The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-31

to be just, and trust am not without good reason for
the faith that is within II the President has done his
duty well his fellow citizens ought to express their appro
baton freely That he has meant well for his country
him lie has no object Of earthly ambition except TO per-
form the functions of his good office, so that when he
tires from he may read his history in the eyes Of con
What has he done this affair of Kansas that worthy
Of death bondss Difficult, complicated and entangled
meet like patriotic statesman Let his accusers stand
forth and specify what act he has committed which should
forfeit the confidence OF the democracy in the leader
they love- and the chief they admire"
When his administration began he found portion OF
Kansas like Utah. in state Of open organized and rebel
lion against the laws. The most infamous crimes had
common things Some Of the immigrants were bad
men, and there for base purposes. They would BIO
thousand bayones sent there to keep them in order
very show that the presence of
the army has not been sufficient to them into subms
sion, prevent them from committing the most atrocous
outrages The natural desire Of the Presidents heart and
every honest heart in the country was to put an end to
the reign of terror conagraton and blood as soon as pos
sbe and to substitute In its place the supreme and peace
able rule of the law The army might do for while but
il was disgrace to the American name that military
force necessary to keep one portion of the people
from cutting the throats Of another.
II was plainly seen by every one who took the trouble
think about IT, that progress could be made in sup
pressing these disorders, while the and the
for them remained So far they not prompted by
the mere love Of plumber and blood, they were the off
prDgs Of relentless feud, fatal dispute, arising
out OF single subject and that subject negro slavery
This split the people asuDder and made them hate each
other with the deepest intensity of hatred There
no other division among them. Every band of combat
ants was ranged under pro slavery or an anthsavery
banner Every violent act of aggression or defence was
by Of these parties against the other When life
lost the news of the victims death always
companed by statement Of the side he had taken the
slavery issue. general riot took place, the killed and
wounded enumerated according to their cassifca
ton this question The abotionists organized their
party into the form Of state with all is
under il they fierce defiance and deadly hostility
to the regularly constituted authorities Of the United
States simply because OF their views on slavery This
all The contest extended itself from Kansas TO
the utermost ends Of the country. 1t became great
sectional controversy and everywhere the burden Of all
that said and sung upon it slavery The Union
itself was in danger-n great and imminent danger-and
dreamed of ascrbing that danger to any cause
except the unsettled condition OF the slavery question in
Kansas.
In these unhappy circumstances the legal and satisfac
tory settlement OF this exasperang dispute was con
summation devoutly be wished To extrpate this
root of bitterness the first thing to be done to
wards pacfcation. But how was il TO be efectedS Our
political opponents thought-and suppose still Of the
same opinon--that the people of the United States,
through their representatives in Congress- might decide
without consulting Kansas, whose people, according to
their theory should be treated with utter contempt But
the democratic party determined TO leave It with those
who alone directly concerned in it, This latter doc
trne riumpbany sustained in Congress, at the polls
and by the judiciary After that the general government
could do more than protect the people of Kansas in
doing tbew work assigned them. How they should DO it,
by what agents or organs was not they were
to do 'in their own way"by such representatives as
they might see proper to choose.
But unfortunately the abolition party had become so
rancoIous that the olive branch was offered them vain
They insued and blasphemed the laws which left the
matter to their own decision. The regular authorities
could do than give all fair chance OF voting.
The Legislature first passed law submitting the question
Of convention no convention TO popular vote.
The Legislature afterwards n,accordance with the
known wishes of the people and by virtue of their own
rghtiu authority enacted another law for the election OF
delegates TO convention The delegates were chosen at
far and free election after full notice to all the voters.
Whether the vote was large small is not possible TO
deny the right Of those who chosen To say that
portion of the electors by abseDng themselves from the
polls could invalidate election otherwise legal and
regular, is simply absurd.
