Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-07-08
The Kansas Trouble.

In order to keep our readers posted III ina'
tiers of public interest, we gave last week orie'
narrative of recent occurrences in Kansas Terri
tory, and also took occasion to comment upon
the course of certain Democratic Journals. De
ing no ultraist ourselves on the question winch
now unhappiy divides the country, ana sincere
" desiring a cessation of the strife, we ana noV
indulge in violent denuncatons of Gov. Walker,
and have nothing of the kind to utter Ut 'h''
time We agree with the large majority Oh inc
Southern press in Disappearing OF WaiKers
proposition to submit the Constitution OF Nan
sas to the vote of ''the whole people" yet prac-
tically it is matter of very little Importance
and if peace and quietness can be secured by
that means we shall be satisfied The South
surely does not desire to have the institution Oh
slavery foisted upon Kansas by legal quiooie'
against the wishes of the people, and any rea-
sonably fair and just mode ofsettling the dispute
should be acquiesced in by all good cltizens.-
But the difficulty in this case is that neither OF
the two extreme parties really desires settle
ment. The violent anti-slavery men IN the coun-
try, we verify believe, would like to see Pro-
slavery Constitution adopted in Kansas, as the
only means of perpetuating their party, which,
salamander-lke can only live in the fires OF Sec
tional strife; and the Southern nulliters and Sc
cessiouists fan the flames, with the hope OF utl-
mately obtaining the cherished wish OF their
hearts, the dissolution of the Union.
The policy of the Democratic press at the
South, in connection with the present state OF
affairs in Kansas, is decidedly amusing. Hav-
ing been rampant heretofore on the subject OF
Southern rights" and lavish in their promises
of what Buchanan was to do for the cause, they
feel compelled to find some apology for the loss
of Kansas. They almost unanimously condemn
the course of Governor Walker,a some OF them
exhaust themselves in heaping denunciations on
his head but not one of them has attributed the
least blame to the President. They seem de-
termined to hold on to the great dispenser OF
spoils. aud poor Walker is made the scape-goa1
to bear off the sins of the Executive into the
wilderness. Now,it is well settled rule OF law
that the principal is responsible for the acts Oh
his agent. Walker is nothing more than the a.
gent OF President Buchanan, who appointed MN
to office, gave him his instructions, and has the
power to recall him at any moment. walker
saws he is acting according to misunderstanding
country knows nothing to the contrary--ano
until he is recalled, the country can believe
nothing else What beautiful specimen OF
chivalry is it then, to condemn the humble "a
gent and ac9uit the powerful principal under
whose authority he acts!
The Democracy of Georgia, however, have
boldly taken the bull by the horns. They de-
demand of Mr.. Buchanan the recall of Walker.
That was very injudicious in the Georgia De-
rnocracy. Only suppose that Mr.. Buchanan
should not recall the Governor, what thent-
Why, in all probability, the Georgia Democracy
will fall into line and say no more about the
matter. 1t must be remembered that the state
election is about to take place in Georgia, and
as usual the Democracy felt called upon to take
some high ground on the slavery question:
There need be no fears whatever OF their falling
out with the President. But their action has
really alarmed the Soft Shells of New York, and
they contemplate holding meeting to sustain
''the Administration policy in Kansas" lest the
President should quail before Southern menaces
and 90 over to the fire-eaters. Thus We CO.
The Democracy South declare that the Presi-
dent is with them, and the Democracy North
are equally positive that he is on their side now,
although they doubt whether his pluck will
stand trial. 1t is significant circumstance
that the Government organ at Washington pub
fishes the proceedings of the Georgia Convention,
emitting the portion which relates to Kansas al
fairs. The inference is ineviteble that the part
suppressed is distasteful to the Executive.