The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-10
From TIE Springfield IN Republican, Nov. p
THE DEMOCRACY AND KANSAS.


| party have been successful heretofore In 6odg-
| ing direct Issue upon the Kansas question.
| Bat they seem to be caught at last, and Just,
TOO, when they thought the plaguey trouble was
over. The lac action Of Mr. Calhoun's Con-
venton creates quite disturbance among the
representatives. Of Democratic opinion. The
| Washington TaioR the central Administration
organ, committed itself at once, in grand feu
de j0ie Of language, to support that plan Of ph-
| citeation. But most OF the Northern Demo
cratic papers re ject It, snd show more indie
pendence and determination in their articles
against it, than We were justified 10 expecting.
Ii would seem 10 be certain tha. he Admins
iration cannot carry through Congress a Con-
s-itution that has not, as G whose, been submit
Ted 70 ard approved by the people of the Terri
tory. IL they attempt to DO il, they will lose a
new and formidable section of their supporters
in the free States, and establish common
ground OF opposition for the Republicans ofthe
| North and the Americans Of the South. But,
or the ether hand. if they abandon the Consti-
tuition which has been prepared, Re ject it alIg-
gsther, or send il back for a vote Of the people,
they seem to be il equal danger from the South.
The Democracy o: that section have been
goa3ei 10 desperation by Governor Walkers
disposition to deal fairly with the Kansas nat.
;er, and are looking with suspicious and doubt
met. They have only been kept from open re-
volt. heretofore, by assurances that Governor
Walker did not represent the Administrator.
sud that he would De rejected by g Democratic
Senate, unless VI. Buchanan chose TO recall
hin, or induced him TO resign. Gov. Walker
might indeed, be got rid OF in one CT these
ways; but Mr.. Calhoun's Constitution is not so
easily TO be escaped the Administration mist
esoOusa or oppose L, ana whichever course they
taks vii ob.,ge them to face a breach of their
party Ia Congress and the country. There IS
certainly the mes. imniren. prospect Of the
speedy realization Of such blessing to the Ia.
ton that has appeared IN lie political hor;z II
since the repeal Of tie Missouri Compromise
Eas successfully maintained.
OF course, eyery possible exPed;ent will be
rasorted TO tor the avoidance Of such q result.
To cheat che sec;ioE IN such a manner as not
% offend he ether. has been, and still is the
whole sin ard purpose Of Mr. Buchauan's Ad.
ianis;ra1ion. New efforts 20 co this will not
oe wanting. bat ;hey are likely TO be futile
Sooner or later. It has always been e7iisnt the
Democratic party had 20! TO account fer their
J1gsiery With the country IL the kansas cues.
ton. They escaped 1t last year, but they can
noI avoid i o. postpone il nov. The issue is
male Up IN two cases Governor Walkers
course IN rejecting The fraGdaen, voting 81
Johnson and Niece counties, AID in NJ. Cal.
/ hoGu's Contribution. Both are 70 come NJ b
to.e the rev Congress early in is session. AMI
upon them both the Democratic patty alread-
z 'es serious Indications CT radical division.
Justice. common sense, presidents, and TIE
/ consistency OF the Democratic party and Of tie
Government. are 81 on the side Of the Northern
| ssc..cn on both these questions; asd when
driven 10 sn actual decision. the public opinion
OF the country vii. We believe, force the Az
minis,ra'ion &c fulfill lis own pledges to the
| people OF Kansas and to the country, and stand
faithfully By lis instructions 10 Gov. Walker
In the whole history Of our Government, there
| IS but one Instance OF the inauguration of q
State Constitution without is first having been
submitted TO g direct vote OF the people. That
WAS in the case Of Virginia: her irst Consi;-
tuition was not only never so submitted, but it
Was framed by q bcdy no; elected Tor the pur.
| pose OF framing q Constitution. But the ne.
| cessities OF period Of revolution were the *.
cose tor this irregulsrity, IS il vas regarded By
/ al he- statesmen then and her political bisto.
riaas since. Since. on several occasions, the
| Constitution OF Virginia has been altered or
remoielej, and never has tee work failed 10 BE-
| offered TO the test Of the popular vote. Thai
The consistency Q. the Democratic party ana
The Administration ,q1ircs wha. the Northern
| Democratic papers jJia the Republicans and
! he people q Kansas in damagding-viz: The
/ submission q the whole Constitution . . d..
ret vore before i SHALL take eif-ct-xin bz
| sa-l-lenuy eyioen: upon the Iesdlrg of few
| Citations from their record. The l.st National
! Democrats Convention, which nominated Mr.
| BuchAnan-
" ieSolcei, That ne recognise the right OF
'2e people oil al ire Territories Including Kan.
SA5 ana Nebraska artiag through the fairly
IMPRESSED NOT IMPLIED WILL Of the nejor.ty
| q actual residents, and whenever the number
OF the.. inhabitants justid . i. u form 2 Con.
St.Iutlon, with or without domestic Slavery. and
10 be admitted into the Union upon terms OF
/ perfect equality with the other SAFES,
Mr. Buchanan, in his Inaugural message
said: :
Ii IS tie imperative and indispensable duty
OF the al;ed ates 10 secure TO every resident,
lana6i.ant tie free and independent Expression
= ais opinion 81 his vote. This being accom-.
pllsAed, nothing cau be faireE than to leave the
| people Oh Territory, free from al toreiga an
!e-5erence TO decide tseir Institutions according
70 tte Constitution Of the United States
Inc oticiGl instructions TO Governor Walker.
on lis hr-s going to Kansas. written Ia lbe
u2ne both Of tie President aud Secretary Ct
safe. contain this declaration:
| aen such 3 Constitution shall be submit.
/ ted to me people CT The Territory, they muzt be
projected IN the exercise o; their right of vo;iay
Jor or against that instrument, AID The tar er.
| preston a. the popular rtU must not Je inter
| ruPted 6y fraud or rioiencs"
| Again, Gov. Walker, in his letter to the
resident accepting his appointment to go TO
Kansas, thus explicitly stated he principles on
which he supposed he was 20 act:
| understand that you and all your Cabine;
coEcisily concur IN the opinion expressed by
me, tat the actual bona tide residents of the
1eFrltoEy ct Kansas, by a Jdir and regular rote,
UNAFFECTED 6y fraud or rio!ence, MUST be permit
Tea, n adopting thar State Constitution, TO dc.
| e'de ycr Themselves ickdt shall Be their social
Institutions. This is the great Fundamental
principle OF the act Of Congress O. sanizing that
Territory, affirmed by the Supreme Co9rt ot
the oni'ed S'a'es, and is IN accordance with
Ihe views uniformly expressed By me through
oat my puohe career. contemplate a peace.
ful settlement ct this question by an appeal 10
the patriotism Of the whole people of Kanses
,oso shall all participate. freely and ftlIn ~
his decision, and by maj ority of whose votes
the determination must be made, az ,ba on;r
GROCER and constitutional mode Of adjustment
Thus authorized BY his superiors, Goyerno,
Walker, on entering the Territory, issued al
address TO the people, IL which he said:
50 / repeat, then. as my clear conviction, TIA
unless the Convention submit the ConstituticI
10 the vote of al the actual resident settlers O
Kansas, and the election be fairly and just
conducted, the Constitution riA be and 0u9a
70 be rejected By Congress