The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-11-12


dred and twenty of the first votes polled were
those of residents of the country, and the re-
mainder fictitious and unknown"
Have our readers ever before known an cleo
ton decided by simple inspection OF poll
book? The Spectator tells US of proposition
to train dogs 80 that they should make dead
point at persons afflicted with obscene diseases,
but we never before have heard of sagacity
so acute that it could tell an unsound vote
from simple inspection of the registry. Where
were the witnesses? Who testified to the resi-
dence and non-residence of these voters. to
their qualification or disqualification The
Legislature of Virginia, the Congress of the
United States, have sat for weeks, patiently in
vestigating the right of claimants to seats in
the one body or the other. The opinion of a
legislator may have been made up on the ques-
tons involved, but the right of the individual
voter requires protection, at the cost of long
and lsborious investigation of the merits. 1t is
Is not uncommon to see public officers sued
for refusing to admit citizens who consider
themselves entitled to vote. Yet here, Governor
Walker and his man Panza ride over the bat
tle-feld, and decide the comparative claim of
the combatants by simple inspection OF the
regimental returns How could Gov. Walker
decide, by perusal Of poll-book, that about
one hundred and twenty names were those OF
residents" but that the balance were " hcti-
tious and unknown" Does he carry a regis
try of the voters in his memory? Is every vo-
ter who is unknown" to his Excellency unfit
to vote Z? This is new rule of suffrage.
But there are unavoidable reflections which
render this decision most suspicious.
How does it happen, that out of the whole
vote of Kansas, this particular precinct was Sc
lected by the Governor for scrutiny? Has he
subjected all the State polls to similar exam
nation? Has he struck off every voter who
is unknown 2"
The conclusion is irresistible Gov Walker
visited the Oxford precinct, because this vote
constituted the key of the controversy. He
excluded the polls, because it decided the whole
| State election in favor of the Free State and
Free Soil party.
But there are other and most portentous con.
sequences of this decision which we cannot, at
any expense of space or labor, omit. They are
Swallowed out in the following extract from the
New York Times, a Black Republican paper,
which we italicze, to save comment:
The telegraph announces that protest has
been made by the Inhabitants of Lec0mpton
against the re-dssembiing Of the Constitutional
COnCentiOn By what class OF the people, in
what interest, or upon what grounds, this pro-
test is prepared, we are not informed. We
presume, hOlce0er, that IL is a Free State more
ment If not, tie Free State men acolld do
nell TO JOIN and aid to the erte Of their 06iL-
dy. The result O the recent election affords q
Dery good and substantial reason lohy that
Contention should not re-asSemble. 1t proves
concusively that the Convention does not rep
resent the people of Kansas, and has no right
to pretend to act in their behalf or speak in
their name. 1t renders it certain, moreover,
hot ~, IL 4
be re iected by the people, if submitted to them,
or rejected by Congress, if taken thither; and
even if the Slate should be admitted under it,
1t would instantly be repudiated by the newly
elected Legislature, which meets in January.
No possible cool, therefore, could result from
the re assembling of the Convention and we
should be glad 10 see both parties unite in pro-
testing against it as needless"
We now see why Governor Walker has been
so solctOus to submit the ratification OF the
Constitution to the people of Kansas. We now
understand why it was important to adjourn
the Convention until the Legislative and Con-
gressonal elections should have taken place.
1t was intended to instruct the Convention out
of their seats. How will that body now dare
report slave Constitution We'll may the
Commercial Advertiser return ts thanks TO
Governor Walker, on behalf of the Free Soil
pdItls w ell may IL say:
"The Governor Of the Territory has acted
worthy of his high position. No man is ex-
empt from error, and Governor Walkers posi-.
ton has doubtless been one of great delicacy
and difficulty. He has well met his responsi.
bilities in reference to the late election. The
result is the triumph of Freedom. Kansas,
while she remains Territory, will have Free
State Legislature and a Free State Delegate TO
| Congress. The people wi Il manage the rest, if
left to themselves. All fears respecting the
rerritory's progress in the path of Freedom
may be dismissed. The final triumph is ONLY
a matter Of time"
Kansas is a free State. The agency and in
fuence of Walker, the Territorial Governor,
| have made it so.
We cannot forbear to remark, that these dis.
closures of Walkers iniquities render the posi-
ton taken by Senator Hunter peculiarly proper.
They afford most opportune comment upon
the doctrines which we have enounced on be-
half OF the State Rights party. Perhaps a " ma
| honal" majority may approve of Walkers con-
duct. Should that bind the people of Virginia
or CT the Southern States to approve of it also ?
How fortunate for the State, that Senator Hunter
has not sent in pledge of implicit obedience
to NATIONAL constituency, as contended for
by the Nsao York Herald, the Netc York Ne,cs
and the Richmond Enquirer. We commend
| biz prudence. We admire his clear perception
| of principle. He gives his sincere support to
the Administration of the Democratic party
his obedience is due to the glorious old Com.
monwealth which gave him birth, which has
| conferred upon him and will continue the high
est evidence of her confidence and approval.