The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-07-18
Z. sp,i, in the Democra,ic Party,

cratic party. The threatened split, they arc
forced to admit, is only at the south, and the
ground for it so narrow, that the chances are
decidedly against its ever becoming alarm
ingiy serious.
The foundation for these high blown
hopes of the said "split' is found in the
fact that few southern papers of the fire
eater sort, always contemplate minority
at the south as the extreme aboltionISts
have been at the north,) have found fault
with that portion of Governor Walkers In
auguraI Address in which he advocates the
submission of the Kansas Constitution to a
direct and fair vote of the people; and in the
further fact that these papers, and conven-
ton in Georgia have undertaken to threaten
! hostility to the administration of President
! Buchanan if Gov. Walker is supported in
the policy as thus announced.
How serious this split is likely to become
may be inferred from the fact, that no por-
ton Of the south except the Know Nothing
| party and the fire daters of Georgia and Mis-
sissippi, (who have always been dead
weight on the democratic party,) have
shown the slightest symptom of opposition
to the policy of Gov. Walker. The whole
of the conservative, Union loving portion Of
the democratic party south as cordially ap-
prove the doctrine that the people Of Kansas
must make their own constitution now as
they did the day the Kansas bill was pass
ed, IN which this doctrine is incorporated as
a cardinal principle. Indeed, the Georgia
convention itself has not dared to assail this
fault, have made such bunglng attempt to
narrow it down, that the force Of their Objec-
tons is frittered away into nonsense by the
nicely of their distinctions
1t is gratifying to find dat fhc admins
tration at Washington, at least, is SO little
alarmed at this breeze fom the extreme
south, that it has been affected only 10 this
extent, that it has given new assurances Of
cordial support to Gov. Walker. These as
surances have been given i'll several ways,
but in none more distinctly than by lead
ing article in the Washington Union of the
9th inst, il which the cavis OF the southern
fire eaters are most ally met and answered.
and the whole grour d OF Gov Walkers po-
Icy is gone over in way TO show that the
editor speaks by the card and Gnoers he is
but reitcrating t.ic views Of tic aIm.nistra-
ton. We copy portion Of the Union arti-
Gle, only regretting that our space will not
permit US to give if all.
We do not understand our Georgia friends
to find fault with the general doctrine that
the people Of Kansas have the power TO de-
eide the question Of slavery for themselves
by inserting in their constitution whatever
provision on that subject they think proper
This is proposition which no man can DENY
and cali himself democrat or friend of
the constitution and laws. 1t was the Shib-
bo!eth Of the party IN the canvass of 1856,
as II had been in many a contest before that
II was Embodied in the compromise inca
sures of 1850; it was made part Of the Kan
sasNebraska bill ITSELF it was incorporated
in the Cincinnati platform; the candidates
of the party were pledged to it the speakers
and writers Of the party pleaded for it; and
it was unanimously adopted by the masses
of the party at the polls. Besides all this,
the Supreme Court have established it as the
law of the land by demonstrating that the
power Of deciding upon the subject of slave
~ docs not exist anywhere else.
But the Georgia convention, without de-
nying this great principle, seems to think
that the constitution Of Kansas out not to
be submitted TO a direc, vote Of the people
in their primary eCpacity. We admit that
this is not in all cases sine qua non. 1t is
fair presumption Of there be no circulu-
stances TO repcl III that convention Of dele
gates chosen by the people viii act in &C
cordance with the sill Of their constituents.
When, therefore, there is no serious dispute
upon tie constitution, either in tie cOnyen-
ton or among the people, the power Of the
delegates alone may put 1t in operation. But
such is not the case in Kansas. The most
violent struggle this country ever saw, upon
the most important issue which the consti-
tuition is to determine, has been going on
there for several years, between parties so
evenly balanced, that both claim the MAORI
ty, and SO hostile to one another, that nu-
nIerOus lives have been lost in the contest.
Under these circumstances there can be no
such thing as asccrtail.inS clearly, and with
out doubt, the VIII Of the people in any
way, except by their own direct express
sion Of it at the polls. i Constitution
not subjected to that test, 10 matter what it
contains, viii never be Acknowledged 10y It's
opponents to be anything but a fraud \
plausible color might bc given to this asscr-
ton by the argument that the members of
the conycution could have no motive for re-
fusing 70 submit their work to their coustit-
ueuts, except i consciousness that the major
ity would condemn it. We confess that we
should find some difficulty in answering
this. What other motive could they havel
We do most dcvoGily believe that, unless
the constitution of Kansas be submitted to
direct vote Of the people, the unhappy
controversy which has heretofore ragged in
that Territory viii be prolonged for an indie
pendant time TO come. We are equally well
convinced that the viii Of the majority,
wheather it be for o. against slavery, will
finally triumph, though it may be after years
OF static, disastrous to the best interests of
the country, and dangerous, it may be, to
the peace and safety to the whole Union.
Again: This movement of the territorial
authorities to form constitution is made,
not in the regular way, in pursuance Of an
enabling and authorizing act of Congress,
but on The mere motion of the territorial
legislator itself. Nay, it has been begun
and carried on in the teeth of refusal by
Congress to syas such an act. This irregu-
larity is not fatal There are other cases
in which it was overlook ed. But it can be
waived only in consideration of the fact
that the peopl. have expressed their will in
unmistakable language. If we dispense
with the LEGAL forms OF proceeding we must
have the substance.
We think for these reasons, that Gov.
Walker, in advocating 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 salts
factorily. In this respect at least he has
done nothing worthy of death or bonds.