Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-12-03
Imnortant from Washington-Dis-


Important from Washington-Dis-
cussion Of Kansas affairs by the
President and Gov Walker
Total disagreement relative to
the Kansas Constitution-Pr0b-
able division in the Democratic
Party.
,sI-gial Dispatch 70 lie New York Times, 26i
Gov. Walker had a !ong and very friend
" interview with the President to-day
They discussed Kansas affairs at length, es.
pecia ly relative TO The propriety ofsusiain.
ing the action of the Constitutional Couvrn.
ton ia not referring the entire instrument
20 the people. The distinguished gentle.
men, though differing radically, parted
friends, appointing another interview ioi
the discussion VI the same subject.
Some o! their putua friends hope FIR the
ultimate reconciliation of their views, bul
the hope is ialfac!cas. Their differences are
too radical for compromise. Opea hostility
is inevitable, involving. a split Of The Nation
I III beiIDCE dlhCl bSuHa a. l4tC "a
natives, and Buchanan the Fire-Eaters.
The Governors opinion of the COnstitu.
tion is not founded on the Slavery clause,
which is alone partially submitted, but on
The refusal OF the Convention 10 permit the
people to vote agailst as well as fer the
Constitution. lie regards this as 4 viola.
ton OF the Federal Constitution, OF the Ne,
braska Kansas bill, O: popular sovereignty.
and the right of seli-government.
The President insists that, as the Con-
Congress, he is bound to sustain its action,
whatever it may be, while Walker holds
that the application OF his doctrine t. sus-
tain the refusal TO submit the entire Con-
sIirution to the popular vote, amounts 10 a
simple assertion OF the right of Congress
10 force any Constitution on the Territory
instead Of leaving the people to decide iur
themselves; for it is notorious that the peo-
pie o. Kansas would reject this instrument
if thev had the opportunity. He states that
the Constitution was signed by only forty,
three out OF sky members of The COnven'
ltion-those refusing being Conservatives
The great majority even OF the Pro-SlayeFy
men denounced the action Of the Conyen.
ton as an outrageous and urendurable usur
patton. Thsse in the Territory who sup
purt the Convention are believed 10 com
prise a rid'culously small number, and vas
numbers who never acted with the Free
State men will refuse 10 participate in tht
December election.
Governor Walker has never yet seen The
Constitution, ard nobody outside know:
what it is. All efforts OF The Governor t.
obtain a copy failed. The Committee hav
Ing ii in charge may make it whatever
they choose, without any popular check
There is reason 10 fear that It's signers vii
be driven out Of the Territory, that it vii
be considered spurious, and that the State
Government never can be set in operation
under it unless by the Federal arms.
Governor Wa .ker declares that he can
not acquiesce in the action Of the COnven
ton without violating every pledge he eve
gave, and sacrificing his honest conviction,
10 make himseli infamous.
Ii resistance is made to the establishment
of the State Government, the Presiden
will necessarily call upon the Governor o
the Territory 20 exercise fCrce to put i
down. This, with his sentiments, Walkei
cannot do, and will not-no will he resign
II the President considers it his duty Il
force The Constitution, directly c,ntrary ;c
the spirit of the kansas-N Nebraska Act, ir
support of which Walker risked his poIi,i.
cal future at the solicitation Of the Execu.
tive, depend upon it the President will b.
competed to assume the responsibility O.
remo.ing the Governor.
The effect OF all this, if the President per
sists, will be that the Executive will fini
himself in a minority in both houses oil Con.
gress, for Walker will be sustained by {;
decided majority in each. He cannot be
thrown out Of the Democratic Party, a:
Reeder and Shannon.