Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-04
THE KA~sAs CONSTITUTION.

The Union" Of Wednesday, il, for the most part
devoted 10 the exposure of the virtual plot against
the future of the Democratic party involved in the
urrent effort to divide it upon the question of the
acceptance or rejection of the Kansas Constitution
by Congress. The editor shows how utterly foolish
II will be to permit the personal commitments of Go
vernon Walker, which prevent him enly from gus
taioiug the Administration in the future of the em.
srosllo. to influence the action of the Democratic
members. He sees 10 reason for anything like a per.
ooal rupture, however, between the President and
Governor Walker, the latter being entitled to his
own opinion, az the President and the Democracy to
:heirs-saying:
"The Administration has repeatedly recognised the
validity Of the law Of the Kansas Legislature which
provided for calling q convention. Every bona fdc
,nhabitaut Of the Territory had the right secured him
10 participate in forming the Constitution by voting
for such delegates MS he might wish to represent him.
the Administration has again and again repudiated
the absurd ssumptio OF the Black Republicans.
that, because a portion Of the inhabitants declined to
exercise their right 70 vote for delegates, therefore the
Convention WAS nor a legal and valid body autho-
ri-ed 70 make u Constitution. On the contrary, the
Administration has distinctly recognises. the Convtn.
.l,n ~ valid, and has acknowledged it's obligation uu.
der the laws to see that their deliberations should be
unnolested by fsctionists OF every kind.
because a portion of the kansas people refused to
VOtS,6 ana U6Chube u W q ttO iudt lHt IOuNtu-
ton represented only a minority of the inhabitants.
the administration WAS willing to see the Convention
provide for submitting the Constitution made by
them 10 the ratification or rejection of the whole PEG.
pie. The Convention, however. Cor reasons satisfac.
tory to themselves, and IN the exercise Of a legal dis
cr-tion. Jaw proper to submit only one clause for the
ratification or rejection of the people, but that clause
embraced the only Question involved in the contro.
yersy, out of which greT tie reiusa! of a portion of
the inhabitants 10 vote for delegates. AZ the main
e~s..otlal matter Of controversy was submitted by the
Convention. the Administration could ses no good
raa.un why the failure to submit the matters not in.
vowed in tho controversy, and not therefore essentials
n tho dispu's. should indus sc them to reject the nc
don Of the Convention.
-Guv-rnor Walker differs with the Administration
on this point. and opposes the action OF the Conven.
don. L. this such a disagreement "a should. or As
would distract and destroy the harmony and integri.
~ of the Democratic partyl We think not. Ii is a
Disagreement - to a matter that was never really in
vnlved in :he Kansas question. aud is. therefore, a
q ference Of option only between the President andI
Gov. Walker, which does not 10 the least affect the
pcIcy Of the Administrations.
What If q Democrat should prefer that the whole
CONSTITUTION should hsye been subnitted7 Will he,
because that has not byen done, c"nde mn the Admin
is;ra',on. dissolve Es connection with the party and
jnIu The Black Republicans, when by the course Of
ths Convention the great essential object that he de. !
sired has been secured! VII, or eau any good De.
inocrst, who Is not embarrassed Ly personal commit. |
tails and pledges like Governor Walker, separate from
his party on 4 Inference that involves nothing bur
q non essential poinll We,h!uk tina, a.! true Demo
crafts will answer-the great principle involved IN tho
Elnsas sc; wac tina. the people should have a Cous,;.
luton with or without slavery. rs they pleased.
This right is fully secured by submitting the
slavery clause 70 IN. III; aud we will not distract and
divide our psrty because other matters never deemed
tsssp'isl heretofore have not been submitted. All
good Democrats Will regret the necessity in The in
d,viJuai position of Gov. Walker which c0us:rains
10 oppose the action ct the Convention, and
peparats himself from the Administration. bu. the
great National Democracy is not 10 be broken up on
1osrs Z sitter Of regret that n distinguished Democrat