The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-03
SOUTHERN 0PINIO rs.


a few more significant paragra ,hs respecting
Kansas and the course of the administration
The Hon. A. II. Stephens, o. Georgia, has
addressed letter to his constituents of the 8th
Congressional district. He is not inclined to
break with the Administration, though he con
cemns Governor Walker in bitter terms. He
SAYS:
@ If the present Administration takes sides
with Governor Walker on it, he and they will
SHIRE the same fate. | cannot, however, permi,
ny self to believe for a moment that they will
in that contingency, take such grounds. The
doctrine is too outrageous and moDstrous to al
low any such inference. So far as Mr. Blu.
chanan is concerred-to say nothing of the in.
dividual members of his Cabinet-there is moth.
ing in his past history to warrant any snch
conclusion nothing in his Administration thus
far affords any grounds to suspect it. except the
fact that he has not removed him. Apart from
this Walker business, no Administration has
ever, in my day, so fully met my cordial ap-
proval. But, In my judgment, Walker ought
TO have been removed. ] am not, however. in
the habit of condemning without hearing. Mr.
Buchanan may have reasons for his course we
know nothing of. In the mean time, he must
and will be held responsible for the consequences
attending his retention, whatever they may be.
These he cannot escape from
On the other hand, tie Georgia Platform
publishes letter from Kansas, which eulosizes
Governor Walker, and expresses confidence
that Kansas will yet become a slave State. We
quote paragraph
We cannot see the propriety of Southern
men taking such grave exceptions to anything
that Governor Walker has said in Kansas The
Pro Slavery Democrats Of Kansas Territory
sustain him, who watch him with critics eve
and on the other hand, all the Black Republi.
cans and Free Soil papers denounce him, and
say that he is no better than a Border Ruff;an.
Governor Walker is regarded by al good men
in Kansas Territory as being wise, just, and
impartial Executive aud think that it would
be best Tor outsiders to lay low and keep still
until we complain. With regard to the dele
gates that are elected to form State Consttu-
ton, they will convene at the Capitol on the
first Monday in September next: a large ma.
jority of these men are Pro-Slavery, and there
Is no doubt but that they will form a Constitu.
ton with clause recognising African slave
labor. L think 1t very uncertain whether or not
1t will be submitted to the ratification of the
people after 1t is formed, from the fact that the
people voted Understandings at the time of
selves in favor of or against African Slavery.
The troops are still in Lawrence.
and, think, will remain there for the purpose
of enforcing the laws in collecting the revenue.
They say they will fight the troops before they
will pay the taxes. l am of the opinion we will
have collision when the tsS-gstherer starts
out; and, if So there is no telling where it will
STOP" ~
Unpleasant as this view of things inJKansas
is, we fear there is some truth in it, and princi.
pallY because the Administration gives indca-
tons of bending before the Southern storm.
The Northern Democrats lack the courage OF
their brethren in the slave States. Should the
President give over Kansas to Border Ruffian-
ism, how many Northern Democratic presses
would venture, like the intrepid Richmond
South and Charleston Mere,fy, to condemn
the Administration 1t is for this very reason
that Mr.. Buchanan will give way, if he does so
at all-the North will bear anything, while the
| South is independent, fearless, and not to be
bound by party ties one moment if Slavery is
in danger.
The n. y. Times, which has until now stead
| lily supported Governor Walker and the Admin.
istraton in their Kansas policy, expresses the
opinion that the Southern war upon Mr. Blu
chanan will succeed in intimidating him. 1t
says:
| The success of the plot TUNED wholly upon
| the question CT his courage-and it locks al.
| ready as if whatever he has SSere oozinp ont,
The official organ, the Union, is susp;ciously
| busy III It's attempts to vindicete him from al
| lmputstion OF wishing to make Kansas free
| State, and TO show that his action has been in
| strict conformity 10 the exactions of the South
| err States. Governor Walker, it must also be
| confessed, has abated something of his deyo
| ton to the welfare of the achOk people of Kan.
| sas, and is becoming especially vehement 10 de
nouncing as Abolitionists the decided majority
| of its inhabitants. Instead of insisting that
| all the bona fde residents Of Kansas shall vote
under the organic laws Of Congress- he now in
Inmates that voting must be Confined to those
Who shall be found qualified according to the
| Territorial laws. Instead of baking the appor
tionment for members of the Legislature him
self, and thus securing its tai ness, he handed
1t over to the presiding officers of the two
branches of the Legislature, 'fho have made q
2ne.sided distribution, giving o the Prc-Slsvery
| Cpinority decided preponderlnc of Legislative
| COVER. At this moment too, Judge Cato suspi
iously steps in with an extr ajudIcial opinion
shich cuts eff ninetenihs of tqe Free State meI
rom the polls and confines t4e right of voting
o these who have paid Territorial tax. AnC
he old executive machinery by which Fre'
State men were harassed ana drsgooned las
year-the machinery of Indictments, arrests
lmprisonments, and trials for treason and othe
constructive crimes-seems % have been re
vived with fresh vigor. All hese things indi