The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-12-19
The Presidents Message.

Ueut- Is ~ N%>~~ r.
that portion relating to Kansas. the press OF
the whole country, Of all parties, have ap-
plauded it as most admirable expose Of the
condition Of our country, and as eminenty
wise and just in all its recommendations
In reference to monetary affairs and the
banks; to the Clayton-Bulwer treaty and
Central American relations; TO Spain; 70
the rebellion in Utah; to the national fnan-
ces and all the other points so clearly and
ably treated in the message, the press speaks
but one voice, and that is of unquaifiod
commendation. No more thoroughly states
manlike message has ever proceeded from
the hsad Of the nation.
On the perpiexed Kansas question, OF
course, no such general accordance OF opin-
ion was to be expected. 1t must be conce-
ded, however, that the tone of the message
on this question is eminently moderate and
eonciliatory. Enough is said to define clear
" and plainly the Presidents position, but
nothing dictatorial or to engender strife
The President evidently means to exhort to
cool, calm, and wise deliberation, with full
tolerance Of, and great charity for conflict
ing views. 1t may not be inappropriate
here to reiterate briefly the Presidents
views, and to point out herein they are d.
scented from by Judge Douglas and that por-
ton Of the democracy who agree with HIM
And first it must be promised, that the disa-
greement relative to the action of the Le-
compton convention involves no difference
touching the great question of popular SOW
sreisnty The only difference is as to the
ertent to which the principle shall be car
ried. The President holds that the election
Of delegates to the Lecompton Convention,
notwithstanding the insane refusal Of the
Free State men to participate therein, was
legal; that the Convention was therefore
legitimate in all respects; and that its act
ion is entitled 20 the same recognition on the
part Of the Federal Government as 1t would
have bsen, had ali the people Of Kansas vo-
ted at the election for the choice of dele
gates In other words, the Convention was
legally constituted, and its action entitled
to all the legal rights and respects which
usually attach to the proceedings of such
body. The Convention being thus legal
" constituted, and clothed with fun power
to frame Constitution, it was by the or
ganic law Of the territory under no obliga-
ton to submit any other portion Of that con-
stitution to the people than what related to
slavery, although it would have better &C.
corded with the great principle Of popular
sovereignty to have submitted the whole in
strument. Yet the slavery question having
been fairly submitted, aud such submission
embracing the only question Of controversy
between the parties in the territory, a fair
and practical application Of the principle OF
the Kansas bill is attained. On the other
hand, Coz. Walker, Senator Douglas, &c,
hold. that the Lecomp;ion Convention can
only be regarded as having been legally
constituted in the light Of select body or
committee Of the people to frame Consti-
tuition for their approval and afterwards to
be presented to Con-ress in the form Of
petition; that the administration, Gov. Wal
ker, Judge Douglas, &c, stood repeatedly
pledged to a fair submission Of the whole
constitution to the people; that the conven-
ton falling so to submit the constitution,
their work is Illegal, and violation Of the
principle of the Nebraska bill and that
Congress, therefore should disregard its pro-
ceedings, and pass an enabling act which
shall give the people a fair opportunity to
vote upon all the subjects embraced in the
constitution.
Narrowed down to the smallest point, the
difference then is simply this: the Presi-
dent holds that the principle Unpopular SOW
ereignty as defined in the Nebraska bill, al
lowed the convention to do one thing altho'
they ought to have done an other. Judge
Douglas, Gov. Walker, &c, say that accor-
ding TO the principle of the Nebraska bill the
convention was required tc do that other
thing.
We are well aware that slighter differen-
ces than this, have led to great popular eA-
citement and disruption Of parties; but in
the present case we have no serious appre-
hension that the democratic party is to be
torn to pieces on this question. There has
thus far in no quarter been the slightest dis
position manifested to read Judge Douglas
out Of the party, and if there had been, he
might well say, with Webster on a memora-
bic occasion: "Whoever undertakes to
Gas, me outside of that pale, had better see
to it that he don't get out firstl" On the
contrary we are advised from Washington
that there is great indisposltion among the
leading men to declare themselves either
way on this question There is good reason
for this caution. There is an important
election pending in Kansas which may az
ford an easy solution Of the whole difficulty.
Should tie vote to be taken next Monday
in pursuance Of the schedule of the Lecomp-
ton convention, as well as the vote recon-
mended to be taken by the legislature now
in session, show decided majority for the
Lecompton constitution without the slavery
clause, the way to Congress would at once
be cleared Of all difficulty. Or, otherwise,
should an overwhelming majority be appa-
rent against the whole constitution, many
members now wavering would see the pro-
per course clear before them. In either
event, there are certainly many chances
yet that the whole democratic party may,
before month hence, be able cordially to
unite on some simple aud wise measure to
settle this whole controversy. That the re-
publican demagogues through whose instru-
mentality portion of the people Of Kansas
have so long been keptin an attitude of hos
tlity to the government and to their own in /!
tsres,s, viii endeavor indefinitely to prolong
he