The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-08-12
A FEW WORDS ABOUT wALKsf AND KANSAS.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT wALKER AND KANSAS
Under the above caption we find in a late number
OF the Panldng thiississippD Clarion a timely and
sensible article which is written in such calm,
did, and conservative spirit that it cannot fail to
move much of the prejudice and error which exist
in many localities in the South in regard 30 what is
termed the Kansas policy of Gov. Walker and the
national administration. The broad ground at first
assumed by several extreme journals, observes the
Clarion hat the submission of the constitution TO
vote of the people for ratification should not be toll
Grated by the South, has, as we always thought it
should be, been abandoned as untenable upon any
we-established principles of democratic reasoning"
The Clarion then adds "All now appear willing to
leave that for the convention itself to determine The
oay sahied which any propriety in the
Souths being concerned about is, that in submitting
the constitution to such test the right of suffrage
shall be so guarded as 10 insure proper application
of the principles of popular sovereignty and of the
organic act Of the Territory"
The convention which is to frame the constitution
will undoubtedly provide all needful tests and here
we think, the matter should rest. Our limits will
permit 10 Tie OF the
Cartons article, which is as follows:
The mistake has been made of considering the ques
ton whether Kansas to be slave free State as
still an open one, and of arguing upon II though ii
Walkers alone which to decidet against
the South If this were true, condemnation of him.
of the President who retains him in Office would be
too But the fact that this question yirt
ally settled long before Walker Kansas or Mr.
Buchanan naugurated President. No intelligent
man who has visited the Territory since last fall has
failed to report that the feeState settlers largely in
the majority. When the Territory first thrown open
forseement under the Kansas act and the struggle for
the ascendency commenced both sections of the Union
put forth their best efforts 10 send the largest number
of emgrants In this contest the North, with its i'm
mense surplus population and its greater liberaty
In raising money, triumphed and sent three or
four times as many settlers into the Territory
the South. This expected by many of the
most prominent southern statesmen from the first who
yielded their assent to the Kansas BILL not because
cesrly made Kansas slave State but because il estab-
lished great principle which secured the South its
dignity and its constitutional rights If under the app
cation of this principle in itself just and acknowledged
to be by the South herself she has lost Kansas from
her inability to cope with the North in peoplng new Ter
rories that is her misfortune, and which she must
bear with what equanimity she can command. 1t is
childish and absurd to vent her disappointment in rail-
ings ut Walker the administration event which
they were in no manner instrumental in bringing about
and which they utterly poweress to prevent The
only way in which Kansas possibly be brought into
the Union as slave State is by the territorial conven-
ton which frames its constitution Withholding that instru-
ment from vote of the people /; and even those
loudest in their condemnation of Walker do not
now insist that this should be DONE The effects of
such course, IL adopted in obedience to southern
camor, would be evil, and evil only, to Kansas to
the democratic party to the of the South itself and
ultimately to the Union The charge that it was mere
device to escape decision of the point by the people
could not he met the democratic party at the North
would be swept from the face of the earth and an abol
ZIONIST elected to the presidency 1860 when the South
would have the choice of submitting to his admnistra-
ton or dissolving the Union. Besides the footing OBJ
aned for slavery against the will of the majority would
be but temporary. Though the popular voice might be
sied in the first instance the State government would
sooner be organized and set into operation than il
would make itself heard. The slavery clause would be
stricken out Of the constitution and the trick by which
slavery had been imposed upon them against their will
would have the effect of sending every northern settler
into the black republican ranks The South would thus
lose all practical advantage from the movement and in
viewing the amentable results which followed would
suffer the consciousness that they had been occasoned by
her own unwise and fruess attempt to sten her nsttu
tons upon people who to them.
These are briefly our views upon the essential points
OF this unhappy controversy We forbear to enforce
them fully by citing at length the abundant facts
and arguments which, in our Judgment sustain them
While feel and believe that they must prevail with
the sober second thought of the southern democracy
desire heated discussion with those Of our friends
who have committed themselves to more extreme views
We most earnestly desire to party keep together
in support of the administration because we do not be-
eye the President has done anything to forfeit that sup
port If we break down the administration and PROSTATE
the northern democracy, are ready for the conse
quences Let us look before we leap