Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-07-03
l.tNShS.

from Kansas f. bs 80 much alarmed lbs; the ic'P'e
Of that Territory should fail to carry out the primer
uI.s of the Kansas Nebraska bill, ~ be GiiS'sheI
in adopting u Torn: u! government best -
TO their own condition and wants Tine aiior'..
ueIt OF Gov. Walker u inan .urai has hrcI 'Hr ~
sion for violent assaults both npon hint an: M -,
miuistraiion, and il is ditiicu!; 10 sgy wii.iaef '"u F..
assaults have been most violent ana Eiiidici't :" w.
So.;h or the South. rs y mater %! course, '"E "
sliluI!s in The two sectlons differ very widely !" - b
construction OF that document, and the motives " nv
| dictated il. At the North, il is charged that lie "u
| minis.raficn is lending all is power and inliuei'" ="
.svrr of making kunsas q elavc State: wniist al ~. 49,
ShuIh II il, with equal earnes'nes', alleged NC -.
administration is N full cooperation with TUE t..
Stat. men 10 make Kansas q tree State. we "'',t
take to say tina; both charges are uni"uiIded "ur, :" n
il generally true in such cases, the tru'h lirs l1S' r".
way between The two sets Of assaiianti. Inc p,h, -
of the administration IL to enforce, ~ Spcn '"r" =,
both sections of the Union, the principles ht the h"n
-as bill-principles which were designed! 10 insure -
the people of Territory the right to de''dc 40
themselves whether Kansas should be asieVe OF 'e'
State. .,.r,;
yersnl sentiment of the Democratic party ihat III
people Of tho Territory should decide that qHrss.oI
Tor themselves. Upon that point there was n" d.hel
ence Of opinion between Northern ana HIu,"el"
Democrats. All with equal earnestnes' accepted hm"
defended the principle rs The ou!y .aIT ana Cohs'nu
tional mode Of adjusting a vexed and dshSsro"'
issue. Upon one point there did exist IN i'e pc'h'
cratic party q difference of opinion. anu lhhL " g.
to the time when this decision slloa!d heAnade oy .ne
p~eople-a portion of the party. principally "l "G
South, holding that this right could only he exercised
when the people come to form their State Coii'i'tu'
ton; whilst tho other portion held that the lo"e. %
sided in the Territorial Legislature. II Is lrue .n".
this diversity of opinion Was regarded by Tue hrse'
portion of the party as more tieoretlch! man p.an uh,
cal-as il was thought that the practical result ""unn
be the same under either theo:y. However mar ma
have been, the question MES very properly reictreu
TO lhe only tribunal provided by the Constitution iot
its solution-the Supreme Court OF the ohlteu :o'",e''
The principles announced oy that iriou," =" 70 'H..
decision in the bred Scott :ase have sc!'ieu ms POM
" ,I;snnt.. aud ,h. doctrine announced by the fresl'
dent in his inaugural is both recognized oy .h9 80
and acuuiesced in by the Democracy o' ''e J" =
The time, then, for the people OF >anshs - i ie ,ho
tbe question of slavery in that Territory is ~ ~
odonr;nn Of their state constitution. They can make
it e slave or free State, Rs they please; or lo..o"inS
the example of many of her sl'er States say no,h,
ing about slavery III her constitution "hu ,eH'o ;no
matter omen for the future consideration anu decision
of her people. This il their rlGi'; ard tn the mann
tenance Of that right OF the peopieol the Aansns th'
Democratic party, North and S"Gtt' East anu wet
is solennly pledged. 1t is the du.y OF The admins,
tration to see 10 il, that the principe thus recognised
and approved shall be fairly, fully, G,d faithfully car.
ried out, to the extent OF its powers HOW sNai' 'hiS
be done! Let it be borne in mind nat tho cole CD
iect TO be attained is 10 ascertain me Will OF q MAORI
ty Of the people of Kansas Oh the poist ol making : II
a slave or free State.
