The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-06-20
knnsas Anairs-New Facts and Phases In
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Next!

the What Next.
Our last advices from Kansas are very Gu
rious, very important, very suggestive and
very ominous-
The free State Legislature was in session at
Topeka-Goyernor Walker and suite were there;
but they had it appears, discountenanced all
measures Of violence against this socalled legis-
lative body. II further appears that Gov. Ro-
binson had sent in his message, in which he
contends that the Topeka constitution is the only
clear expression of the popular will OF Kansas;
thinks il incompetent for the neighboring States
longer to exercise sovereignty in Kansas, and
declares it impossible for free State men to vote
at the bogus election He concludes by saying
he viii maintain the position of resistance to
usmped authority at all hazards and at all
times
Now, the first thing which strikes us, In refe-
renee TO those remarkable transactions, is the
nice distinction between the Kansas policy of
poor Pierce and the policy of Mr.. Buchanan.
Last summer, when this free State Topeka Legis-
lature was convened. and the members wee
about proceeding to business, they were dis
persed by the United States dragons 10 viola
lion Of that sacred constitutional right Of the
people 'peaceably TO assemble together for the
redress of public grievances Mr.. Buchanan
on the other hand. acknowledges the force of
this popular right, and docs not interfere to sup
press it, but to uphold it. The free State party.
II they choose, may get up an imperial Parla-
ment, and they may proclaim Governor
Robinson the Emperor Of Kansas for as long
as such proceedings amount to nothing
more than letting of the gas. there is no overt
act Of treason or rebellion or disorder. But the
moment they shall attempt, by any act, to super
Sde the local laws or authorities recognized by
the federal government, that moment the offend
ing parties become justly liable to criminal
arrest and prosecution.
The peace OF Kansas, therefore, during the
summer, may depend upon the wisdom or the
folly Of Gov. Robinson and his free State party
They pay hold as many conventions and get up
as many Legislatures and messages and remon-
suances as they please against the dc facto local
laws and authorites bat II may not be safe for
them to presume too much upon the liberal
margin Of popular liberty, recognized and con-
coded by the administration in behalf Of all par.
ties in the Territory The local laws and
authorities de taco il is the duty of The President
to sustain. lie must accept them as he finds
them. lie cannot 20 behind tue record TO see
whether the local Legislature passing the laws in
force wa a genuine or bogus concern. The
judicial power over this question belongs TO
another department of the government
We should be sorry to have any reason for the
impression that the free state party Of Kansas,
commanding a large majority of The peo.
pie Of the Territory, entertain any de
sign Of instigating another border war
between themselves and the pro-slavery
de fac,o local authorities. We are rather inclined
TO the opinion that this Topeka Legislature is
simply intended by the free State leaders as the
medium for the consolidation of their party or
ganization in regard to future appeals TO the
popular vote In this view there may be nothing
more Of mischief in thesc Topeka proceedings
than in the factious pow-wows of Tammany Hall
But the transfer of this local controversy from
Kansas to Congress, il is beginning to be striking
y seh-evdent, will inaugurate another and most.
fearful Congressional agitation of the whole
question OF slavery. The Kansas State consttu-
ton OF the local party in power will be present
ed to the House and the Senate ris-a-uis with the
Topeka free State charter and the remonstranccs
of the free State party in every shape and form.
Will the South be united in Congress. and can the
Northern democrats of The House, elected upon
free State ideas, he relied upon by the South
We sec that a purely sectional ultra Southern
party is in process of formation throughout the
South-we are aware, too, that there is Union
party in the South; and that, upon the compro-
| nice measures Of 1850, this Union party in 1851