The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1857-07-16
The Administration at work
i'm Kansas.


Presidential election, was, whether the
National Government shall continue to
be an INSTRUMENT Of the Slave Power IL
extending and Perpetuatiqg the curse of
Slavery. At the South, no man doubt
ed Buchanan's devotion to the Slave in
terest, and therefore he got a nearly unan-
inops vote in that section. We thought,
and still think, tie same evidence which
satisfied the Shareholders that he was
their man, should have satisfied the
Northern pen Of the same fact. Bat the
attachment Of good many people for
party, is stronger than their attachment
TO principle, and they were induced to
vote for Buchanan under the pretence
that he was for freedom in Kansas.
This decision Of Northerq men secured
bis election, and now after four months,
what mas the President done for Kansas
He has kept the infamous Lecampte on
the Bench; and has appointed some Of
the worst Border Rufiaps to important
of.ces.
But in order to throw dust IN the eyes
Of the Free State men, he sent out Gov.
Walker, a smooth tongped Southerner,
with instructions to DECEIVE the Free
State men into submission to the Bogus
laws, the attempt to enforce which was
the chief sin of President Pierce. But
even these fair words, which mean moth
ing, arc distastetul to TIE South, and they
require the administration to stop them,
and now see how the Washington Cnio4,
the organ Of the President, upsets al! of
Walkers smooth words about submitting
the Constitution Of the Bogus ConVcn-
tioa to the vote Of the people;
"We think, for these reasons, that Gov.
Walker, in advocating q submission of the
constitution to vote Of the people, ACTED
with wisdom and justice, and followed
the only line Of policy which promises to
settle this vexed question either rightly
or satisfactorily. In this respect at least
he has done nothing worthy Of death or
bonds.
But who are the people? What shall
be the qualifications Of voter on the
constitution when it comes to be submit
ted? We answer that this Is for the con-
yention to settle Those who think that
the convention might declare the consti-,
tuition in full force by virtue Of their own
will, can hardly deny that they might ap-
pend 10 it a condition requiring it to be
first approved BY the people. Ii they
can do this, they can also say what classes
of persons shall be counted as being part
of the people"
If the Slave holders are not satisfied
with that explanation, they must be de-
termined to crowd the mourners unrca-
sonably. Don't you see, says the Pres
idelt what fix ain in, Last fall |
was elected ca the pretence that our
"party was in favor Of allowing the peo-
"ple Of Kansas to decide this matter for
"themselves, and now unless | mako a
"show of doing this, the party in the
"North will be blowed sky high. But
gentlemen, just keep cool and will
"nake it all right for you, the Convention
"can determine who the people are, of
course it can and it can just say, that
"tbe list registered by the Bogus officials
care the people; and so the same men
"and none others, who voted for delegates
"to frame 2 Constitution, will vote on its
adoption" If that is rot the meaning
Of the above extract from the Union, then
it has none.
Then take the following which closes
the Unions defence of Walkers cause in
Kansas, and we think none but the will
fully blind, can fail to see that the Re-
pubIicans were true prophets Says the
Presidents organ:
Governor Walker is southern man
ne has been sent out by an administra-
ton pledged to the defence OF southern
rights he is surrounded by corps of Of
icers, most Of them from the South, and
every one of them sound national men
he was instructed to regard the terri
torial authorities as legal, and sustain
them against the rebellion of the Topeka
Abolitionists; he is acting in concert with
the friends of the South, and gallantly
fighting their enemies. We cannot help
but think that such man, so sent, so
instructed, SO surrounded, and so acting,