The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-12-19
From the Neac YORK Times
The Kansas Question.
history.

history.
From tie Nsac YORK Times.
The Kansas Question.
We learn from sources that admit of no
doubt, that a very serious difference of
opinion exists between Governor Walker
and the Administration, in regard to the
action of the Lecompton Convention
The President desires that Gov. Walker
should return to Kansas and urge the
people to vote upon the question of Slay-
cry, which is to be submitted to them on
the 21st instant,-in order that Kansas
may be admitted into the Union with the
Constitution which the Lecompton Con-
vention has framed. Gov. Walker is un-
willing to do so,-partly because he con-
siders the action of that Convention an
outrage upon the principle of popular
sovereignty, and partly because he does
not believe that the people of Kansas can
be induced by any consideration to give
it their apparent sanction, or even acqui-
esce in it.
So far as the question of principle is
concerned, Governor Walker is unques-
tionably right. The action of the Con-
vention in refusing to permit the people
of Kansas to vote upon the Constitution,
was in direct hostility, not only to the
principle of popular sovereignty, but to
every principle of Republican Democra-
cy. The sophistry with which the Wash
ington Union attempts to evade this fact,
surpasses the most ingenious hair-split-
ting of the South Carolina school in au-
dacity, if not in ingenuity. 1t urges that
the Slavery question was the only impor-
tant topic of agitation, and that it was
only upon this single point that the Ma
tional Democratic Convention at Cincin-
natl committed the party to the principle
of popular sovereignty! Upon every
other subject, the Union leaves it to be in
ferred, the people have no right to the
control and regulation of their domestic
affairs. Upon every other subject it is
| perfectly right, and proper, and Demo-
cratic, that minority, or Convention, OF
a Dictator should impose upon the inhab-
itants whatever laws may suit their pur-
poses. Louis Napoleon did not go so fal
as this in imposing an imperial Constitu-
ton upon the people of France he went
through the form, at all events, of SUBJ
mitting the whole of it to the popular
vote. The Union has hitherto charged
it as an offence upon the people of Kan
sas, that they made the negro question
paramount to all others. Now, however
it openly and boldly avows that this is
truly the only subject of consequence
enough to call for submission to the pop
ular vote.
So far as the principle in question is
concerned, Governor Walker is, therefore,
clearly in the right, and VIC have very
little doubt that if the President is un-
wise enough to allow the issue to be made
upon it, Gov. Walker will be sustained in
his position by the great mass of the Peo-
pie of the Northern States without dis
tinction of party. There are unquestion-
ably some practical advantages in the
course advised by Mr.. Buchanan. II
seems to us clearly the interest and the
necessity of the majority of the People
of Kansas to secure their independence
of the Federal Government. Hitherto
and now it is the power and the fear Of
the national authority which prevents
them from taking the management oi
their own affairs into their own hands
Their first necessity is to get rid of this
control; and this would be completely
and effectually accomplished by theil
admission as State into the Union.-
They would then have precisely the same
control over their own affairs as the peo-
pie of Massachusetts, or of Virginia have
They could summon a Convention, frame
a Constitution, submit it to the popular
vote and carry it into effect within q
month from the date of their admission
if they should see fit. This might be g
revolution, but it would be domestic
a peaceful and successful revolution
They would fight it out among them.
selves. The federal government could
not interfere. So far as practical result;
go, the people of Kansas might obtair
the sovereignty which has thus far beer
denied them, in this way more speedily
and effectually than in any other. They
). could protest against the Constitution
proclaim their purpose to subvert and su
persede it at the earliest moment posi-
ble,-Yote for the exclusion of Slavery
accede to the plan of admission and thel
take the reins into their own hands
peaceably if they could, but forcibly
they must.
Judging from present appearances
however, they viii not do anything of tn
kind. The Free State men, constitutin,
as is universally conceded tsco-fairds o
the population, viii probably not vote a
all. The Constitution will be adopted ,oit
Slavery by minority vote and sent t
Congress !; the majority Of the peopl
viii protest against it,-and the contes
viii again be transferred from Kansas Il
Congress and the nation. We do not be
lieve that the Administration will ventur
10 commit the Democratic Party to th
unqualified support of the Lecompto
programme,-for nothing can be NOR
certain than the fact that It would be di
yided and defeated IN such an attemp
The great mass of Northern Democra;
viii adhere to the principle of Populs
Sovereignty and insist upon is bein