The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-30

from legal authority formed in legal manner il is not
for us require that number Of votes shall have
been cast at the election Of the delegates who framed
it is not for require that portion OF IT, or ALI OF Il
shall been submitted TO popular vote unless such
submission be required by the instrument itself by
previous act of Congress it is not for TO require that
il shall contain bank clause antiban clause, a
slavery clause antslayery clause These are all
questions for the decision Of the party directly interest
ed-the people of Kansas II these or similar require
mens adhered to, and the constitution returned be-
it does fulfil them such action part will
be denial Of popular sovereignty denial OF their right
to regulate their domestic institutions In their way
and demand that they shall form and regulate them in
that way whatever it may be- prescribed for them and
dictated to them by Congress. IL would be, in fact, d
rect Intervention with their domestic institutions, their
internal affairs
should have greatly preferred, especially in the pres
state Of feeling in Kansas and throughout the coun
try that the entire constitution had been submitted to
the people IL would have been, If the people would
have exercised the right guaranteed TO them The fault
is their own not We cannot go behind their own
legal legal heretofore by Congress
and the Executive We bound by that action in my
estimation / say should have greatly preferred that
the entire instrument had been submitted to the people
but Notwithstanding this preference the legal right OF
the convention under the law which called it into exist
ence withhold the constitution In part altogether
from submission, is to my mind UNREASONABLE. The
invention is responsible to the people of Kansas alone
for the exercise of that right
We told that If we recognise the present oonsu-
il reject IT, Indeed have heard of proposition
connected with this matter which has not its attendant
difficulties My sincere desire is to have that course
adopted which will be productive Of the least evil to the
greatest number Without committing myself for or
against any other proposition which may come up, and
which may be rendered necessary perhaps by some ext
gencyeither failure to hold election yesterday, OF
forcibe prevention OF election interference with
i'll shall only select at present between the two which
likely from the present state OF facts to come before
One of these to recognise this constitution the
other to reject it. ssg Hs.
The first of these propositions is recommended by the
President the chief executive officer of the nation the
but recently elected by overwhelming majority to
preside its destnies for four years old man. al
most three and ten who has devoted the great
portion Of his long life to the service OF his country
and has been placed in almost every position in the gift
of its citizens and discharged the duties of all to their
satisfaction who has political future, no schemes
of personal ambition to subserye who is no candidate for
future nomination but will retire from the position he
holds with far pleasure than he entered upon
its duties, desiring only to leave behind him fair fame
and name and to administer the government as will
best promote its power its honor and its prosperity The
other of these propositions supported by the
tor from Illinois honor him. l have ever admired
him yet in respects, he is the antipodes OF the
Presidentyoung, of brilliant intellect, OF which all
his countynen might well be proud but ambitious, and
candidate past and perhaps future do not speak this
in any disparagement of him. for ambition, Invested of
self desire to hold place without any selfish motive in
citing tia desire to hold place merely to leave the inn
press of his policy ON the government Of his country and
to enhance the prosperity of its peoples an honorable
feeling 4
In justification for his ILL timed hurying this debate
upon the Senate and upon the country the senator from
Illinois told that the President in his message had
sailed him and his previous He intmated, fur
ther that every aluson to him here in debate upon the
affairs of Kansas, designed as continuation OF the
attack and that there some person. or some power,
using suborned press and suborned letter-wrters to
likewise assa him. In all this he of himself
than others dofances himself the object of actions
thought of him was associated He did not To-
this person. this power thus suboning the press,
leaving full play for imaginaons. 1t may be some
tangible person it may be some myth, some fog some
shadowy nothing existing only in his imagination or it
may that this of his allegations grew out Of
election of similar charge brought against him
sea charge to which he then very promptly and prop
y took exceptions as do to this general charge OF his
against somebody who is not designated He
charged-and it not in q subdued whisper, but
trumpet toned and hundred tongued-with at least
unwilingness that public journal thought to be
troed by him. and claiming to be the mouth of the
national democracy should throw overheard Mr. Bchan-
an General Glass; and other fathers of the party as od
fogies."
have thus SIR briefly stated the qualities of the two
gentlemen who recommended these opposite propositions
have the most profound respect for them both Local
ty every consideration of SELF if such could enter into
my motives of action in this matter would induce to
go with the senator from Illinois We geographically
ncighbors may almost say that his people and my peo
pie are one He has, perhaps, influence among my
people than have myself These considerations, how
ever have nothing whatever to do with my course my
opinion this question Between these two counsellos
thus recommending opposite propositions, have hes
ation as to whose advice to follow. Of the two prop
ostons look upon the to reject this constitution
far the most mscheyous because it will proong this
trovesy as element of that dangerous sectional ata
ton which threatens and has threatened, the unity of
the republic Between the two assuming that the
other must acted here, my choice will unhesitang
ly be for the former