Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-06-12
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WILMINGTON, N. c., FRIDAY, JUNE IL, 1857.
walker In Kansas,

Hon. Robert J. Walker, recently appointed Gov
ernor of Kansas, has arrived out at the of his
labors and on the 9th ult, delivered an inaugural
address at Leccmpton, which is very long, as long
Presidents message. This is no commendation. We
cannot admire much talking. On the whole however,
we like the tone of Governor Walkers address, al
though we cannot give it unreserved approval
He exhorts all parties to lay aside their chickering's
and act under and in conformity to the laws of the
Territory which he is determined TO carry out and
enforce. He makes special reference to the election
of delegates to Constitutional Convention, and he
takes strong ground in favor of the propriety and
Justice of the subnttal of the constitution 10 be
framed by the convention to the popular vote fer
ratification. Some ultra southern men, anticipating
success in carrying majority Of pro-slavery in
10 the convention, yet fearing the result of a subSe
quent vote, are much opposed to this subsequent
submittal We confess that we cannot go SO far
If proslavery constitution cannot bear this test,
the attempt to carry it by evasion could only result
in barren and fruitlesS triumph. We take no ex.
Ception and make no issue with Governor Walker for
the mere expression of opinion in this direction, fer
our own views accord with his, assuming as We do
that the convention that would adopt pro-slavory
constitution would define the conditions OF voting
upon lis ratification or rejection, and that no loose ex'
urcssions of Gov Walker or Secretary Stanton would
have any effect in changing that mode OF voting from
the law of strict accordance with the well defined and
established rules already laid down by the territorial
legislature We may fairly assume that If pro:
slavery convention submits the results of its labors
TO the test of popular vote, the interests OF the
South will have at least fair play, and we ought to
ask, and do ask nothing that is not fair
But if we see nothing Objectionable in this express
SIGN Of opionion, we do see much to object to in the
dlctatoriaI tone of the language of the following
narapraph, Governor Walker concludes this branch
of his SUBJECT as follows:
81 repeat then, as my clear conviction, that unless
the Convention submit the Constitution to the vote OF
all the actual resident settlers OF Kansas, and the
election be fairly and justly conducted the Consu
ton will be- and ought 10 be, rejected by congress-
Il NAV be advisable that the constitution should be
submitted for ratification by the popular vote, but it
is not imperative. Fully half the new States have
been admitted by congress with constitution which
had never been ratified by popular vote Why
should Gov. Walker 60 beyond mere opinion to sci
up a new test for Kansas?
This is an attempt to forestall the free action of
the Convention-to influence Congressional legisla-
tion and indirectly, at least TO assume unwarranted
powers, against which we must record our emphatic
protest Governor Walker had no right as Cover
ncr, to make use of any such language.
There lis another part of Governor Walkers ad-
Dress in which he appears TO US to have gone too
far-to have said what was not necessary called
for. He says
"There is law more powerful than the legislation
of man, potent than passion pre- udice, that
must ultimately determine the location of slavery in
this country it is the sotherma line, il is the law
of the thermometer of latitude altitude regulating
climate, labor, and production, and as consequence
profit and loss. Thus upon the mountain
heights of the tropics slavery exist than
In Northern lattudes, because it is unprotable being
unsuited 10 the constitution of that sable race trans
planted here from the equatorial heats of Africa
Why it that in the Union, slavery recedes from the
North and progresses South =? 1t is this same great
climatic Ian now operating for or against slavery in
Kansas.
IT, on the elevated plains of Kansas, stretching to
the base of our American Alps The Rocky noun.
tains-and including their eastern crest crowned
with perpetual snow, from which sweep her
open praries those chilling blasts reducing the
age range of the thermometer here to temperature
nearly as low that of New England, should render
slavery improbable here, because unsuited to the
tropical constitution of the negro race the law above
referred 10 must ultimately determine that question
here, and more be controlled by the legislation
of man. than any other moral or physical law of the
Almighty. Especially must this law operate with
irresistible force in this country, where the number
of slaves is limited, and cannot be increased BY in
portaon, where many millions of acres of sugar and
cotton lands still unCulvated, and from the
augmentng demand, exceeding the supply, the price
of those great staples has nearly doubled demanding
vastly more slave labor for their production"
We agree with Governor Walker that there is q
law more potent than paper legislation and that th.
law must enter into the solution of the Kansas ques
tion. But that is the problem now in process o.
working out 1t is that the bona 1ide settlers o.
Kansas alone entitled 10 work out for themselves
when they form Constitution, as they are about tc
do. We say let them do it to suit themselves freely
and fairly. But will not this inferental judgmen
against the possibility of introducing slavery int
Kansas, have marked influence in lettering mel
from going there TO give the experiment fair trial
1t sounds to altogether too much like an argumen
against the commercial value of slavery in Kansa.
and in favor of its exclusion. The really fertil
part Of Kansas, the only part that will ever be oc
cupied save as grazing country. is not at the bas
of the Rocky Mountains any more than Hyde or Cur
Fituck is ct the base of the Blue Ridge.
The balance of the address, so far as the question
of slavery in Kansas is concerned, meets our view
fully and is quite as deserving of praise, as the ez
tracts we have made seem to US to be deserving
censure. Governor Walker has no mercy upon th
demagogues who whine about Bleeding Kansas -
ne shows up their hypocrisy in striking coors H
shows that all outside pressure against slavery
Kansas, all considerations of pseudo philanthropy Q
that subject are only worthy of contempt.
We like the avowal of the Governors determin,