The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-11-25

ernor Walker, and justified his course. 1.-The
constitution Of Kansas" said the Union,
"must come from the PEOPLE of Kansas
Other power to make such an instrument
there is none under Heaven.
When there Is no serious dispute
upon the constitution, either IN the con0en-
ton or among the people, the Poaoer Of the
delegates alone may put " On operation. But
SUCH Is NOT THE CASE IN KANSAS.
++ Under these circumstances there
can be no such thing as ascertaining clearly
and without doubt the a0iy Of the people in
any way except by their 0ton direct eIpres-
sion of 1T at the polls. a constitution not
subjected to that test, no matter sohGt ~ con-
tains, Mill neoer be acknowledged 6y its OPP
ponents to be any thing but A FRAUD.
"a plausible color might be given to this as
sertion by the argument that the members OF the
Convention could have no motive for refusing to
submit their work to their constituents, except
consciousness that the majority would condemn
it. We confess that zoe should find some difficulty
in answering this Wat other n'otsse could tnsy
hayeS
1--WE do most devoutly believe, unless tie con-
stitution OF Kansas be submitted TO direct vote
of the people, the unhappy controversy which has
eretofore ragged in that Territory will be pro-
longed for an indefinite time to come. We are
equally well convinced that the will OF the ma
jority, whether it be for against slavery, will
finally triumph, though it may be after years OF
STRIFE disastrous to the best interests Of the coun-
try, and dangerous, it may DC, 70 the peace ana
safety of the whole Union
ave think, for these reasons, that Governor
Walker, in advocating q submission OF the constr
tuition to vote OF the people, acted with wisdom
and Justice, and followed the only line Of policy
which promises to settle this vexed question
either rightly or satisfactorily" y.
AS this is the language of Mr.. Buchanan's
Organ, in his presence, and with the sanction
of his silence it is his own. He therefore
stands pledged, solemnly and emphatically
pledged to the people of Kansas that what
ever constitution should be formed by the
convention should be submitted to them, full
and entire in all its parts for their approval or
rejection, or that he would join them in oppo-
sition to it. Will he fulfil his pledge by doing
so, or will he forfeit his word, ina
But what says Governor Wise, Mr.. Buch.
anan's particular friend, in his late letter de-
Tending him against the attacks made upon
him on account of Governor Walkers course
in Kansas, and advocating the submitting Of
the constitution to the people Of that Territory
for their ratification or rejection9 Hear him.
"That the people shall, of right, judge for
themselves at the polls of their own organic law,
unless they expressly authorize agents to make
and to adopt constitution for them, is princi.
pie for which, as a member of the last Convention
of Virginia, would have contended as strenu-
ously as l did for any other principle of popular
Sovereignty or of selfgovernment. There was no
I'D hv fha tn tha
Convention of Kansas.
"If ma
jority do not approve of the constitution they
may organize another Convention Immediately,
and adopt any republican form, after they are
once State without submitting it at all to Con-
gress. The question now is, then, not whether
Congress should adopt or reject the constitution
of Kansas, submitted to the popular vote or not,
but whether it ought not to be submitted to the
people before il is submitted to Congress? Which
is the better policy for the pro-slavery party to
pursue, to submit the constitution at once TO the
people, and have an end of the agitation, or to
| continue the shrieks for freedom awhile longerS
| If majority Of the legal voters are opposedto
the plan of government proposed by the Conven-
ton, their voices ought to prevail; constitu-
tional form ought not to be imposed upon them,
and cannot be but for day, and their sovereign
power ought not to be snatched away from them,
L u
4 abet Convention in doing so, would not Congress
be intervening against nol,-interventionY And il
majority is in'favor of the form proposed they
| will prevail and the controversy will end Ii
strict impartiaty, Justice, and fairness are OBJ
served the people will not be incensed; but Il a
minority shall abuse the adventitous advantage OF
| an organized Convention to send their constitu.
ton to Congress without first submitting il to the
people, they will be goaded by indignation to acts
Of violence, they will tear the constitution into
| tatters and trample it into the dust and upbraid
| the pro-slavery party with willingness and an
attempt to rule per fas dM nefas, and they will
organize more stringently, doubtless, against
slavery than they would ever have done at first.
Defending Governor Walker, Governor Wise
says:
"ALd, instead Of meaning to dictate or Il
threaten, his very words quoted may have mean
simply to remind the Convention that their ,oorj
was 10 be submitted 10 body, Congress, Yhicj
had soienniy settled the principle that the PEoPLI
Of the Territory to adopt or reject their civi
institatiors for Themselves without intervention
from any quarter"
The italics and capitals are Mr. Wise's own
not ours. ...-
Governor Wise uses strong language, as h'
usually does; mark this IF q minority shall
abuse the adventitious advantage of an or
ganized Convention to send their constitution
to Congress without first submitting it to the
people, they wil be goaded By indignation q
acts Of violence, THEY WILL TEAR THE CoSsTITU
rIoN INTO TATTRRs AND TRAMPLE 1T INTO
THE DUST"
Have we not shown that Mr. Buchanan was
solemnly pledged to the people of Kansas that
whatever Constitution the Convention should
form, should be submitted to them for their ap.
proval or rejection' Surely this fact is made
as clear as light
LOUISVILLE, November 18.--Gus. Coleman,
formerly of Maysville, who killed man in
vicksburg two months ago, entered Hapwoods
hat store in this city yesterday, and demanded
hat on credit Being refused, he departed,
and tried Intellectually to borrow pistol. he
then purchased knife, returned to the store,
and brutally murdered Mr.. Haywood. The
affair created intense excitement.
Will the murderer be punished' The prob
ability is that he will not. Crime walks the
street with unblushing front, and the assassin
tweaks justice by the nose, defes the Judge,
laughs in derision a. the Sheriff, and plays the