Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1857-07-14
GOV. vArTrR AND THg SOUTH.

GOV. WAITER AND The SOUTH.
From N EAshngtoa Union. guiy
3 We have witnessed with unfeigne6 regret lie
,irit in which nssrlytAe whole Southern press
as resolved and treated the inaugural address
{ Gov. WALKER, Of Kansas. From the Know
: othing opposition press we had but Attie else
expect. Bat 1t is rather more serious = see
faat the Dem0craiie presses are BY 40 means
unanimous in the view they take of bis con
laet. It IS a still more Important fact that
NO Demo cratic Estate COnventions-Oue in
J Georgia and one in Mississippi-have taken
strong exception to certain expressions in Gov.
WALKERS inaugural address. The Georgia
Convention goes farther, and concludes IT'S cen
sure BY expressing the belief that be win be
removed. It is natural enough that this state
Of things should afford a good deal Of malicious
pleasure to Northern AbOlitioAists as well as
to Southern Know-NOthings. They hunt in
couples, and have a common political interest
in pulling down the only party which defends
the Constitution al an points.
The course which We are quite sure Mr.. b.
cuANAN will take in dealing with this whole
1 Kansas affair IS q very plain one. His path is
so clesrly msIksd Oat by principle that a
statesman with the thousandth part Of his sa-
gacity could not fail to see It. That De would
/ EilfuIly tur. aside froe what be knows to be
his duty is a s.aalsr On lis character which We
think his worst easny is not base enough to
utter. lie VIII not for5eH ihs high place to
which his pas life entities him in he history
Of his ecnatry by an act Of treseheTy to the
principles which carried him into Office. The
American people were never safer than they
are at this moment in relying on the wisdom
and integrity Of their Chief Magistrate.
The Georgia resolutions assail Gov. WALLER
On two points l. He advocated the submission
Of the constitution to a direct vote of the peO-
pie; and >. He furnished arguments in favor Of
making Kansas a free State. On both these
points we have some opinions which we pro
pose TO record now and here.
We dc not understand our Georgia friends to
ard fault with the general doctrine that the
people Of Kansas have the power to decide the
question OF slavery themselves BY inserting in
their constitution whatever provision on that
subject thsy thi1k proper. This is a PROPOSE
ton which no nan can deny and call himself
a Democrat or d friend Of the Constitution and
laws. L was the Shi5boleth Of the party in
the canvass Of 1886, as it had been in many
a contest before that. L was imbOdied in the
compromise measures Of 1850; it was made
part OF the Kansas-Nebrasks bill itself; it
=. sh. EFr-f--aHT nHuHFnrn d.
the candidates Of the party were pledged to
it; the speakers aad writers OF the party
pleaded for it and it was unanimously adopted
by the masses Of the party at the polls. Be-
sides all this, the Supreme Court have estsb-
Ished it as the law Of the land by demonstra-
ting that the power of deciding upon the sub
iect Of slavery does not exist anywhere
else.
Even if we had not these overwhelming au-
thoriiss to back us-if it were proper to
rearsus upon original principles a question that
has been settled by Congress, sssented tn BY
he people, and sanctioned by the solemn jadg-
meut Of tie highest judicial tribunal in the
world-stil we think it would require but
little dialsctic skill to show the justice and
necessity Of it so plainly that no one could
deny it who has sense enough TO know his
right hand from his left.
The contrary doctrine is the exclusive prop
srty OF our Southern anti-slsvery opponents.
If Kansas shall come to Congress and ask for
admission with 4 constitution made in pursu-
ance Of legal authority not inconsistent with
the fundamental law Of the Union, and approved
BY her own people, all sound men will say ad-
nit her. The Abolitionists alone would throw
her constitution back into her face if its pro-
visions on the subject of slavery did not please
them. They alone would say to her people
-" YoI have made a constitution which suits
your own wants and wishes, but we have other
views, and We are your masters. You must
disregard your own opinions and conform who'll
IL to ours.D Those who sincerely believe that
Congress ought to speak thus have no reason
for it but the insane hatred and prejudice
against Southern men'with which they are sat
urated, from the crown to the toe.
viii III. BUCHANAN, in any event, take the
Abolition side Of this question? VIII be be
found arraying his power and influence against
bis own sense of right, and duty, and against
Justice, reason, the law, and the Constitution +?
Would be lend bis brow to the shame with
which such an act must blacken it forever?
Would be sell the mighty space of his large
for anything hat his weak and impo-
tent enemies have to offer? No; the democra-
CT Of the whole country, North and South, have
been true to him, and be will be true to them.
We repeat, that the constitution Of Kansas
must come from The people of Kansas. Other
power 70 make such an instrument there is none
under heaven.
But the Georgia convention, without denying
this great principle, seems to think that the
constitution of Kansas ought not to be submit
to . direct vote Of the people IN their Prima-
capacity. We admit that this is not in all
cases a sine qua EOR. It is a fair presumption
IF there be no circumstances to reDel it) that a
G. convention of delegates chosen by the people,
act in accordance with the will Of their
constituents. When, therefore, there is no Sc
rious dispute upon the constitution, eitherin
he convention or a2su= me people, the power
Of the delegates alone may put it in operation.
such is not the case in Kansas. The most
struggle this country ever saw, upon
he most important issue which the constitu-
ion is to determine, has been going on there
or several years, between parties SO evenly
balanced, that both claim the majority, and SO
hostile to one another, that numerous lives have
Jeen los. in the contest. Under these circum-
Itances there can be no such thing as ascer-
aiming clearly, and without doubt, the will Of
he people in any way, except BY their own d.
expression Of it at The polls. A c~onstitu-
ion not subjected to that test, no matter what
contains, viii never be acknowledged BY its
opponents to be anything but fraud. Aplau-
ible color might be given to this assertion BY
be argument that The members Of the conven-
ion could have no motive for refusing to sub
nit their work to their constituents, except a
Consciousness that the majority would condemn
+ We confess that We should ind sone diff
ulty in answering this. What other motive
ould they have ? -,
We do mos; devOutly believe that. unless the
institution of Kansas be submitted to a direct
Ote Of the people, the unhappy controversy
7hich has heretofore ragged in that Territory !
all be prolonged for an indefinite time to {
ONE. We are equally well convinced that )
he will of the majority, whether it be for or :
slavery, viii finally triumph, though it
Jay be after years of strife, disastrous to the :
interests Of the country, and dangerous, it :
.ay be, to the pace and safety OF the whole
nion- t
Again; This movement Of the Territorial !
liberties to form a constitution is made, not B
the regular way, in pursuance Of an enabling J
ID authorizing act Of Congress, but on the !
ere motion Of the Territorial Legislature it.
IT, It has been begun and carried on 10 the &