The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-24
THE KANSAS CONTROVERSY.

From a brief article on Kansas affairs which APP
pears in late number of the Wilmington North
Carolina Journal we extract the following sentence
..The Washington Union and its followers to
gard as actoniss dsunionists scals those democrats
who object to Walkers threat of congressional rejection
and his opposition unless the constitution be submitted
to all the inhabitants of Kansas
The same statement, in less offensive form, has
appeared in several other southern journals We
are quite positive that not word ne sentence, or
naraqraph has appeared in the columns of this paper
which would warrant the conclusions OF our WI
mington contemporary. We have studlously reiraincd
from giving an opinion to the propriety or impro-
priety of the offending expressions in Gov Walkers
inaugural address, and in his subsequent speech at
Topeka; repeatedly declaring that on this part or
branch of the controversy affirm nothing and deny
nothing" In controversy which has been sud
denly forced upon the country, and as we sincerely
believe, through misapprehenson of the real facts
of the case we are not disposed to waste our time
or respass upon the patience of readers on mere
verbal criticisms. General Taylor was an indifferent
writer and speaker, but his military achievements
form no inconsiderable portion of his countys glory
and renown The trying situation in which General
jackson was placed at New Orleans not unfrequently
led him to use language more truthful than paatabe
to his open and secret enemies; but these hasty ex
pressons did not prevent the old hero and patriot
from saving the city from the threatened atrocl-
ties of confident and insoent foe. Our faith is
in works not words. By this standard alone are
soldiers statesmen patriots, and rulers to be judged,
and the verdict made up. Were this not So Charles
the First would pass for the most sincere OF mon
archs the potroonery of Gen. Hull would be for
gotten in his patriotic notes of defiance before the
enemy appeared ; and the acute and comprehensive
craftsmanship Of Cromwell lost sight of in the fog
and mystilication of his writings. We do not say
that Gov Walker acts better than he talks, talks
better than he acts 1t is his acts past and present
as the governor of Territory of the United States
that concern us and it is to those acts, and not the
good OF bad taste of his arguments and appeals that
our comments have thus far been strictly confined.
The real issues between Gov. Walker and his as
sailants are first to whether the State constitution
about to be framed shall shall not be submitted to
the people of Kansas and, second who are the poo
pie of Kansas Gov. Walker takes the ground that
the constitution should be submitted to direct vote
of the people. The Union has sustained, and will
PoottioH'
Our views on the second issue thus stated in the
Union of the nth inst, and we have since
son to change them
But who are the people What shall be the quail
cations of voter the constitution when il comes
to be submttcd2 We that this is for the
convention to settle. Those who think that the
ycnon might declare the constitution in full force
by virtue of their will can hardly deny that they
might append it condition requiring it to be first
approved by the people. If they do this they
also say what classes of shall be counted as being
part of people The convention that formed the fed
eral constitution exercised this power when they referred
it to their constituents thc stacs and prescribed that
their appreciation should be given withheld by State
conventions The constitution of Virginia submit
ted to the votes of enfranchscd by the convention
for the first time Of the Kansas convention Will
see that every proper guard is thrown around the legal
voter and that his iona d, intention to remain in the
Territory is tested by previous residence of sufficient
length We should say that the qualifications required
to make legal voter under the constitution ought to
title nhabitant to vote uea itfor against its
adoption
If the Wilmington Journal, or any other paper that
has been equally as indiscrminate and unjust in its
charges against the Union, will take the trouble to
read what we have written since the commencement
of this controversy it will discover that apart from
defending Governor Walker from coarse, unmertcd
personal and political assaults, our remarks have
been strictly confined to the two issues already
named. We have no desire to recall one word Of
these remarks. BY them we willing that our o.
thodoxy as national democrat should be weighed
and tested and it gives great qualification to add
that they have been cordially approved of by mag
unanimous contemporaries who were among the first to
question our statements, combat our arguments, and
assail our conclusions This change of sentiments
and views is far more extensive than the extreme
sectional presses of the South disposed to admit
We have already published several extracts from
our southern exchanges showing the extent and
progress of the reaction. We could fiji column after
column with similar extracts but as our limits will
not permit such draughts upon our contemporaries
we shall content ourselves to-day by laying before
the readers of the Union the suboined letter from
old and intelligent citizen of Georgia
MACON, Georgia, July 20, 1857.
TO The E1tor Of III Jnin, Washington
IL is true that the democratic State convention which
lately assembled at the capital of Georgia resolved that
the inaugural address of Gov Walker gross depart
ure in principle from the doctrines of onncrvcntion
and neutrality established by the Kansas bill, and that
the convention had full confidence TINT Mr. Buchanan
will manifest his fidelity to the principles which carried
him into office by recalling Gov. Walker but IL is equal
" true that il that convention in session,
with the present lights before them that resolution wo
not pass
Gov Walkers address had been before The people but