propose this as pledge to the
south. that. Notwithstanding something's said
by Gov. Walker looking in another direction,
the administration NAV be relied upon and
Gov. Walker too. to do all they can to sus-
tam the pro->lavcry and Border Ruflian rule
in Kansas and secure to the South all they
wish i'll the constitution Of the future State >
If all this is not fairly dcduccd from what,
We have quoted above WE do not understand
what ii does mean. But if we intcrprc, these
final declarations of the Government pancr
corrcctly-if the purpose and end of Gov.
Walkers course in Kansas. so far as it is die
tatcd and controlled by the administration at
Washington. be as the conclusion of this
otherwise uncNccp,ionablc article seems to in
innate. then We can readily agree with the
writer that while the administration and Gov.
Walker have been. in their wav. battling SO
zcalously for their southern friends in the
front they have been rcquilcd by a most I'M
gracious kick in the rear