Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-08-28


from Boston to New Orleans, and confess that we
find them dull and uninteresng in the extreme.
Politics present hing new since the openly
avowed abotionism OF Mr.. Slany, formerly OF this
State. Few men seem TO have been much surprised
by this movement, not even Mr. Stanly's former pc
ltical friends. They are among the first to ascrlbe
motives having their origin in an ambition after the
Presidency Of the United States.
Kansas has Quoted down for time. We will have
more excitement after time, we suppose. The N.
York Herald thinks that Mr.. Walker is syly arrang-
ing for himself Presidential programme in 1860.
We have no great confidence in the Herald, but the
thing looks plausible the fdce of it, Patriotism is
a good thing, but patriotism by itself never induced
Robert ]. Walker 10 go to Kansas. Mr.. Walker is a
man of mark, far above the miserable Reeder or the
bibulous Shannon, or the unrustworthy Geary. Mr.
Walker has been United States Senator-a Cabinet
Minister, and distinguished one-a dip lomatis and
a Spectator TO him Kansas means and not
an end 1t gave chance TO make capital or to lose
it. No doubt Mr.. Walker thinks he has made it
No doubt, if he judges by the tone of some woud-be
organs of Southern Democratic sentiments, the South
ern Democracy endorse him, and opposition TO his
course is confined to few disafected and factlous
spirits. In this view, Mr.. Walker will find himself
wholly mistaken. No portion of the Southern De-
mocracy approve his course, although, on the other
hand, no considerable portion is inclined to break
with its party and run the risk of defeating its prn-
ciples, simply because Mr. Walker used some words
in Kansas that be had no right 10 use.
The idea OF ever resolving the Democracy into an
omnium gatterum, receptacle Of odds and ends, to
save the ge orious Union' irrespective of princi-
Piles and practice, won't begin to do 1t is not on the
cards Men will not be forced or roped in, and
those who first raned and denounced as traitors to
the party, all who could not and would not approve
of Mr.. Walkers violation of the principles of the
Kansas and Nebraska Bill, are now forced to lower
their tone since they have found that the whole De-
mocracy of the South would thus be denounced as
traitors We think Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, puts the
the thing in proper light, in the following extract
from a recent letter He says -
There can be no question: 1t seems to me, that he
has Ci0laed the plain letter and meaning of the KAN
sas bW qceH the resolution quoted from the Gin
cinnati Platform upon which the present Administra
tto araS elevated to poace Tie declares to be
the true meaning and intent of the act to leave it to
thc people TO settle their own institutions in their
own way for themselves. His argument against the
possibility of slavery going there, intended
to influence the public mind agasnst its introduction
He hrew all the Gve'ght of his high Official position
against it. If what he says be lrue 1t was no less
Just than unnecessary to say it. But grosSer II
olation Of principle he committed an urging that the
Constitution of the neU State should be made IN q
particular W0y TO SUIT him, and an declaring that If 1t
not she arould not and ought not to be admitted
into the Unlon Under the Kansas bill the people
there have The right to make the Constitution " in
their oqCn 1ray"" acing'' Tin the language of the
resolution before quoted) "Mrough the legally and
fairly expressed crW of majority Of the actual resi-
DENTS"
Now the Convention which has been elected to
form a Constitution there, has been chosen under
the legally and fairly expressed will of propriety
of the actual residents" far it could be ascer
tanned by law. This no one ganSay If any re-
fused to vote, it was their choice not to do it,
The Convention thus elected have plenary powers
in conformity to law, to form Constitution. 1t as
their right TO submit for ratification or not as heu
choose. The question of tine propriety of submitting
it not, is one for themselves to determine. This
is their peculiar province to decide. If Gov Wal
knr had barely sresooted, reoo"onAendod advised
its submission, should complain of that part OF
his address. But he goes to say, that if they do
it, the State will not be, and ought not to be, ad
mitted THIS as certainly saying that the people, actng
under the legally and fairly expressed aUiU of the ma.
joriy. shall not fo,m their Constitution their oyn
1CGy but in has 1Vay, or that hlch Congress shall see
fiji to dictate. This is opening up the whole question in
Missouri questi0nthat is, the right power of Con.
gress to impose conditions and restrictions upon the
new States in the formation of their constitutions
when by the plain letter of the constitution of the
United States, Congress only look into the con.
stitutOn of the State applying, and see that it is
republican in form. If it from the legally
stituted au horitIes, Congress has right power
to inquire into or take jurisdiction the question
as to how it was made-no more in the case of Kan
sas than in the of Georgia or Rhode Island. And
| L. IL
inquiry might be instituted as to how all the other
Stale constitutions have been made The question is
one that involves our qUhole Federal system.
The main point, it seems to me, Is always over
looked by those who error in Gov. Walkers
address Their minds are directed simply 10 the pro-
priey of ormitting the Constitution for ratification
On that point have nothing to say, because it prop
erly and directly concerns nobody but the people of
Kansas 1t is the right of the Convention, their cho.
organ, 10 do it not to do it, they please
But suppose they chose not to do at? Who clothed
Governor Walker, or ana body else qUith authority
be admitted into the Union Certainly, his
written instructions, which we have seen, warrant
him in holding no such language. This may or may
not become an important question in the next Con-
gress, according as the Convention then may may
not determine to conform to Gov. Walkers views
If they do thus conform the question will most pro-
badly be ended. But if they do motif they adopt
a pro slavery Constitution without Submitting it, and
present themselves for admission under it, just as
several other States have done-then the question
will up with all its interest and magnitude II
will be of much wider, broader and deeper range
than any one heretofore connected with Kansas mat
ters. Ii strikes at the foundation of our Government
1t involved everything recognized as State Rights
and State Sovereignty. 1t is of higher import than
anything connected with the position of any man
party, or administration.
GaConsderable anxiety continues TO be felt in the
success or failure of the Atlantic Telegraph scheme