The members Of the convention thus chosen Le-
compton, and then raised the alarm that the de-
legaes some Of them, intended to make slave
sttution IN opposition TO what they knew To be the will OF
the people While the President that he had right
to interfere between the people Of Kansas and their
representatives and while he knew very well what was
known to every other lawyer and statesman In the coun
try that for the Convention to shape the constu
ton and TO decide upon the form OF its submission he
nevertheless expressed his opinion freely that in the cir
cumstances of the case and with reference that ques
ton Of slavery, the constitution ought 10 be submitted
II was submtted-so submitted that II there ma
jory opposed to slavery they had nothing in the world
TO GO but 60 to the polls and say so,
But the moment the abotionists the whole dispo-
sitoH Of the slavery subject placed in their hands,
will not condesccnd not they, TO vote on question so
,rfing. The principle for which they willing TO
drench the country In blood has all AT become too
insignificant TO be worth ballot something else in the
organic law thought Of before, and not specified
even now, has suddenly become so important in their
eyes that the slavery question may be decided against
them for ought they about IT, unless this and
underlined aud unexpcssed grievance be redressed the
same time To me II seems perfectly clear that conduct
like this must be prompted either by prejudice almost
insane or else by hypocrisy shameless beyond the reach
OF comparison
sttuticn without submitting the whole Of 10 popular
vote thcg this constitution ought 10 be treated nudity
But whatsoever denies the general power Of the people 10
cothe their representatives with full authority TO make
constitution binding themselves and their constituents
knows not wherco; he airms All reason well as pre-
cedent Is against him
The power Of the Lecomp,cn Convention certainly
restricted, except the subject OF slavery But II
its members abused their authority by frauglen,ly In
sorting any other provision which they knew TO be wrong
believed 10 be dsapIroved by their constituents and
dishonesty refused to submit II, then should be regard
cd with the contempt due 20 cheat But where Is the
evidence OF any such fraud The Convention had
tive commit ~ They ana their constituents did not
otter the necessity Of having constitution, any
but subject embraced within rs provisions On every
other subject the unanmty Of opinion was perfect AZ
IN any Of those states where constitution was
not submitted at all II IL easy enough TO abuse these
men, but fair minded person will not them with
proof. suspect them in the absence OF motive
Fer myself think Il was not unfair certainly not raudu
lent for them adjust all the undputed points Of their
by the exercise o. their delegated authority
aud 10 leave the subject on which there was division TO
fair vote Of tho people.
The President seeing n constitution about TO be eStab
shcd tor Kansas b. legal authority, what could he dor
disapprovc Of othcrshc might wish that II had been DIFF
lercnt many respects--but STILL II II was the lawful
work Of lawful body could be set IL asidcy Cou.l he
order the election 10 be hcld under ~ Could hc drive
the people away from the pollsy lie had power
10 DO any Of these things than he bad ~ veto act OF the
Penn ylyania Legislature.
since then there TO be an election on tho direct
question VI slavery, and An upi-rtuny given for full
show Of hands he expressed his wish crventy aud freely
that all the people laying aside their armostes and pre-
jsdCes should b. the po- and there pescefuly de-
eide question which, long rs Il renamed Open would
produce nothing but excuses Tor crime and rebellion lie
believed that decision of this question by clean
iurity OF would give peare and order 70 Kansas
and with all bis heart he wished her " enjoy those bless
ings, though she should purchase them n the
pense ~ posponng the adjustment II other pons 70 fn
ture aud more propuous time II these sentiments have
caused the opposition 10 abuse him cannot be helped
they have afflicted the conscionco Of any honest man
sorry-h any intelligent democrat misunders,snfs
them appeal 10 his and Judgment will scon set
him right. ~ one thing ain surethat James Buchanan
the last public IN the country who need fear the
place which viii be assigned H. him In the history &c these
proceedings and this viii be proved the hearts
81 oil who live long enough 10 tho accounts made up
am. with great respect, yours, sc. J. $. BLACK.
LETTER Faon THE HoS. y. THOMPSON
WASHINGTON, ncc. %, 1857