Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-02
sFIRIr OF THE MORNING PRESS


SFIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS
The LltelIigenesr, in reply to an inquiring
correspondent, explains the purport of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty, and expresses the opin-
ion that there is nothing connected with it that
can lead to q rupture of our present harmonious
relations with England.
The Union is to-day for the most part de.
voted to the exposure of the virtual plot against
the future of the Democratic party involved in
the current effort to divide it upon the question
of the acceptance or rejection of the Kansas
Constitution by Congress. The editor shows
how utterly foolish it will be to permit the per.
sonal commitments of Governor Walker, which
prevent him only from sustaining the Admins
tratiOn in the future of the imbroglio, to inAu
ence the action of the Democratic members
He sees no reason for anything like personal
rupture, however, between the President and
Governor W, the latter being entitled to his
own opinion, as the President and the Democ-
racy to theirs-saying:
The administration has repeatedly recoo missed
the validity of the law of the Kansas legislature
which provided for calling a convention Every
o9Ha his lnhaoltant OF the Territory had the
right secured him to participate i'm forming the
Constitution by voting for such delegates as he
might wish TO represent him. The administra-
ton has again and again repudiated the absurd
assumption OF the Black Republicans that be-
cause portion of the inhabitants declined to ex-
ercse their right to vote for delegates therefore
the convention was not a legal ard valid body
authorized to make Constitution On the CON
traTy, the administration has distinctly recocnis-
ed the Convention as valid, and has acknowi edo
ed its obligation under the laws to see that their
deliberations should be unmolested by faction
lists OF every kind.
" BeCarSr a portion of the Kansas people re-
fused TO vote, and because il was asserted that
the Convention represented only minority of
The Inhabitants, the administration was willing
TO ses the Convention provide for SUBMITTING the
Constitution made by them to the ratification or
rejection OF the whole people. The Convention
however, Tor reasons satisfactory to themselves
and in the exercise Of legal discretion saw
proper to submit only clause for the ratitca-
ton or rejection of the people, but that clause
troversy, out Of which grew the refusal Of por.
ton OF the inhabitants TO vote for delegates As
the main essential matter Of controversy was sub
United by the Convention, the Administration
could see no good reason why the failure to SUBJ
Nit the matters not Involved in the controversy
and not therefore essentials in the dispute should
induce them to reject the action Of the Conven-
ton.
''Governor Walker differs with the admins
tration on this point, and opposes the action of
the convention Is this such a disagreement as
should or as would distract and destroy the har-
mony and integrity Of the Democratic party. We
think not Ii is a disagreement as to a matter
that was never really involved in the Kansas
question, and Is, therefore, difference of opiE-
Ion only between the President and Gov Walk
er, which does not in the least affect the policy
OF the administration.
. W hat II Democrat should prefer that the
whole Constitution should have been submitted,
VIII be, because that has not been done con-
denim the Administration, dissolve his connec-
lion with the party and join the Black Republi-
cans, when by tie course Of the Convention the
great essential object that he desired has been
secured! VIII, or can any good Democrat, who
is not embarrassed by personal commttals and
Pledges like Governor Walker, sepal ate from
his party on difference that involves nothing
OUT non-essential point, We think that ali
true Democrats will answer-the great principl,
Involved IN the Kansas act was that the people
should have Constitution with or without slave
~, az they pleased.
:" This right is fully secured BY submitting the
sia.ery clause to them; and we will not distract
ana divide our party because other matters never
deemed essential heretofore have not been SUBJ
United All good Democrats will regret the ne
essslty in the individual position Of Governor
w aIker which constrains him to oppose the ac-
lion OF the Convention and separate himself from
the Administration, but the reat National De-
mocracy Is not to be broken up ON a mere matter
OF regret that a distinguished Democrat cannot
agree with the Administration on a question of
policy that Is not vital or even imp ortantn