The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-09-09

80 large share of the respect and reverence OF tho
munily in which they live these dignaries presume
10 araign high public funconay before the bar OF the
public opinion which they control in Indictment as
grave that which these Connecticut dgnaTes have pre-
feed against Chief Magistrate decent respect for
the people and public sentiment they have misled would
seem to require of him yindicaton of his conduct The
letter of the President model Of stately dignity and
tcrseness Of STYLE and of calm and uenchancy of
rebake In lofty benigny of temper 1t worthy of the
distinguished source from which ii proceeded and In the
completeness and effectiveness of the efyindation il
reminds of the much vouminous but not more
able, letter OF Mr. Marcy, when Secretary OF War, to
Gen. Scott.
But the crowning Characteristic of the letter is the hon
esty Of its sentiments upon the vexed subject OF Kansas
and the sounnes and orthodoxy Of the policy procams
for the administration of affairs in that Territory. We
repeat them with proud endorsement and have fear
of their failing TO command the hearty of every
conservative citizen of the confederacy.
tie s.. louis IeaderA
The charge of these individuals against Mr. Buchanan
is the odcy that have heard from every black
republican newspaper and penny magazine every black
republican preacher and stump orator every fanatic and
rifle theologian, for two three years past the
President is violating his oath in unfolding and maintain
ing the laws of Kansas enacted by the only authorized
lawnakng power in the Territory Legislature elected
in accordance with the organic act by which Kansas
invested with territorial government which legislature
constructvely acknowledged by Rceder and his
cates to be legal and the obnoxious laws of which
Congress has been ready to wipe out in order To
please the black-repubcan party, These did not
stop to inquire whether their charges had any foundation
1t made difference with them whose only object
keep alive the flame Of sectional discord, and to
uacture political capital by keeping up the disturbances
in Kansas Mr. Buchanan replies directly to the charge,
y calling attention to the condition Of the Territory at
the time of his Inauguration as Prcsdcnt-a Territory
with government well established as that Of any
other Territory in this country. To protect this
government he resolved at all hazards and
hence he sent military force to Kansas. II was
rtispla
in daily consultation with Slliman and all the other
leaders of the black republican party, and who never
moved without their advice-wcre organizing treason
able in opposition to the regular government
of Kansas and the laws of the United States These sol
dies have committed depedations upon the persons
property of the citizens of Kansas they have only
held themselves in readiness TO defend the laws, and pre-
vent the government of the United States from being
brought into contempt and dsepute. Those who have
the chief command Of the military iorce-the governor
and his inferior oicershavc acted in remarkably lem
lent manner towards the rebels The wonder is that
Lane, Robinson, and the whole gang OF them have not
been caught and hung long ago. This military force will
be needed in Kansas for some time to protect the conve
ton about to assemble and to protect the polls when the
people shall be called upon to vote upon the constitution
when formed In keeping it there, and in investing the
governor with full power to suppress all reasonable in
surrectons the President did his duty and far from
violating his oath Of Office it would have been violated
by adopting any other more enent course.
This is only of the thousand attempts made by
members of the black republican party to cast the blame
Of these Kansas difficulties upon the democratic party and
democratic administration. The backrepubcans have
used Kansas to advance their political prospects and
principles and they fear that the Kansas question is
about to be settled and thus deprive them of the main
plank in their platform. Their whole existence depends
upon making Kansas bleed they that they need it
in the coming State elections in the free States hence every
device they think OF viii he resoted to to continue
the troubles and throw the blame the democratic
party. We think, however, they doomed to disap
pointment There is enough conservatism left in the
peace and harmony to our country.
Silliman, Dutton & Co. wind up their memorial with
that they pray continually for Mr. Buchanan
The President thanks them for it, but in such manner
that his very acknowledgements carry with them the
castle inmaton that he has doubts whether the prayers
of such worth anything. He intimates to them
that he would rather they would do something in the
way of aayng sectional strifethat strife to the kind
ling of which they have contributed much The idea
of silliman and button PRAYING 1t is too ridiculous
from the New York Herald.
With the exception of few journals indssoluby we'd
ded to the ultast parties North and South the public
press of the country has responded to Mr. Buchanan
letter to Professor Sman and his friends in
which must be in the highest degree gratifying to the
supporters Of the administration. Even among those
who profess but lukewarm sympathy with the democ-
racy, the calm and practical suggestions, the cogcnt To-
gc and the manly candor of the Presidents letter have
cxtorted universal appreciation Throughout the coun-
try it has been remarkable success palpabc hit.
of course Professor Sliman and his colleagues do not
look to MS for advice us to their conduct either public
or private life But they may perhaps be induced,
men of sense, to besow little reflection on the
Judgment which the bulk of the American public are
forming the step which has brought them so promi
nently into public view Some of them of
siderable repute in their particular walk in lewhethcr
that walk be science, religion or abstract philosophy
Professor Sman himself has filled large place in Amer
lean scientific records and may be properly regarded the
patriarch OF at least ono branch OF science Hitherto his
has been mentioned with nvarnbc respect During
his lam IL, ha hns m imp dome u
has furnished his reputation 1t reserved for him
now it seems at the close of most respectable career,
to step of his usual path in order TO become the tool
of designing politicians, and to tarnsh by folly the fame
he had built up by long years OF strenuous and honest
toll Whether the act must be ascribed to the growing
fcebcness age, to the nexperence IN politics ior
which scent remarkable, it is undcnabe that
has damaged the professors reputation for Judgment
and common and no who respects science can
help regretting it.
As to the rank and file of the clergy who subscribed
their names TO the silly memorial which elected the
Presidents reply they need be treated with much
consideration They old offenders. Deeply imbucd
with the heocrac spirit of their predecessors they have
forgiven the politicians for stripping them OF
their despotc control the secular as well as the
religious of the people and on every possible
opportunity they seek to revenge themselves for the in
jury by malgning statesmen and organizing an oppo-
sition to them from the pulpit We do not believe the
of men than the New England cleigyse Without dwell
ling on their norals-of which recent events have led
many to form no very high opnion-it may be said
rondy that general rule they almost invariably
wrong whenever they attempt independent thought or
action Their stand point in life il bad their stand