Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-07-01
Kansas Affairs.

Kansas news had become such drug in the
newspaper market that we, in common with
nearly everybody else, wearied with the subject,
had neglected to attend to it.; and now, when
important events are taking place in the Terri
tory, we find it difficult to recover lost ground
and ascertain how matters stand. We learn,
however, that Convention, acting under the
authority of the Federal Government, will as
semble in September next to form State Con-
stitution. The members of this Convention
have been elected by a limited number of the
present population, who were registered voters
on the 18th of March last, and the Freesoilers
generally refused to take part in the election
1t is possible therefore that the Convention will
frame Constitution recognising the institution
of slavery. But the Freesoilers, whose Legisla-
ture lately met at Topeka, continue to keep up
q distinct civil organization and insist that the
Topeka Constitution" adopted by them, is the
only clear expression of the popular will OF Kan
sas, and must be recognised by Congress. At
the last accounts Gov. Walker was eudeayorlng
to persuade this party to acquiesce in the pro-
ceedings of the Convention soon to assemble,
assuring them that the Constitution would be
submitted to the vote of the whole people OF the
Territory-not only those who were registered
voters on the 18th of March, but all who may
be bona tide settlers at the time of voting lie
declares, moreover, that his views are approved
by the President. In his speech at Topeka he
says:
with these views, we'll known to the Presl-
dent and cabinet, aud approved by them. L ac-
cepted the appointment of Governor OF Kansas
My instructions from the President, through the
Secretary of State, under date OF the 3oth OF
March last, sustain the regular Legislature of
the Territory in assembling a Convention to
form Constitution, and they express the opin-
ion of the President, that when such Constl-
tuition shall be submitted to the people of the
Territory, they must be protectedin the exercise
OF their right of voting for or against that lnstru
ment, and the fair expression OF the popular
will, must not be interrupted by fraud and ylo-
lence"
Southern papers which complain of Walkers
course, take the ground that it is unusual to
submit Constitution prepared by Territorial
Convention to the popular vote; or, at least
that those only of the people of Kansas should
vote upon it who are entitled to the privilege
under the registration act. They regard Walk
er's policy as intended to throw the Territory
into the hands of the Freesoilers.
We can perceive no valid objection to submit
ting the Constitution to the popular vote, but
the voting ought to be restricted to persons du-
" authorized by the existing law. A law OF
Kansas prescribes who shall vote for members
of the Convention, and that body should not
submit the result of their labors to the vote of
any other class of persons. Yet Walker under
takes to dictate to the Convention, and declares
that the Constitution must be voted upon by
the "whole people, or he will oppose it. and
Congress ought to reject it. This is ''squatter
sovereignty" with vengeance. The Richmond
Enquirer and Examiner both disapproye Of
Walkers ''latitudinous positions" but in very
mild terms. The Examiner frankly eonfesses
that it will ''strain point to sustain him." not
withstanding the objections to his course, "ior
the great overriding reason" that Walker
''deemed it necessary that he should make the
strongest possible bid for votes for his party
In other words, Walker has given up what the
Examiner considers the rights of the South In
order to make Kansas Democratic State and
that paper twill strain point to sustain him ~
This seems to be the policy of the "National
Democracy" but we did not expect to see so
staunch an advocate of Southern rights as the
Examiner, giving in its adhesion without wry
face. 1t only furnishes onother proof of the fact
that the Democracy use the slavery question as
mere hobby, and are ready to take any side to
promote party ends.
The election which took place in Kansas on
the 10Th ult, for members of the Convention,
seems to have been small affair. Not more
than fifteen hundred votes were polled in the
whole Territory Only some twenty or thirty
votes were cast in Franklin county, two or three
in Calhoun, and the editor Of the Lawrence Re-
publican made diligent search for the polls in
his bailiwick, but could not find them. The
Convention, however, having been elected I'M
der authority of the Federal Government, will
be legally constituted, and its action will be re-
cognised by the Executive as the voice of the
reople of Kansas. The Washington Union says,
those only will be regarded as "the people" of
Kansas who "are now uniting to frame form
of government in accordance with the provis-
ions of law, and not those who are seeking to
paralyze the popular will by illegal subtertuges
and the bubbles of fanaticsm.'"