The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-18
NEW YORK HERALD FRIDAY, DECEMBER IS 1857.

90 shall be ratified by popular ,te belongs aloue
The people for whom that constitution made aud they
aoLc have right to dccsac T. either through the Lcgs
ture bor.zing tho convention, by sending To that
con, such members faithfully represent the popu
lar viii that subject Foreign interference in this mat
ter utterly repupnant te the organic act OF ansas Ter
ritter, md the established distinctive doctrines OF
government Whether is always expcient
III, people OF state or Territory TO require such
rotulsr ratification OF their constitution not clear
70 cure the approval Of all impartial statesmen. And
whether, under existing circumstances in Territory OF
sparse population yet unsettled and distracted by euds
within and foes Without would be wise for the people OF
Kansas undertake the adoption of State constitution
by popular vote upon every article, section
tionable. To argue that the constitution framed
at ecompor by the chose representatives Of the people
Of Kansas is TO he forced upon that people against their
will and IN violation Of their rights because il is not sub
med whole for adoption or r.. J cton by the popular
If the people Of that Territory were to be compelled
to live uRder government which they have had no hand
in creating and which they have power to abolish, Is
purely faacious. For not only its formation really
their work-dcne through their own chosen represen
tatyes-but the very act Of its inauguration by through
whomsoever may be effected, placed II in the power OF
the people to change as they tha see 1T some hayeoo
jected this constitution that cannot be amended till
after the expiration Of several strangely forgetting
or dsngenuousy ignoring the fact that the called To-
peka constitution (Which the same men claim TO be TAR
expression Of the popular will but which in fact the
work of revolutionary 0rganizaten), prompt
ed all amendments TOR much longer period.
Apart from the question of slavery there nothing in the
Iecompon constitution which the people OF Kansas would
be likely to change within few years. even II 1t were
adopted with the power of immediate alteration And tue
Convention very properly decided to submit the slavery
clause which involves the only important question in dis
pue to direct vote of the people And this ought to
satisfy the sdious partzans Kansas has been TOO
log the subject Of unreasonable agitation both in and out
Congress- And there is too much reason to believe
that this agitation has been kept up not so much for the
sake Of freedom slavery, to promote partzan pur
poses The time has come when TINS STRIFE should pc
ended The people Of Kansas have now fair opportunity
of coming the Union, with constitution which, as
and Of determining for themselves whether they will have
slave State or free State, and may not earnestly
hope that this opportunity SO proptously presented, will
be improved the patriotic wishes of the President
realized. WILLIAM b. MACLAY.
LETTER FROM HON. wM MMUREAY.
NEW YORK Dec Is, 1857.
have received your letter inviting to attend and
address grand meeting of the democracy at Tammapy
Hall on the evening of the 18th nst convened for the
Of to the policy of the national admin
straon expressed the message Of the President As
shall not be able TO address the meeting beg to assure
YOU and hearty concurrence in its objects
and purposes Considering the many delicate and EN-
barrasng questions which of late years have arisen in
respect to the policy Of our government as affecting its re-
laons foreign well domestic, we have reason to be
thankful that have at the head OF our government
whose long of statesmanshp has inspired our
people with well grounded confidence in his patriotic
PURPOSE as well in his executive ability. Though I'M
mstakeablc indications have marked rapidly growing
popular confidence in the administration as also an IN
creasng strength in that party in which, through the vi
els Of nearly half century the people have in the
main reposcd the task of illustrating and exempying re-
yember the people discarded those Who in the AFRO
ganceof their short lived power have tramped munich
pal freedom under their feet brought disaster on our
public works discredit upon State finances and heavy
taxation uIon the peope-though democratic admins
traon stood stronger in the confidence oil the peo
pie than at the present moment-stll the meeting you
is opportune for one purpose other and that
is give here and elsewhere that the democracy
of New York intend honestly and manfuy TO support the
national administration and IN give fair warning OF such
their purpose-to any and all not to lend ready ear 70
hair splitting casuistry or to the vagaries OF those dis
posed to indulge freely in the exercise OF their
concets. Washington may be regarded as the political
head Of the conederacythe seat OF thoughtro whence
emanate political ideas and measure; New YORK is the
heart whose pusations throb through all the
members: the other States, the body, and the limbs
Of more less consequence, according to
their locality the Territories, laying far off on the Dor
ders Of civilization may be kened TO the dgita and pc
dial extrcmcs-no very consequential members but yet
very irritating II too tightly pressed However ex
CIRCULATING may the pains of Kansas II Is not at all like
" that thing very serious will come Of them-as SEN
sible well thinking people at the North really care very
little about It's domestic institutions for the time being
knowing that inevitably when they acquire sovereignty
they must accord with the tastes and interests OK the peo
pie. The most important matter at present, s to bring
the question solution that the delicate SUSCEPTIBLE
ties Harvard and Yale sentmenalsts may be permit
ted seek Jeremiad possessing the stmu
lus Of novelty. have doubt that such solution will
' WIN. McMURRAY.
