The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-07-28
THE GREAT QUESTION.

deserved censure for some of his express
sions since he has been in the territory, yet
we cannot view his course, in the main, as
being any other than q correct one. We
are aware that we differ with many of our
political friends and all our opponents on
this point, but we think that the principles
advocated by southern men, and emphati
cally approved at the ballot box last Novem-
Der, will sustain US in this honest difference
of opinion. We do not presume to censure
democrats who take different view of the
matter-not at all--but we have thought
that great deal of the complaint that has
been entered against Walker originated
from misapprehension of facts.
When Walker told the people of Kansas
that the work of their Constitutional Con-
vention ought to be submitted to them for
ratification at the ballot box, he did right,
and acted in accordance with the leading
principle enunciated in the Kansas-N ebras-
ka bill-a law which went farther towards
acknowledging and sustaining the rights of
the South in the Territories than any ever
passed by Congress. In order that The peo-
| pie of Kansas might be unembarrassed in
the management of their own affairs, that
Odious, unfair and unjust restriction, the
Missouri Compromise, was declared mop
erative and void by the act organizing the
Territory, with the following explanation
attached: E.-.
at being the true intent and meaning of
this act, not to legislative slavery into any
| territory or State, nor to exclude it there
from, but to leave THE PEOPLE perfect
ly free to form and regulate their domestic
institutions in their own way"
Thus all powers of legislation was trans
ferred to I" the Territory in its entirety,
and not to its Legislative or any other par
ticular department of its government.
Now, we contend, that submitting the Con-
stitution to the people of the territory, to
be passed upon by them, is not departure
from the spirit of the law, but in exact &C
cordance with it. We should not desire to
force Constitution on the people of Kan
sas that did not meet the appreciation of q
majority of the actual residents. The
South has always avowed desire to leave
the question of slavery in the territories to
the inhabitants thereof, and we cannot be-
lieve that she is willing to forsake this just
principle by forcing her institutions on
Kansas whether or not a majority of tho
people are willing. We are certain that
North Carolinians would demand the right
of voting for or against Constitution that
might be formed for the government Of the
State. Should we be found denying the
same privilege to the people of a terri
| tory!
But when Walker said that unless the
| Constitution was submitted to the people,
it ought to be rejected by Congress andthat
he would favor its rejection. and also ex-
pressed the opinion that the soil of Kansas
was not suitable for slave labor, he did
wrong and thus departed from his legiti-
mate business. These expressions were no
| doubt made without mature reflection. But
few public speakers escape without giving
vent to improper expressions sometimes.
We do not believe that the President, or
any national democrat, justifies Walkers
course in this respect.
Our political opponents have seized upon
this Kansas difficulty with the hope of in
| juring the Administration and defeating the
democratic party. We hear a great deal
of complaint against Mr. Buchanan because
he sustains Walker and refuses to remove
him. Know nothing papers have raised a
great hue and cry because, say they, the
instructions issued 10 Walker justify his
course There is nothing in the instruc
tons to justify Walker in using the Ian
~uace to which we have cbiected-there is
nothing in the instructions which a ma
tional southern man ought to be offended at.
Mr. Buchanan has acted in good faith with
the South-his record leaves no room for
doubt as to the principle which has always
controlled his public life. We defy his
enemies to point to q single act since his
inauguration as President that will palliate
in the least the abuse they are now heaping
upon him. They are bowling traitor
treason" &c.-if they can sustain their
assertions let them do tive challenge
them to q showing.
The slavery men of Kansas approve
the policy adopted by the Administration
and the abolitiOnists and free State papers
in the territory disaPprore and oppose IT..
Atchison and Stringfellow, leading southern
mon in the territory, are satisfied with the
course pursued, and, it is stated, they are
sustaining Walker. And as long as the
principle of the Kansas-Nebraska bill is
adhered to by the Administration, national
men every where will yield cheerful sup
port.
~ The Editor of the Wilmington Jour
nal, who attended the late Commencement
exercises at Davidson College, speaking of