The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-09
KANSAS AFFAIRS. No. /.

manifest senstiyeness upon the subject. From the
first agitation of the question Of territorial govern
ment there to the present time three differing views
have been presented and pressed upon public atten-
ton A portion of fellow-citzens have urged
that it should become a slave State, and steps have
been taken by some in the South to secure that re-
suit Widespread and concerted movements were
contryed and put in operation at the North TO defeat
it. Each side accused the other OF acting from UNI
worthy motives, which naturally produced excitement
and bitterness of feeling and fast tending to the
most injurious and fatal results When things present
ed this attitude the wise and patriotic called upon
to devise plan to avert the threatened danger ter
ritorial bill had been reported for Nebraska and Kan
sas apparently satisfactory those Of northern opin
IONS butnotwholy agreeable to portions of the South
their views and wishes being almost Numerically
opposite To avoid these differences, and to secure
a basis which ought to be satisfactory to all who
recognise the principles of sefgovernment, the bill
was recommtted, and again reported with provi-
sions authorizing the people to regulate their own in
stitutions including that of slavery This gave rise
to third division, consisting mainly of democrats,
who preferred the peace harmony, and welfare OF
the whole country TO the success of either OF the
other divisions They boldly applied for the first time
in arranging territorial affairs the principles of self
government leaving the people there to mould their
infant institutions in such mode they should deem
most proper and beneficial to themselves They
were as likely from their education talents, and ex-
perience and selfove, to shape them in the most APP
propriate manner as their brethren in the several
States The bill became law against the wishes OF
those who desired to control the future institutions
of Kansas The principles Of selfgovernment con-
tanned in it formed everywhere the rallyng cry of
the democratic party The Democratic National Con-
venton at Cincinnati expressed its views upon this
subject as follows:
And that we may more distinctly meet the issue on
which sectional party subsstng exclusively slavery
agitation relies to test the fidelity of the people,
North and South to the constitution and the Union
Reolrad That, claiming fellowship with, and desiring
the cooperation Of all who regard the preservation of the
Union under the constitution the paramount ISSUE
and repndating all sectional parties and platforms CON
corning domestic slavery which seek to embro the States
and nce to treason and armed resistance to law in the
Territories and whose avowed purposes if consummated
must end in civil and dsunion, the American de-
mocacy recognise and adopt the principles contained in
the organic laws establishing the Territories Of Kansas
and Nebraska as mbodyng the only sound and safe so
ton OF the slavery question upon which the great
ona idea of the people of this whole country repose
in its determined conservatism of the Union INTER-
CONGRESS WITH SLAVERY IN STATE AND TERRI
TORY, the DIsrRICT OF COLUMBIA.
That this the basis of the compromises Of 1850,
confirmed by both the democratic and wing parties in
national conventions ratified by the people in the cleo
ton of 1852 and rightly applied to the organization OF
Territories in 1854
That by the uniform application of this democratic
principle the organization Of Territories and to the add
mission of States with without domestic slavery
as they may elect the equal rights Of all the States will
be preserved intact the original compacts of the cons
ton maintained nvioate and the perpetuity and cxpa
sion of this Union insured to its utmost capacity Of
bracing in peace and harmony, every future American
State that may be constituted annexed with republic
form of government
Resolved That recognise the right of the people of
all the Territories, including Kansas and Nebraska acting
through the legally and fairly expressed will of majority
actual residents and whenever the number of their in
habants justifes it. to form constitution with with
out domestic slavery and be admitted into the Union
upon Of perfect equality with the other States
Mr. Buchanan fully, frankly, and manfuly
adopted the platform Of the party in his letter of
ceptance His views clearly and happily ex-
pressed, and were cordially approved by the whole
democratic party in every State in the most sincere
and emphatic manner, by giving him their votes for
the presidency. He said:
The agitation on the question of domestic slavery has
long distracted and divided the people of this Union
and alienaed their affections from each other This ag
taon has assumed many forms since its commencement
but it to be directed chiefly to the Territories
and judging from its present character think that
may safely anticipate that it is rapidly approaching
nality The recent legislation Of Congress respecting
domestic slavery, derived it has been, from the orig
nal and pure fountain of legitimate political power the
will of the majority promises long to allay the dan
gerous excitement. This legislation is founded upon
principles ancient free government ITSELF and in
cordance with them has simply declared that the people
of Territory, like those of State, shall decide for
themselves whether slavery shall shall not exist within
their limits.
The Nebraska Kansas act does more than give the
force of law to this elementary principle of selfgove
ment declaring it to be the true intent and meaning
of this act not to cgsate slavery into any Territory or
State to exclude it thereom but to leave the peo
Pile thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their do
mestic institutions in their way, subject only to
the constitution of the United States This principle
will surely not be controverted by any individual Of any
party protesting devotion to popular government Be
sides, how vain and usory would any other principle
prove in practice in regard to the Territories This is
apparent from the fact admitted by ALL that after Ter
rory shall have entered the Union and become State
no constitutional power would then exist which could
prevent from either abolishing establishing slavery
as the may be, according to its sovereign will and
pleasure.
Most happy would IL be for the country if this long
agitation at end During its whole progress II
has produced practical good to any human being,
whilst has been the Of great and dangerous evils
II has aenated and estanged portion Of the Union
from the other and has seriously threatened its
existence. To my own personal knowledge it has pro-
duced the impression among foreign nations that great
and glorious confedeacy is in constant danger of dsso
luton This does serious injury, because acknowledged