Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-12-19

| CONGRESS AND kANsAs-JuDGE DOUGLAS AND THE
PREsIDESr-Ihe Kansas difficulty has opened upon
| the country even sooner than We expected Judge
Douglas has thrown the weight Of his great abilities
and influence into the scale against the admnstra
ton on this point, but lar with fewer results than
he or his friends anticipated. The number of De.
mocrats in either House who be induced to fol-
low him, will be very small. As yet no Democratic
Senator except Stuart, Of Michigan, has ranged him
self under the Douglas banner this point. 1t has
been limited that Mr.. Pugh, Of Ohio may, but this
is doubtful. The few Demccia ats in the House who
oppose the President are still scattering and their
force undetermined
We have read with considerable attention the
speech delivered by Judge Douglas in the Senate of
the United States, on the Sth inst II is marked by
the energy and ability Characteristic Of all the e.
forts OF the gifted speaker hit il has failed TO
vince us that he is right. That everything in Kan
sas has gone on as We could have wished we do not
pretend to say. We are fully prepared TO admit
that the action of the Lecompton conventions open
to objections and these objections Mr. Douglas urges
with great force But the real point is this. Wheth-
er, under the organic law of the Territory, and in
accordance with the principles of local selEgovern-
mcnt-of deciding its own institutions in its own
way. the Legislature OF Kansas had not the author
ity to call convention to frame constitution and
apply for admission into the Union as a State. The
legality of the convention, so called, had never been
called in question, even by Governor Walker. The
legal authorities of Kansas took this plan of forming
their own institutions, and this their own way.
States have been admitted with constitutions formed
by conventions, who submitted part of The result
of their abors to the popular vote and by conven-
tons called in pursuance of enabling act of Con.
greSs, although Judge Douglas contends that with
out such act, no convention can have authority
Now, the fact is, that the Constitution nowhere gives
to the States the authority TO demand admis.
sion. The Constitution says that Congress may ad
NM Sfntng Plat .I.J
authority goes the present application Of Kansas
is just valid any other inchoate State, and it
can be no just ground for objection that il comes
forward with a constitution formed in its 0nH u0s
Its own way has been through its legislature call
ing n convenon-the delegates to which were cho
sen by an election in the main fair, as the President
justly says. lr men IN Kansas did not choose to
vote for delegates, they took Meir own way" and
must abide the consequences We do not approve
OF all the acts the Lecump,on Convention but the
right plan would have been to have voted for men
who would have done differently. The convention
was not bound by the law Of the Legislature to sub.
nit the Constitution. The mode in which they have
chosen to submit a part, is not the way would
have liked. Had We been cl2ens of Kansas, we
would have advocated different course, but we
would have felt bound, if our eff rs had failed, to
have submitted to the law.
We have honored Judge Douglas too highly
have now too high respect for his talents-tOo
lively recollection Of his services to Jump at once
into the ranks of his denouucers We must see far
Their and think more, but this, Judge Douglas or the
greatest man earth must know that if he chooses to
take up his ground and that ground should he op,
posed TO the democratic party, he must take the
sequences. No man must tatter himself with any
lien upon the Democracy. Its breath is drawn
through no mans nOstriIS II may build up or pull
down-no man can build it up or pull it down
Wilmington Journal