The first step is the election of delegates 10 q Con-
vention, who shall fairly represent The voice of the
psople. This has been provided Tor Intle law .. the
territorial legislature, by which representation has
been duly proportioned to the different counties. A
fair election has also been provided for, Ly requiring
a certain length Of residence, and bl throwing
around the voters every protection aghlns. fraud and
violence. The required residence for seve:al months
WAS necessary to prevent the influx OF such persons
IA might be induced 10 go 10 Kansas TO control her
| ,lpr.iouS hut with m ilpn of BECOMING DermlHuei
citizens OF the Territory or State. II was a wise and
Just provision, and has received the sanction
of every one who desired TO see n fair and honest
expression of opinion by the bona .hie citizens OF
Kansas. When the delegates thus chosen shall
have completed the BUSINESS for which they shall
have assembled-to wit: the formation of Il consti.
iution-there will remain but one question for fur
Their division and distraction, and that question will
be, is the constitution thus formed approved by the
people of Kansas, aud does il reflect their will on
the question. not only OF slavery, but upon all 9th
ers1 1t it does, every one will say that with that
constitution, whether slave, free, or siien; on that
point, she should be admitted HI a State. II it does
not, then no one will pretend for u moment that a
constitution condemned by a majority Of the people
should be forced upon them, no matter under what
forms and by what authority adopted. Granting the
correctness of the proposition just stated, we ask
how can that fact, 80 important 10 be known, be a.
certained! We will not say tina. there IL no other
mode of ascer,uining il, but We will say that the most
satisfactory and conclusive evidence that the cousi.
tuition Is approved by the people VIII he the ratitica'
ton Of it by them at the pUiis. To those who object
10 the submission Of the constitution Ia the peOpt-
for ratification We PROFOUND the inquiry, Are you
willing 10 abide the decision of tls bona tic citizens
of Kansas! We put the inquiry, because, upon look
ing into the complaints OF tlp,se who oppose this
course, We discover what appears to be m unwilling
ness to submit to the decision that a majority OF the
citizens ct kansas may pronounce. To that class OF
fault .iinde : we have no argument to oiTrr. Our rea'
soning is addressed Alone TO the advocates aud de
Tenders OF the great principle OF the Kansas blll-to
those who intend in good faith TO stand by their prn'
ciples, whether 1t works out n favorable or untavora.
| be result To their personal Views and wishes. what
objection is there to submitting the constitution TO The
| people for ratification We are told iha. "a fair cleo
ton cannot be had; and that a horde Of mere adven
turers will rush into the Territory 10 defrnt by their
votes the ratification Of the constitution, which had
been adopted by the chosen delegates of the people
| We grant that there IL some force in The objection;
but the olje:tor (ursets that tis Is precisely. the OBJ
ton. If il il 4 good objection now il was equally
good when urged by the opposition. Our reply has
| been heretofore, that q fair election eau and sliail be
had, and we offer 10 those Of our friends who have
taken up this exploded argument; of ;te opposition the
! same answer. When Il vote is TO be taken on the rG.
LITIGATION OF the constitution the polls must be guard.
| ed against fraud, violence aud cOrrupiion.
Ii asked how this shall be done, we answer, JUS. IA
| it was done in the election Of delegates - the Con.
ysntioil. Let the convention, in submitting the Con.
sti,utiun tO the people, provide against the influx Of
mere Adventures, by requiring, rs the Territorial
| Legislature, a sufficient residence on the part OF each
voter to protect the h0Ha .Edc citizens of the Territory
from the votes Of any and all persons who may 60
there temporarily with a view OF voting, but not Of
remaining as 4 resident Of the Territory and State
Every other guard necessary for a fair 'nd honest
decision by tue majority vote OF the non" hd' citi.
zans of Kansas should be provided. Wh.n this has
been done, and II decision pronounced, which every
oae sees and feels has been fairly aud ho,e'ily reach
ed, the whole country will acquiesce ut. whether
that decision makes Kansas a slave or ire, State.
In reference To tho position of the Administration,
we feel authorised to say that it has not md will NOT
intimate a desire either that the one or tie other re.
suit shall be reached. As the representative OF the
whole country, its duty commences and ends i'll go
enforcing the law as will most certainly scure TO the
iona tide citizen of Kansas the opportunity of de.
Gliding for themselves this veSed question. fire" from
all outside and improper iniiaences.- Va<h'""ioa