The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-07
GOV. WALKER AND THE SOUTH

alker OF Kansas. from the knoW-notllhB oppVsiuoh
press had little else to expect Butits rather more
serious to that the democratic presses are by no
means unanimous in the view they take Of his con
duct 1t is still important fact that two dem
ocratic State conventions in Georgia, and one
in Nlississippi--haye taken strong exception to
certain expressions in Gov. Walkers inaugural
address The Georgia convention goes further and
concludes its censure by expressing the belief that
he will be removed 1t is natural enough that this
state of things should afford good deal of malicious
pleasure to northern abolitionsts well as to south
ern know-nothings. They hunt in couples, and have
common political interest in pulling down the only
party which defends the constitution at all points.
The course which we are quite sure Mr. Buchanan
will take in dealing with this whole Kansas affair is
very plain His path is SO clearly marked out
by principle that statesman with the thousandth
part Of his sagacity could not fail to see it. That he
would wfully turn aside from what he knows to be
his duty is SANDER his character which we think
his worst enemy is not base enough to utter He
viii not forfeit the high place to which his past life
entities him in the history Of his country by an act of
treachery to the principles which carried him into
Office The American people never safer than
they are at this moment in relying on the wisdom
and integrity of their Chief Magistrate
The Georgia resolutions assail Gov. Walker on two
points L. He advocated the submission of the con-
stitution to direct vote of the peoples and 2. He
furnished arguments in favor of making Kansas free
State On both these points we have some opinions
which we propose to record now and here
We do not understand Georgia friends to find
fault with the general doctrine that the people Of
Kansas have the power to decide the question of
slavery for themselves by inserting in their constitu
ton whatever provision on that subject they think
proper. This is proposition which no man can
deny and call himself democrat or friend of the
constitution and laws II was the Shbboleth of the
party in the canvass of 1856 it had been in many
a contest before that 1t was imbodied in the
promise measures of 1850 it made part of the
Kansas Nebraska bill itself it incorporated in
the Cincinnati platform; the candidates of the party
were pledged to it the speakers and writer's OF the
party pleaded for it and it unanimously adopted
by the masses of the party at the polls Besides all
this, the Supreme Court have established it the
law of the land by demonstrating that the power of
deciding upon the subject of slavery does not exist
anywhere else
Even if we had not these overwhelming author-
ties to back us-if it were proper to reargue upon
original principles question that has been settled
by Congress- assented to by the people, and sane
toned by the solemn judgment of the highest judi
cal tribunal in the world-still we think it would re-
aure but little dialectic skill to show the justice and
necessity of it plainly that no one could deny it
who has sense enough to know his right hand from
his left.
The contrary doctrine the property ofour
northern slavery opponents. IfKansas shall come
to Congress and ask for admission with constitution
made in pursuance of legal authority not inconsistent
with the fundamental law of the Union, and APP
proved by her own people all soundmen will say adj
nit her The abolitionsts alone would throw her
constitution back into her face if its provisions
the subject of slavery did not please them. They
alone would say to her people "You have made a
constitution which suits your own wants and wishes
but we have other views, and your masters
You must disregard your own opinions and conform
wholly to ours" Those who sincerely believe that
Congress ought to speak thus have no for it
but the insane hatred and prejudice against south
ern men with which they are saturated, from the
crown to the toe.
Will Mr.. Buchanan in any event, take the aboli-
ton side of this question? Will he be found array
ing his power and influence against his sense of
right and duty and against justice reason, the law,
and the constitution? Would he lend his brow to
the shame with which such an act must backen it
forever Would he ''sell the mighty space of his
large honors" for anything that his weak and impo-
tent enemies have to offer? No; the democracy of
the whole country North and South, have been true
to him. and he will be true to them.
We repeat, that the constitution Of Kansas must
come from the people of Kansas. Other power to
make such an instrument there is under heaven.
But the Georgia convention, without denying this
great principle to think that the constitution of
Kansas ought not to be submitted to direct vote Of
the people in their primary capacity. We admit that
this is not in all qua 1t is fair pre-
sumption III there be no circumstance to repel it
that convention of delegates chosen by the people
will act in accordance with the will of their constu
ents. When, therefore, there is serious dispute
upon the constitution, either in the convention or
among the people, the power of the delegates alone
may put il in operation But such is not the case
in Kansas. The most violent struggle this country
ever saw upon the ostimportant issue which the con-
sttion ia tn defermine has been pono ON there for