Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-12-10
The new Issue of the Democracy
..Walker and Buchanan.Are
the People SOvereignf

eMc EcORAS SOVcEelBQt =
The Union (organ of the Administra-
tion) @regrets" that may of its cotempora-
ries excuse themselves from its new enter
tainment. 1t may regret but what right
has it to complaint The Democrats of
the West and the Middle States may we'll
ask the Union: was this the feast to which
we were invited? Must we violate every
solemn pledge We gave the people in our
hour of needa Must we publicly acknowl-
edge that we have not only not the power,
but we must not even attempt to maintPin
the position we took before the people, and
the world? We say the "New issues Of
the Democracy" for the Republicans hav-
ing neither the President or either House
of Congress, are powerless to do any pos
tive act, in relation to the new and impor-
tant questions, now submitted to the na-
ton.
The Government is in the hands of the
Democratic party, and the question which
is now to be decided is to be decided by
that party. In that aspect We shall re-
gard it, and speak as candidly ns we can.
What is this question?
The facts of the Kansas constitution our
readers know. A most thoroughly pro-
slavery convention, elected under fraudu-
lent laws, make a pro-slavery constitution
which is NOT submitted, to the people. A
single clause is to be submitted, whether
in future, slavery shall be established there.
In the meantime, Mr.. Buchanan says that
slavery does exist there, and this new con-
stitution protects it fully. 1t is not doubt
ed that it will be the practical effect of
this constitution, to establish slavery in
Kansas for several years, if not forever. 1t
is not doubted that if that constitution be
submitted to the people, it will be rejected.
In other words, it is palpable that if this
constitution, thus made by small minori-
ty, be adopted by Congress, it aOM be
forced on tie majority IN Kansas against
their wills.
Now the question is, shall this manifest
palpable violation of the yital principle of
the as-Nebraska act be submitted to,
by the honest part of the Democratic party.
The opposition to this high-handed viola
ton of all pledges, and all principle is very
strong in the ranks of the Democratic party.
In his recent letter Governor Wise, of Vir-
ginia, without direct commitment init
mates very plainly, that the Nebraska act
did require the submission of the Consti-
tuition to the people; and as matter of
policy, it would be better for the South, to
let the people of Kansas vote directly on
the Constitution, and then settle the ques-
ton at once. There is no doubt large
and intelligent portion of the South, who
agree with him in this. What is the posi-
tion of the Northern Democracy? The
speeches and leaders of the Democracy in
the North, in the canvass of 1855, every
where took the ground that the people Of
Kansas should settle this question for
themselves. They disclaimed all idea of
deliberate fraud, and treated the state
ment and predictions of the Republicans,
as vague, or exaggerated. Our readers
know full well, that we have uniformly
stated, and held, that slavery would never
be satisfied, either in Kansas, or out of it,
till it had prostrated all forms of popular
sovereignty, opposed to its power and inter-
est. 1t is now just one year, since Buch-
anan's election, and everything done, or
said since on the part of the government,
has been done, directly in favor of the slave
power. But in the election of 1856, our
Northern Democrats quieted large num-
Der in their own party, and reduced the
Republican strength, by continued asser-
tions that Kansas would be free State,
by virtue of popular sovereignty there
We do the great body of our Democratic
fellow citizens the justice to believe, that
they were sincere, that they believed pop
ular sovereignty would be applied to Kan
sas, and freedom would triumph. Only
by this conviction was Pennsylvania, Indi-
ana, or Illinois, carried for Mr.. Buchanan.
We can, therefore, readily imagine the ex-
treme disgust with which honest and intel
ligent men must look upon this second
Kansas fraud. 1t is the more disgusting
and delestable because it is not only
fraud on Kansas-not only fraud on the
Anti-Slavery party-but it is bold, un-
blushing fraud on the great principle Of
Popular Sovereignty.
In the controversy which has thus aris-
en- Gov. Walker and Mr.. Buchanan seem
to be, at present, the representative. Both
are eminent in the Democratic party, and
surely it will not be denied that Mr.. Walk
er has enjoyed largely the confidence of the
Democratic party, and specially that of Mr..
Buchanan. This reative position, in this
question thus given by letter, and we sup
pose it to be substantially correct.
Walkers opposition to the Constitution
is not founded upon the slavery clause,
which is only partially submitted, but up
on the refusal of the Convention to permit
the people the vote against as well as for
the Constitution.
He regards this as violation of the Fed
eral Constitution of the Kansas-Nebraska
bill, of popular sovereignty, and the rights
of selfgovernment.
The President expressed that if the Con-
stitutional Convention be authorized by
Congress, he is bound to sustain its action,
whatever it may be. while Walker holds
the application of the Presidents doctrine
to sustain the refusal to submit the entire
Constitution to the popular vote, to be a
simple assertion of the right of Congress to
force any Constitution upon the territory,
instead Of leaving the people to decide for
themselves.
Can there be any doubt that Walker is
right? If the Constitution of Kansas be
aot submitted to the people, but forced up