The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-08-05

democracy-the Charleston Mercury-in its
issue of the 18th ult., devotes FIVE columns to
a MIDST mastery and unanswerable reply to the
Washington Union and the Richmond Examin-
er's defence Of the acts and policy Of governor
Walker and the national administration in their
efforts to exclude slavery from Kansas. We
have already allowed this subject to occupy a
large portion of our paper to the exclusion of
other matter; but the question is one of such
vital Importance to the south, that we need offer
no excuse for recurring to it again and again.
It must command the serious attention of every
friend to southern institutions, of southern rights,
and Of all who desire perpetuation of the
American Union.
The Mercury shows the working of the pro-
cess by which the confding south has been be-
trayed, and demonstrates the mode by which
the administration, through its official agent,
governor Walker, intends to surrender the gov
eminent into the hands of the freesoilers. Even
at this moment the power and patronage of the
general government are being actively employ
ed against the pro-slayery men in chat distract
ed territory, and such is the influence of office
and federal patronage, that here at the south
men are found who readily and eagerly declare
their approval and endorsement of such nefa-
rious acts; and that too for no other reason than
that they met the approval Of the president and
bis organ, the Washington Union. If the sal
walton of the south rested alone upon such poll
ticians, her condition would be hopeless indeed
In the course of its reply the Mercury, throw
ing aside its democratic proclivities, very can
didly says:
sLet the truth be told! At the time governor
Walker entered Kansas there were two parties
in Kansas - the southern and northern = the
pro- slavery and antisavery parties. The pro-
slavery party, in undisputed possession of the
legitimate and recognised territorial govern
ment, and believing that it had the majority in
the territory, had passed an act calling con-
vention to settle the question of slavery by franz
ing 4 constitution; and in order that the fact
might be forthwith known, whether bona fide
majority in Kansas was for or against slavery,
they passed a registry law, providing, in the
fairest way, for ascertaining and recording ev.
cry man who was entitled to vote.
%Such was the state of things when governor
Walker entered the territory preserve law and
order Instead of standing in position of fair
and .dignifed neutrality he5econae an actiue par
hzan to deteatMe pro-slavevy party! His policy
was wo-fold: frst to getthe nti-slavery party
to register their names, thus, if possible, con-
trolling the convention and making Kansas a
free State; and second to divide the pros slavery
party, by introducing the national spoils policy,
and by this means raising mp a national democrat
&c aati-slavery party islauerytrom erpedien-
cy-and thus making Kansas a free State His
fussy oratory failed with the anti-slavery party
They treated with contempt his entreaties and
impiorations that they should register their
names and vote for members of the convention,
and went coolly on to put him and his authori-
ty aside in the territory, by constituting gov
ernor and Legislature of their own. With the
pro-slavery party, previously SO united, he
seems to have been more successful. Holding
forth all the patronage of the general govern
ment, and the vast endowments of congress, for
their easy enjoyment, if they would organize
themselves into DEMOCRATIC party and make
Kansas FREE State-asserting the impossible
ity Of their succeeding in making Kansas a slave
State by any constitution the convention might
frame, unless it was submitted for ratification
to subsequent emigrant voters, which would
certainly defeat it, if tolerating slavery-he, |
andhe alone, originated a NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC
ANT1-sLAyERY PARTY in Kansas national de-
party, by which the proslavery party
is to be first divided, and then, being unable to
enforce their policy, the alternative will be pre-
sented to them of being beaten and helpless, or
of joining the national democratic party and EN-
JoY1NG THE FAvoRs at Washington. Reduced
to despair by such wiles, the pro-slavery party
may become "a corpse" butnot without muir
der" twill be murdered by governor Walker
and the administration.
Assuming that the pro-slavery party was
dead before governor Walker entered the ter
'itory, the Examiner finds it an easy task to lay
down the issue in Kansas. 1t is no longer a
contest between sectional interests-slavery or
anti slavery-but it is a miserable scramble for
ascendency in the territory between the nation
Al democrats and the black republicans, both Of
nhom are OPPOSED TO SLAVERY. The south can
lave not the least interest in such contest
Between professed friends who betray, and open
enemies, the difference is not SO very wide as
o excite any concern for the mastery between |
hem. According to the Examiner. any inter-
EST the contest might excite from regard to Mis-
'oufi, is extnguished alread Missouri will
De free State in ten years" This may be
he result with Kansas made a free State, sur
'ounded as she will be on three sides by free
States. But if Kansas become slave State,
Missouri would continue slave State for gene
atbns to come. If she shall become free
State in ten years, 1t nil be o0ing to the admin
strtttson Of the democratic party at Washington,
ghich has h1cked and 6ulIied SLAVERY OUT OF
AANsAs, as it was cheated out of California;
t is clear that arrears of long debt of graft
ude will for years be coming in to the south!''
The Mercury abiding to the lame defence
f the administration set up by the Richmond
Examiner, says:
He can speak for .Virgpia--he can speak
Or the administration; 5ut he cannot speak for
he $outt-that mighty region where king Cot
On reigns, and slavery is a necessity, and to
We: slavery must not die-where the threads
Der destiny are woven for the mastery of ma
ons, and the peace and civilization of the
TOrd This GREAT couth uuct he bar opr,