The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-01
WASHINGTON. d. c..
DAVIS ON KANSAS, GOVERNOR
WALKER, AND THE ADMINISTRATION
From The Memphis Appea

town prevented the citizens from extending to
him. as We suppose was the original design,
formal reception on his arrival. On the 5th
instant an excellent diDner--modestly called
basket collaton-was prepared and served in
the court house enclosure, of which q large
number Of ladies and gentlemen partook. But
previous to the discussion of the creature COM
forts provided in such lavish profusion by our
De Soto neighbors, Colonel Davis addressed
his fellow citizens substantially as follows:
"Among other cases, he particular
ly referred to the deepening of the month of
the Mississippi, which, however important to
himself and those who heard him, only con-
stituted the more strongly for that reason, a
Gaze IN which they were bound to assert and
maintain their principles, as declared and reit-
Grated in National and State Conventions, in the
Legislature and popular bodies and by which
they were early aud consistently arrayed in CD
position TO internal Improvements by the Fed
@ral Government He characterized the whole
system as demoraEzing, corrupting, and most
dangerous t. pure Administration Of Federal
affairs, and deeply regretted that the executive
veto had been overrued by the ardent desire
TO get possession of the public treasure for par
ticuiar, but not few, works of internal improve
mems. What boots it that man shall call
himself a Democrat, if upon the great test ques-
tons which divides parties he shall be found
IN every conflict acting with the enemy? And
when we have been beaten in combat after
combat, it can but little console us that he still
returns to our powerful camp, TO share in the
issue of the rations which still belongs to De-
mocracy as a majority to distribute. 1t is the
steady maintenance Of this and all other prin
ciples of our party which constitute the ma
tionality Of the Democracy; and if the National
Democracy cannot agree upon any cardinal
IL &C. t,F . l..
ed, or rather the reverse should never have
been declared. He reviewed the various ap-
pointments to the gubernatorial Office of Kan
sas, and alike exempted from censure both Mr..
Pierce and Mr.. Buchanan for the errors or mis-
conduct Of their appointees, upon the ground
that their antecedents gave them no power to
anticipate any difficulty. He found nothing in
the Instructions given TO Gov. Walker which
authorized his Intervention TO mould the institu.
tons Of Kansas and dictate to the inhabitants
of the Territory, and to their delegates in Con-
veniion, not only what they should but must
to-tOr his pro-consular tone rose even to that
height He said he considered the Convention
invested with full power to form Constitution,
and either to submit it to the Territorial inhab-
itants or to send it direct to Congress, in order
that Kansas might be admitted as a State into
the Union. He thought much error had arisen
from the failure to bear in mind the difference
between this Convention of Territory and
Convention representing the sovereign people
Of State. He referred to the doctrine of
squstter soyerei ynty, as one which he had always
considered a fallacy, and pointed generally to
the disastrous consequences which had flowed
from it. But he said, leaving that as ques-
ton which had been discussed in other times,
he now only presented the view which was con-
fined to the present condition of the Territory,
IL
the Convention formed the Constitution, though
they should refer it, and it should receive the
sanction of every man, woman, and child, who
might chance to be in the Territory, this choice
action of the Convention and It's inhabitants
could give 10 effect to the instrument which
had been formed. A Territory had two con
stituencies, the people and the Federal Gov
eminent.
"The ratification in the case of State Con-
vention would be final, and the authority to con
vene would also necessarily come from the peo-
pie Of a State. 1t being, then, too plain for
eluc;datiun that it is only by the admission Of
State into the Union that the Constitution
adopted in this Territorial Convention can have
any value CT practical effect, and as 1t was most
desirable TO separate the question of the do
nestic institutions OF this incipient State from
all Intervention, whether Congressional or Ex.
ecutive, it had seemed to him that the shortest
was the best route; that is, that the Convention
should form a Constitution, and send it direct
to the Congress, asking TO be recognised az q
State, and to be admitted into the Union. His
long acouaintance and close relations with the
President whilst he was a private citizen, did
not permit him 10 doubt his willingness and
ability TO hold the scales even between the con
tending sections so he had no fear that the
influence Of the President would be used to Sc
u I ! e Al.
nisinc the right Of the Convention, as the repre-
sentative Of the body polite of Kansas, to de-
eide the question as to whether the Constitution
should be submitted to popular vote or not.
He alluded at some length to the political his
tory of Governor Walker and spoke of him as
one whose talents and requirements had com
msnded bis admiration, and towards whom he
had for many years held the kindest personal re.
lations. He expected of Gov. Walker, when be
went to Kansas, to discharge his duties fairly
towards the conterdng parties, whilst he had
good reason to believe that in his feelings he
would be the side of the Pro-Slavery men,
He read therefore, with equal regret and sur
prise, hts inaugural address and Topeka speech
He had The best authority for believing that the
Administration was not responsible for the Ian
guage employed by Governor Walker, or the
reasons be urged. Colonel Davis concurred in
the action OF the Democratic Convention of
Mississippi In Its censure of the attempt to die
tate 70 the Convention of ksnsas, and to argue
from climatic laws that the institution of SIa.
very was unsuited TO the Territory of Kansas
His argument might be true where he located
1t, on the suow-covered mountains and upper
plains of Kansas but it was delusive, because
IN that part OF the country there is not, and
for longer period than he could foresee would
not be, an agricultural population. The mete
geological condition Of the country would rem
der !: unfit for cultivation, whatever its temper
allure might be. The inhabitable, tillable por.
ton Of Kansas lies east of the isothermal line
drawn through these upper plains, and is part
of the valley which forms the most productive
portion Of the State of Missouri in the great
staples of hemp and tobacco. These staples
had only been successfully cultivated by slave
labor, and he did not doubt that slave property
would be equally permanent, if duly protected
in Kansas GGd if there were any sincerity in
the oftrepeated declaration of our Northern
friends, that they were willing to leave the ques
ton to be settled by soil and climate, we had q
right to call upon them now to manifest o
fairness and fraternity which belongs alike to
the constitutional compact and our party affili-
alton with them. The Democratic Convention
of Mississippi properly refused to involve the
Administration III the censure affixed to the
conduct of Governor Walker; but if it should
hereafter appear, of which he would take occa
sion TO say that he had not the least apprehen
sion. that the Administration was responsible
fer Governor Walkers offensive Intervention
then. as the censure attached to the fact, anC
was not measured by the individual, it would
necessarily follow that it must fall upon the
Administration; and in proportion as the pow
er and dignity of the offender was increased