The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-12-12
1mpor.an. Dispa.ehs. from Washington


The following dispatches from Wash
ington constitute the latest and most au-
thentic information we are in possession
of. The source from whence it comes is
entitled to full credit. Gov. WALKER has
fully redeemed himself, and though the
President is against us, there is no doubt
but the Lecompton Constitution will be
defeated at Washington. The dispatch
was to the n. Y. Times.
WAsHINGToN, Thursday, Nov. 26.
Governor Walker had long and friend
ly interview with the President to-day
They discussed Kansas affairs at length,
especially relative to the propriety of sus-
tanning the action of the Constitutional
Convention in not referring the entire in
strument to the people. The distinguish
ed gentlemen, though differing radically,
parted friends, appointing another inter-
view for the discussion of the same SUBJ
ject.
Some of their mutual friends hope for
the ultimate reconciliation of their views,
but the hope is fallacious. Their differ
ences are too radical for compromise
Open hostility is inevitable, involving a
split of the National Walker
heading the Conservatives, and Buchan-
an the Fire-Eaters.
The Governors opinion is not founded
on the slavery clause, which is alone par
TALLY submitted, but on the refusal of the
Convention to permit the people to vote
against as well as for the Constitution
He regards this as violation of the Fed
eral Constitution, of the Kansas-Nebras-
ka Bill, of popular sovereignty, and of the
right of self-government.
The President insists that, as the Consti-
tutional Convention was authorized by
Congress, he is bound to sustain its action,
whatever it may be, while Walker holds
that the application of his doctrine to sus-
tain the refusal to submit the entire
Constitution to the popular vote, amounts
to simple assertion of the right of Con.
gress to force any Constitution on the
Territory, instead of leaving the people
to decide for themselves; for it is notori-
Gus that the people of Kansas would re-
ject this instrument if they had an oppor-
tunity. He states that the Constitution
was signed by only forty three out ofsixty
members of the Convention-those re-
fusing being conservatives. The great
majority even of the Pro-slavery men de-
nounce the action of the Convention as an
outrageous and uncomfortable usurpation
Those in the Territory who support the
Convention are believed to comprise a
ridiculously small number, and vast mum.
bers who never acted with the Free State
men will refuse to participate in the De.
cember election.
Gov. Walker has never yet seen the
Constitution, and nobody outside know:
what it is. All efforts of the Governor tt
obtain copy failed. The Committee
having it in charge may make it wha
they choose, without any popular check
There is reason to fear that its signer
will be driven out of the Territory, tina
it will be considered spurious, ant
that the State Government never can b
set in motion under it unless by the Fed
eral arms.
Governor Walker declares that he can
not acquiesce in the action of the Con
vention without violating every pledg
he ever gave, and sacrificing his homes
convictions to make himself infamous.
PERSISTENCE is made to the establish
ment of the State Government, the Presi
dent will necessarily call upon the Gov
ernor of the Territory to exercise force +
put it down. This, with his sentiments
Walker cannot do, and will not-nor vii
he resign.
If the President considers it his dut
to force the Constitution, directly contra
~ to the spirit of the Kansas Nebrask
Act in support of which Walker riske,
his. political future at the solicitation O
the Executive, depend upon it the Presi
dent viii be compelled to assume tn
responsibility of removing the Governor
The effect of all this, if the PreSiden
persists, win be that the Executive vii
find himself in minority in both house
of Congress, for Walker viii be sustaine
by decided majority in each. He can
not be thrown out of the Democrat
party as were Reeder and Shannon.
;. Nov. 27.
As far as can be ascertained. the Cal
met are united in sustaining the action {
the Kansas Constitutional Convention
Whatever preference there may hav
been taken for submitting the entire Cor
stitution to the people, it is understoo
that all are agreed that the mode propose
for the inhabitants to settle the questio
of slavery, as one of their domestic inst
tutions, for themselves, is in accordanc
with the letter and spirit of the Kansas
Nebraska Act
Gov. Walker has had another intel
view with the President on the subject {
Kansas affairs, and they also to-day OF
cupied large share of the Cabinet delil
erations.
Nov. %.
At the Cabinet meeting to-day, I'll
, President stated Governor Walkers pt
sition on Kansas affairs. The Cabin,
unanimously unite with the President
favor of sustaining the action of the Cor
/ stitutional Convention with reference |
, submitting the Constitution to the peopl
and so condemn Walker The door to
reconciliation with Gov. Walkers pos
ton is now closed, and bitter conte
between the two wings of the Democrat
is unavoidable. Senator Douglas has bee
. heard from. As the author of the Kal
. sas-Nebraska Act, he win take boI
ground in support of Walker. This Il
President has not hitherto believed
Douglas holds that the refusal to subm
the whole Constitution to the peopl
! when they desire it, is the clearest +
pudiation of the doctrine of popular so
ereignty. Senator Gwin sustains Wake
The Right Spirit.
l =