The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-02

% Peace.
If we had nothing to consider in reference to
the affairs Of Kansas except Mr. Buchanan's in
augural address and Mr.. Robert J. Walkers
letter accepting the important post vaca' ed by
Gov Geary, we might readily accept the pleas
ing assurances we have received from Washing
ton of an early paci6cation of the Territory.
But there is another party, and another side to
the question, whose claims to hearing cannot
be ignored or overlooked. We mean the free
State party of Kansas, and the general issue up
on which they stand, of resistance to the local
pro-slavery party.
For full and clear understanding of this ge-
neral issue, we invite the readers attention to
the report-in another part Of this paper-of
the speech of Gov. Robinson before the late ge
neral convention of the free State settlers of the
other proceedings of the convention, heretofore
published, the platform upon which the free State
party stands is that Of an absolute reputation
Of the local Legislatures, and all their acts
since 1855, as unconstitutional, invasive,
despotic, fraudulent and void. They say that
these Legislatures were bogus, and forced upon
the people of Kansas by armed expeditions of
Missouri border rufians, and by violence and
fraud-that the laws passed by such authorities
are not binding upon and cannot be respected
by free people; and that, consequently, the
free State men of Kansas repudiate the provisions
Of the late Territorial Legislature for an election
for State Convention, and will in no way con-
sent to recognise the validity of such proceedings.
Now how is the President to restore the peace
Of the Territory by securing TO every inhabitant
the right to vote? Grant that the right will be
amply secured to every qualified inhabitant to
vote at the election for State Convention, as
provided by the late pro slavery Legislature, to
come of in June: You may take the horse to
the water, but, if he refuses, you cannot make
him drink. IT. however, the free State men were
to pursue throughout the silly policy of doing
nothing, the fault would be their own if pro-
slavery State constitution should be adopted
mem. con and there being no dissenting voice
from the people, Congress might justify the act
as equivalent to the unanimous vote of the Ter
ritory. But the free State party propose q
totally different course.
They propose the same policy which
they pursued in regard to the first
election of Whitfield to Congress. That
election they repudiated as the work Of Mis-
souri, armed invasion Of three or four thousand
men, and so the anti-slavery party called
another election, in which Governor Reeder was
chosen the Territorial delegate, by still more
decisive vote than that of the other side. Whit
field proceeded TO Congress as the regularly
elected delegate; Reeder also proceeded there to
put in his claim. The result was that both dele
gates were rejected, and very properly, too; for
Whitfelds election though according to the re-
quired forms of law was effected by an invasion
Of fraudulent voters, while Reeder's election
though backed by the bona Gde vote of the Terri
tory, was still, in legal sense, an unauthorized
and irresponsible affair.
Let us suppose, then, that in the coming June
the election provided for by the pro-slavery
Legislature comes off and that State Conven-
ton, resulting in a pro-slavery State constitu-
ton, is the consequence: What next? If there
should be no opposition from the free State
party, Congress. If satisfied upon other points
would be fully authorized to accept this State
constitution SIS the organic law for Kansas as
sovereign State But il is jns' here that the
shoe pinches. Tho free State party propose TO
bold oeparate election for State Convention 10
JDy or August, re-afirming the Topeka free
State constitution. Now, in the event OF such
an election, where will the administration find
itself upon Kansas affairs at the meeting OF the
next Congress? Farther of from q solution Of
the difficulty than ever. Congress cannot accep.
the constitution Of the free State party, because
IL viii have been formed outside OF the regular
forms Of law but can they accept the constisi
ton Of the other party. when IL shall be made
apparent that the majority Of the real people Of
the Territory have voted agaiDs. il? We think
not. and thus, in the most favorable aspects OF
The case the prospect is that there will be no
peece in Kansas until Congress or time shall
have superseded The bogus Legislatures and laws
Of the Territory by a Legislature in the legality
Of which AL parties can acquicsce.
In the interval, Mr.. Buchanan can only daal
with the local laws and authorities Of the Terri.
tory as be finds them. lie cannot repeal those
acis Of The local Legislature which Gen. Cas-
has pronounced a disgrace TO the civilization
Of the sge;r be cannot countermand the late
legislative call for the June election. He can
only see that the laws are faithfully exc
cuted." On the other band, nice ques-
ton aries how far the proposed proce~'.
ngs Of the free State party may be sane
toned by the President But as an
attempt to eoerce that party into submission
might result in the renewal of the bloody scenes
and atrocities Of 1856, we presume that the Pre-
sdent will allow some latitude in Kansas to the
constitutional right of The people 'pesceaby to
assemble and to petition the government for a
redress Of grievances' From any point Of view,
however, in which We may contemplate this
Kansas imbroglio, the result, we apprehend, in
stead Of peace by next December, will only be