The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-27

the southern States, save and except plugugly Mary
land What meant the desperate struggle Of the
disinteresed and honest national men Of the North with
their abolition adveraries when certain destruction
seemed impending them, bat determination at all
hazards and at every sacrifice vndeae 10 their south
em brethren their solemn desire for the preservation of
the Union upon the principles Of the constitution We
speak what we know when we assevete that the admin
straton supported by the unanimous, consolidated
sentiment of the universal democracy OF the North 10
say nothing of the of the south and they Of the
South who, in reckless spirit Of faultindng, make
haste ssa it, only declare by that nct that they win
no longer affiliate with the national democracy of the
North that their struggle for the preservation OF the
Union in 1856 was made under popular duress, and that
they already preparing the pressure of circumstances
being removed TO educate the popular mind OF the South
for reputation of the Cincinnati PLATFORM of their own
once test principle of the Nebraska Kansas act of the
national democratic party too impure for their refined
association, and of the Union itself which that party
holds together they would have by the cement of the
spoils.
While we have never swerved one jot or title from
Staterghts or constitutional principles and do not mean
to do So confess that cannot go with these men
We will not get off upon the barque OF secession as long
as a constitutional plank is left us to float upon OF the
national ship of democracy We mean to stand by the de-
moccy and the Cincinnati schedule long the exist
ence of the Union rests upon them when the party is
split asunder and its schedule spit upon and rent into
srcts then shall welcome dissolution for then I'M
deed the Union will not be worth preserving Until then
we stick the democratic party and until then shall de-
end the administration it has placed in power from as
slants South no less streuousy than from assailants
North
af-a SUBJECT.
We come now to the main subject of this southern out
cry against the administration through Walker
In the first place. let ascertain precisely the policy
which the administration has thought proper to order in
its instructions to Walker We find set forth by Walk
er in his Lecompton inaugural. We quote
my instructions from the President through the Sec
reary OF State under date of the 30th OF March last sns
tain me regular legislature Of The Territory in assembling
convention 10 form constitution, and they express the
opinion of the President that 'iahsa such constitution shall
Be submitted to hs people Of The Territory they must Be protected
IN the ercie of their rgh of voting for against that nstru-
ment and The far expression Of The popular w must not be m
terya4aed 5y fraud or violeace. "
1t is clear from the context from which we take this
extract that the language in quotation marks contains all
that is said in Walkers instructions on this subject
What then is the position of the President the vexed
question of submitting the constitution which shall be
framed by the Kansas convention, elected under pro-
slavery auspices to the popular vote He does not
ommend, urge or insist upon that measure but he
takes it for granted that the constitution will be sub
mitted to popular ratification and directs that when that
shall be DONE the people shall be protected in their right
of voting
Nor does the President undertake to indicate who shall
be entitled to vote upon the constitution He contents
himself with the use of the term people, leaving
other authority to define who the people are.
The head and front of the Presidents offending in this
behalf therefore u.s. that he that the constitu
ton to be framed will be submitted to popular ratic
ton, and that the people of the Territory will vote
upon it. y" #1 $780, sH#
To these positions OF the PRECEDENT find no objection
We cannot see how the submission Of the constitution
when framed to popular ratification can be avoided, con-
sisteny with the text and spirit of the Nebraska Kansas
act or with any regard to the peace OF the Territory
We know there precedents in which territorial con
stitutions have not been submitted to the people for
their acceptance before their presentation to Congress
and that there are other precedents in which they
have been But these cases, for the most part in
which no great towering question of contention agitaed
the people of the Territory and entered into the text of
the constitutions Tho case of Kansas very different
one and it seems to us that after all that has been said in
behalf Of 'the right of the people of Territory in the
act of applying for admission State into the Union
to determine for themselves their organic Institutions
and in view of the importance of peaceful and final set
Element for ALL Of this slavery agitation in Kansas
the people of Kansas ought to have vote upon the work
of their servants in the convention For one south
ern man. we would not give fig for a constitution in
Kansas introducing slavery into the State if it
carried against the sentiment of fair majority of the peo
pe and would not youch for the existence of such
constitution year The President takes it for grant
ed in his instructions to Walker, that the constitution
will be submitted to the tpcople for acceptance and
for one we do not how democratic and consera
tive proposition be combatted any enlarged prn
ciples of conservative southern policy.
We come next to examine who meant in the Pres
dents instructions, by the .peoe' and this point
his instructions silent Our view to the prop
er and ghtu class of suagans entitled to vote upon
the constitution s that they viii be those enumerated
in the that has been taken for organizing the
vention We do not think that any less pains taking and
solemn an ascertainent of the bona e residents of the
Territory would be fair just conservative in ITSELF
ought be accepted with satisfaction either by the South
day. shall i'm they determine to submit their consti-
tuition the people, ordan that the suagans who elect
ed themselves, sufagans ascertained by equally
careful and solemn census the first shall be the voters
to pass upon the constitution we for one shall feel dis
satisfied with their decision.
Passing from the Presidents instructions to the in
augura declarations Of Walker say frankly that
think the latter do transcend the former and that
do not endorse the unqualified expressions Of Walker
when he speaks of submitting the constitution when
framed for ratification rejection by majority OF
the then actual bona fde resident settlers of Kansas
and in another place of a the actual resident settlers