LETTER FROM Z. II. BRowER.
THURSDAY, Dec. IL, 1857.
have this moment received your 'notice" OF ycster
day date. My residence being ten miles from the city
iat Flushing) will prevent my being present az "the
mass meeting of the democracy this evening o respond
10 the policy of the national administration as enunciated
in the first annual message OF President Buchanan But
while must deny myself the pleasure OF being at the
meeting for the stated may assure you that there
will not be there whose heart responds more fully
and chcerfuy it's purpose than my own. hope, and
cannot doubt that the nation will trumphantly sustain
It's executive head, whose fidelity and trmness To the
principles upon which he elected so well enttle him
10 the honor Of his position and the gratitude OF his country
men, and that this evening he Will receive new proofs o
democratic devotion 10 the great charter which i the
bond OF the Upion and in conformity to which he so faith
fully administers the government J. H. BR0WER.
FROM THE hon. DAVID l.. SEYMOUR.
Troy, Dec. 10, 1851
GESs-I regret to say tha. by Of indispensable
engagements cannot attend the democratic mass meet
ing be held at Tammany Hall on the 18th inst ya
myself however, OF this opportunity TO declare my fu
and unqualified approval OF the administration .as Dc
volopcd In the message Of the President While our
foreign relations In the main on an amcablc footing
yet some questions Of great Importance arc pending be
tween country and foreign Powers With the govern
ment Of SPAN we have for years past had serious din
cutes. Wrong upon wrong aud insult upon insult
have been hcaped upon our citizens, and as
yet claims for reparaton have been unheeded
The policy Of the President respecting our relations with
Spain the bold and straightforward policy Of promptly
disc charging our Just obligations her while submit
to 10 wrong her hands, but compel her at whatever
cost hazard 10 do justice to our claims The Central
American question treated In the Message with the same
spirit OF caudor and decision Desiring 10 continue AMIGA
bic relations with England whose interests Of trade and
commerce so closely interviewer with onr own the
PrcSidenf proposes 10 strip
monts which the Clayton Bulwcr treaty and the dplo
macy connected with IT have woven, aud q
maintain the just rights Of our country against
the arrogant claims Of the British Power. The
means o. perfectng easy and uninterrupted inter
with possessions the Pacific and the rene
dies for the financial embarrassments Of the country
wisely conceived and clearly and forciby stated in the
Message They cannot fail to commend themselves mo-
only the democracy but to the candid and patriotic Of
all parties. Nor have any doubt that the country will
with equs unanimty adopt the declaration Of the Mes
that Kansas has FOR years occupied too much o
the publ, attention. After long and exciting conflict
the kasnas Nebraska net passed by Congress. NJ
friend ~ the Union 81 the States desire to revive the
bitterness and sectional jealousy which arose out Of
the IA age Of that law, and the action under " Al
the lat Presidential election the democracy triumph
ed upon the great principle OF popular sovereignty
announced that the power 81 the people 10 organize
and establish their government. This power was
given a. the Territory 81 Kansas by the organic law
With scdulous has tho President provided for the
full and free exercise Of this power in the Territory
Able and experienced men appointed 10 Us chiei
executive offices. The military power was present In
force sufficient ~ preserve order and assure 10 every
legal the free exercise ot the elective franchise
The Ia cpcued and the people OF Kansas