Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-19
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


we have taken occasion to give it another and
careful reading. The most striking impress
sion it has made us is the fact that it proves
the truth of the adage that when men get Bit
ten with the Presidential mania, they immed-
ately 60 crazy over the notion of the import
ance Of their own individual opinions and
views. No perfectly sane man of any party
can study his manifesto who knows the details
Of his course in Kansas, without coming to the
conclusion that the principle on which he acted
was, that the risk of civil war and every other
public calamity dire, were mere bagatelles,
compared with the matter of preserving his in
dividual consistency. He tells the world, in
effect, that the Constitution of the United States
itself is unconstitutional; insomuch rs it was
not submitted to popular vote before its adop-
ton; and that every State constitution put in
operation without being previously SD submit
ted, Is in fragrant violation of Fundamental
national law, and therefore unconstitutional.
And, indeed, that all law in this country is
illegal, because he disputes the legality o.
everything Of the sort that may not have been
submitted to a popular vote before going into
operation Though not his words these are
but legitimate deductions from his premises
quixotc nicely with an old speech of his deliv-
cred In 1856. his never-tO-b forgotten Texas
letter, his Kansas Inaugural, and different
Kansas addresses, the positions of which he
evidently regarded being more important
to be kept in view in his administration of
the affairs of the Territory than the instructions
of the President, the pith of which was that
he should interfere neither for nor against
slavery
No one can realize the intensity of his prog
NAUTICAL self-impOrtance without reading his
references to his former speeches letters. &C.
which he evidently regards a. higher authority
In the science Of Government, than aught else
In his intense exertiOns to prove that he has
been consistent with his record made wears ago
he Overlooks The fact of his admission Of gross
Inconsistency with his positions in the Territory
before making mp his mind that the pledges of
ms so oft-reierred-tO inaugural. made il his
duty to turn TOpeka-ite when he found that he
could not dictate TO the Lecompton Convention
IN all things. 1t will be remembered that he
found no fault whatever with the apportion
ment for the Convention or the manner in
which its members were chOsen-saw no uncon
sututionality, irregularity or outrage of popu-
sufficient to justify him in u,teripg
word of disapprobation, until it declined to
make good his personal pledges to the Topeka
ties one Of which justified rebellion in promis-
Ing TO JOIN the people, 2. the AbolitOnists-in
making revolution in case what he deemed
the proper course for the Convention to pursue
Was not acquiesced in by that body
But our limits will not permit US to criticise
his extraordinary pr0nuneiamento further to-
day. 20 full of new readings Of the theory of
sovereignty, and absolute plump and entire de-
mails Of the legality Of delegated authority in
any case whatever, as il i: as well As Of ecntism
To the extent Of urging that for the Convention
to refuse to carry out the doctrines of his record
from 80 to the date Of his appointment to
govern Kansas, was sufficient TO Justify him in
scouting the letter and spirit of his instructions
not to interfere for or against slavery, or, in
deed, TO shape the will of the people Of Kansas
on any point upon which, under tho provisions
OF the kansas-Nebraska act it was their prov
1nce alone % decide primarily or through these
to whom they delegated the necessary authority
Verify, Governor Robt. j Walkers, indeed
sorely afflicted with the = big head Just now
1HE KEY TO TIE FILIBUsrERs' SUDDEN Dr.
PARrURE.-We have every reason to believe
from private Information in which we confde.
that the following from the New York Times.
embraces much truth
The wise who know profess to explain the
nlysteIlons conduct OF certain persons in authori-
" IN regard to the Walker ex petition : by prog
hC>ucatIDg the speedy annib Ilation of that dis-
tInsuIshed Central AInerican Romulus In seer,
he IS not TO be considered a Romulus at ALL but
rather Remus, whose syauItiug amhition Ia,
ovsTleaped ITSELF ~
=. The secret Junta' to whom the arrangement
OF the NIcaTaguan business was coufded and Of
winch MI sonie was leading msmbcr being
convinced u Is said, that w aker's capacity as a
~ iesoeI was more than questionable,
mao up their minds that the waTlike interest, OF
The new adventure must De confided not 10 him
but 10 heneral HeBningsen. This arrangement
as D? no means Palatabe 10 the President of
Nicaragua who has d civilians passion for tao
Tics ana HiaaEuy!es. He, therefore pretended H.
acqIissce in the plan, but, when the Fashion was
ready lof sea, astutely slipped on board and set
on, 10 me surprise of nobody more than Of The
JHhta Aforesaid, and TO The chayrin of nobody
more than Of Central Henninls-eu
vi c0LlEse he eN poets that he will "a. sus,.io.d
in The step 10 which he has now couni,,ed tbs
fortunes OF the "Tegenerating club bui III. ami
Iude oi PRESIDENT Buchanan and the DELAYED de-
Parture OF Gen Henningsen, with the nIessnce
OF that gentleman in Washington while thev
countendnce the shape in which the STORY ~ ~.
PlOt reach's Us, afford reasonable ground for
"'hD'lhS whether the aspiring TenDssseean has
not really transgressed the fatal limits of his
destiny The quarrel il every urettv one ne 5,
r'oiIus. dhu Us possible issues are of a gravity
~Ll1 IA entitIr u Ia the Wstchful attention of tbe
public" ~
Ii ls certain that Walker Effected his landing
with force of hardly more than two banJreL
men all toid-a hundred AMI fifty under his
immediate command, aud fifty under the com
lnand Of Col. Prank Anderson. at The n,ont,,
Of the Colorado. and that their st,ck 30
if''iSi'nS landed from the Fashion WINS moi
i' man suheient TO sustain his small force,
~ totally inadequate to active oper.tion,
against either Nicaragua or Costa Rica-mucb
less against both combined more than per-
haps afortnight.
IL is also certain that Commodore pauld-
ing, on the part Of this Government. fired
with Indignation at the failure OF the On