Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-09-12

From the Richmond South.
THE QUESTION OF SUFFRAGE IN KANSAS
Mr. BUCHANAN'S POSITION

MR.. BUCHANAN'S POSITION.
The letter of Mr. Buchanan, which we published
yesterday. in reply to the Memorial Of the forty
three New England Divines, /" is perfectly clear ex
frage in the Territory of Kansas While we cannot
too highly applaud the general sentiments, tone and
spirit of this letter, especially gratied
to be assured by the President himself that the poll
cy proclaimed by Robert J. Walker is not the policy
of the Administration. To place the question be-
yond all controversy, we have but to contrast the
views of Mr. Buchanan with those of Governor
Walker. The President says:
81 ought to specify more particularly condition
Of affairs, which have embraced only in general
terms requiring the presence of military force in
Kansas. The Congress of the United States had
most wisely declared it to be 1.-THE true intent and
meaning Of this 1.-THE act organizing the Territory
not TO legslate slavery into any Territory State
nor 10 exclude 1t therefrOm but TO leave the people
thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their
domestic institutions in their own way, subject only
TO the Constitution of the United State" As a natur
al consequence Congress has also prescribed by the
same act, that when the Territory of Kansas shall
be admitted as a State, it ''shal be received into
the Union, with or without slavery as their consti
tuition may prescribe at the time Of heir admission"
Slavery existed at that period and still exists, in
Kansas. under the Constitution of the United States
This point has at last been finally decided by the
highest tribunal known TO our laws How it could
ever have been seriously doubted is a mystery. If
confederation Of sovereign States acquire a new
territory the expense of their common blood and
treasure, surely set of the partners have
right to exclude the other from its enjoyment, by
prohibiting them from taking into it whatsoever is
recognized to be property by the common Constitu-
ton. But when the peOpe-the bona ide residents
Of such territOry-PrOceed to frame State constitu
ton, hen it is their right to decide the important
question for themselves whether they will continue
oil To III nd tban,
alone, does this question belong free from all foreign
interference.
ain the opinion of the Territorial Legislature of
Kansas the time had arrived for entering the Union
aud they accordingly passed law to elect delegates
for the purpose Of framing State constitution. This
law fair and just in It's provisions 1t conferred
The right Of suffrage ''every bona fde nhabitanl
Of the Territory " and for the purpose Of preventing
fraud and the intrusion of citizens of near or dis
tant States, properly confined this right those
who had resided therein three months previous to
the election. Here fair opportunity presented
for all the qualified resident citizens of the Territory
to Whateve organization they ght have previously
belonged, to participate in the election, and 10 ex
press their opinions at he ballot-box the question
IF slavery. But numbers of lawless men still con.
tnUed to resist the regular Territorial Government
They refused either TO be registered or to vote; and
he members Of he convention elected, legally
and properly, without their Intervention The con
luty of framing constitution for themselves and
their pOserity; and in the state of inepent rebel
lion which still exists in Kansas ii is my imperative
duty to employ the troops of the United States,
should this become necessary, in defending the
veutOn against violence whilst framing the consti-
tuition, and in protecting the "bOHa tide inhabitants
qualified to vote under the provisions of this instrU
nent in the free exercise of the right of suffrage
when it shall be submitted to them for their apprO
ition or rejection"
Now mark the language of Gov. Walker in his
speech at Topeka on the 9th of June:
My doctrine is this that 10 the future when the
Constitution shall be submitted TO the vote of the
citizens Of Kansas, 1t shall be submitted to the UOts
T tds rh0'e p'Opie. l do not mean those who are
reg stored under the territorial law. l do not
those lgbO residing here the 18th Of March
last but the Uhois people Of Kansas not only
those 0b0 here Ho1, but hose rho wW be here ner
fill as actual rssideas-lhat they, the people owe
whom these institutions Operate that they by
a majority Of their votes shall decide for themselves
what shall be their Constitution and what shall be
their social institutions"
With these opposite statements before him, can
any man in his senses maintain that Walkers posi-
upon the question of suffrage meets the apprO
val Of the President? Moreover, in that same To-
Deka speech and in his inaugural address. Walker
declared that, unless the Convention referred the
constitution 10 - all the actual resident settlers
who may be in the territory at the time the is
aiken " The Constitution would be aud ought TO be
jected by Congress- and pledged his authority a.
Governor to see that this policy enforced. On
he contrary the President says that the act of the
Territorial Legislature known the Convent,
vet" of Kansas, presented a lair opportunity for
all the qualified resident citizens of the Territory. to
whatever organization they might have previously
belonged TO participate in the election, and 10 express
their opinions az the ballot boz the question Of Stare
y" Can anything be clearer aud more emphatic!
The election Of delegates TO the Constitutional Con
veulion, says Mr.. Buchanan, gave to all the legal
voters opportunity to record their opinions in
gard 10 the slavery question. But numbers Of law
ess men still continued to resist the regular Ter
ritora ove-nment-reiused either to be registered
or to Vote They are therefore in state Of in
oipient rebellion" AMI constitute no part Of the law
ul people Of Kansas. The destiny OF the Territory
j. now in the hands Of its Constitutional Convention
elected legally and properly without their inter
ventIOn.' Ii the Convention think proper to sub
ait their work for popular ratification then 1t Is the
uty Of the Executive authorities of the Territory
protect "the ma iis inhabitants qualified to r5t-
gidr The pr0rsi0Hy Of the instrument tie free eEerce
.ftbe right Of sgfrgs." This is all that The South
.rn Demo 'racy have ever demanded and in en-
forcing his policy the President will have their cor
iial and undivided support.