The Washington union., 1857-11-28

peka project of constitution was the only rghtful
and legitimate fundamental law for the State OF Kan
sas. Hence we maintained that the abolitionists
would have no constitution made by the Lecomp-
ton convention, even if il were literal copy Of
the Topeka constitution itself, the real issue
between the Topeka and the Lecompton conven-
tons We did not maintain that dissatisfaction
with the Lecompton constitution implied or involved
any appreciation of the Topeka constitution, is
gratuitously assumed by the baelligneer but that,
although democrats condemned the Topeka constitu-
ton, the fact of their obecting to the Lecompton
constitution placed them in odious association with
the black republicans and encouraged them to pro-
long sectional agitation. Of course we made no in
timaton that any democrat opposed the Lccompton
constitution because he wanted the Topeka
adopted but we meant and said that the black re-
publicans were bent either ON having the Topeka
constitution or having continued agitation, and
hence that democrats who cooperating with
them in objecting to the action of the convention
were occupying "a false position" We reproduce
tho concluding paragraph of our former article, be-
cause it is conclusive Of the real position we have
| takon, and because have answer to it
from any quarter, and because we do not believe it
is susceptible of an answer
"To submit the whole constitution therefore, was TO
endanger the fate of the whole and to proong the agta
ton of the slavery question II known that the adj
yocates of the Topeka constitution would vote against
any constitution made by the legally
vention. 1t not simply that they were opposed to
slavery but they actiousy bent having
sttution that made by body organized in pursu
ance of the laws of Kansas and but that illegally
made at Topeka Under such circumstances, the
ton determined to tender compromise that would show
to the whole country that they sincerely anxious
to restore peace and quiet to the country They deter
mined carry out the spirit of the Kansas law by
ing to the people the right to have free slave State
We think the deliberate Judgment Of the country will
sustain the action Of the convention whilst the oppos
ton to its action ercely manifested by the black
publicans conclusvey shows that continued agitation
is tho real object they have in view. We repeat
deep regret that any OF democratic contemporaries
should be found cooperating with them in cal
culated to prolong agitation We repeat earnest
hope when they that the true issue between the
Topeka and the Lecompton organizations they will
longer be found cooperating with the black repubi-
cans.
The idea which we desired in our former article to
Impress on our democratic cotemporaries was that
the black republicans were adherng to the Topeka
| humbug with the fixed purpose of keeping up the
| slavery agitation. They could never hope to have
Kansas admitted as a State under the pretended con-
| stitution made at Topeka We do not believe they
desire the settlement of the question even by the
| recognition of that constitution. Indeed, we have
understood that one of the most prominent Topeka
leaders in Kansas declared, when the convention
in session, that if they should adopt the Topeka
| constitution without dotting an or crossing t
tho Topeka would reject and repudiae it. With
such spirit that actuating the black-repubican
ranks, felt bound to democratic cotem-
poraries of the danger Of sticking in the bark and
opposing the Lecompton constitution, when the only
real question of difficulty was fairly submitted by it
for popular judgment. The extracts from Governor
Walkers speech quoted by the Intclligencer throw
no light the present attitude of the black republi
cans in Kansas He appealed to them earnestly to
listen to reason and to unite in bringing their diff
culties to peaceful settlement He told them
that when the constitution was submitted to them
they could vote it down if they were not salts
fed with it, and then that there two modes of
bringing up the question again. But did his argu-
ments or his appeals make any impression on the
mad factionsts2 The result proves that his earnest
words were all thrown away. When the conven-
tion was engaged in its work it was well known
that any constitution they might make would be re-
pudated by the Topeka Their leading organ,
the New York Tribune now says that they would
have voted down the whole constitution if il had
been submitted. Under such circumstances the con-
vention yielded great deal when they agreed to
submit the only real question of difficulty They
saw, however, that this was the only way of saving
the country from years of angry sectional strife and
agitation They were satisfied that the Topeka men,
instigated by political leaders in the States desired
to keep the question open They knew that they
would vote down tho whole constitution if they had
the strength, and then that they would have it in
their power to prevent final settlement so long as
their leaders might desire to the question for po-
ltical capital. In view of these considerations, we
appealed to democratic contemporaries to be care
full in cooperating with the backrepublican agita-
tors; and now we have not only to repeat our warn
ing, but to add an earnest word of caution against
the insdous effort Of the National Ineligenoer to
promote division and dissension in our ranks Un-
der the transparent pretext Of vndicatng the truth
Of history, that journal is resorng to its old game
of seeking to divide that it may conquer the demo-
cratic party.
EX-PRESIDENT PIERCE
The Baltimore Republican Of last evening says;
President Pierce and Mrs Pierce arrived In the citv