Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-24

questions, involving the subject Of slavsry might
be settled upon some common ground where q
party could Be rallied from the North and south,
the East and West, strong enough to defend the
constitution against the assaults Of Its enemies.
and to administer the government justly upon
other than purely sectional ideas. To rally
party Which m;gnt oe anls 70 maintain the Union
high political importance, and justified some sac
rifce of feeling, and even Of interest Accord
ingiy, the bill was not snch az would have been
framed by delegates Of either section, II IL had
been submitted to them alone. Many, perhaps
most Of the Southern men, cot whom was one J
believed that property In slaves was as much en-
titled 90 the protection Of law in the Territories
of the United States property in anything else
but whilst the Northern friends Of the Kansas ACT
would not concede this, they agreed to unite In
repeating the Missouri restriction so as to remove
the South have been, placed by federal legisla-
ton. Accordingly, bill was passed upon the
principle Of nouintervention in regard to slavery
so far as the general government was concerned,
and which left that whole subject within the
control Of the people of these Territories, when
they should apply for admission as states This
although not all we thought the South entitled
10, was great advance upon the old order Of
things, so far as she was concerned, because II
removed an unjust and odious discrimination
against her domestic institutions from the statute
book-a moral triumph which was Of vast i'm
portance to the South and to the institution Of
slavery itself. <t
Ner could the North object to a bill which
merely carried out principle by which Il had so
recently gained so largely in the series Of acts
denOminated as the compromise measure To
all il ought to have been subject Of congratula-
ton that a common ground had been found where
party might be rallied from all sections of the
country to administer the Government justly and
without sacrificing the constitutional rights of
any portion Of the Union. The sole hope of ac-
complishing so happy result depended upon
submitting this question Of slavery to the people
OF these, Territories, when they came to form
their constitutions States, without Interference
OF any sort on the part of the general government
With the decision Of the people themselves; so
far as the character Of the new States was con-
cerned, the democratic party of all sections de-
clared they would be satisfied. To fulfil, then
the conditions Of this agreement, il was all i'm
pOrtant that there should be no interference on
the part of the general government, either through
its legislative or executive influence Aay such
Interference was calculated TO dssatisfy the one
section or the other. Under such circumstances
II was, in my opinion, improper for the highest
executive officer in the Territory, the Governor
OF Kansas, to attempt to influence the decision of
the people of the Territory upon this question of
slavery. Such an interference on the part of any
branch OF the federal government was inconsist.
ent with the principle of the Kansas-Nebraska
act Neither do recognise his authority to de-
clare TINT elf they 1.-THE convention) do not ap-
point fair and impartial mode by which ma
yority OF the actual bona fde resident settlers Of
Kansas, shall vote, through the instrumentality
Of impartial judges, will join You In all lawful
opposition to their doings, and the President and
Congress Will reject their constitution.
II the convention itself was legally constituted
and elected, the question Of submitting their
work to the people for ratification was one of
which that body had jurisdiction alone, unless,
indeed, the act which called them into being had
required a final ratification by the people. The
practice Of States applying for admission as |
understand, has been in both ways Nor has the
power OF the convention to determine this ques-
tion for itself ever been controverted heretofore,
so far as l am info: med The convention of Kan
sas, If legally constituted, has all the powers of
any other convention to form State constitution
and If Congress can limit this power III one re-
spect, it may in all. II Congress can reject a
State constitution for the manner in which the
convention has exercised its undoubted DOW ers
why not for the matter also Of that constitution,
even though II may be republican in its form Of
government Or II the Governor Of Territory
may attempt to overawe a convention of it's people
In the exercise Of It's powers in one respect why
not in another. With regard to the abstract pro-
priey Of the particular Recommendations Of Gov
Walker, do not feel called upon To speak. That
is matter for the decision Of the convention
itself with which ought not to interfere. The
abstract propTiety Of these lamentations de-
ponds upon circumstances, of which the people
OF Kansas through their conventions are the best
Judges. To them leave it, their own affair
Asto which course would conduce most to their
peace and lair settIeIneet OF the question, |
should require greater knowledge Of the actual
state of affairs in that Territory to enable me to
decide. '.H tt... ,.lHr
With these answers to your interoga cries, l
might here close this letter, except that infer
you desire to know how FAR my opinion in regard
Governor Walkers conduct may affect my cOurs
towards the Administrations. What are the pre-
else views Of the President upon these questions
know not; await their development in the
regular course. But should he differ with me
upon these matters, l do not see how any practi-
cal Issue can arise between him and those of his
friends who entertain other opinions in regard to
Governor Walkers course. / saw, do not see
how any practical issue could arise out of this
matter between the President and those who
might diher with him in regard to these things,
because do not believe. for moment that he
would aid in an attempt to reject the state, if
Kansas should apply for admission, merely be-
cause its convention did not choose to submit the
constitution TO the people for ratification Upon
such question as this, in regard to the right of
Congress TO limit the power of people to form
their State constitution according to their own
pleasure, provided il be republican in its charac-
ter, should think there could be no division of
opinion amongst the members OF the democratic
party In any section Of the Union. There coud
not he, IL they remain true to what understand
to be their profession Of faith. To establish the
great principles of the equal rights Of the States
TO the enjoyment of the territories Of the United
States, which no act Of federal Legislation can
constitutionally abridge or destroy, or Of the
people OF each State to determine the character Of
their own domestic institutions without preju-
dice to their claim Of admission into the Union
the democratic party has submitted to losses and
sacrifices which could only have been justified
=.
ject. To obtain common ground upon which
all might rally for the defence Of the constitution
and the peace of the country against the enemies
Of both, did constitute such an object
And now that the position has been conquered.
after so arduous a struggle, who supposes that
the Democratic party would volunteer a retrogade
movement. and renounce the fruits OF haIdwon
victory, To abandon either OF these positions
now. by retrOgade movement, would be an act
of Jeio de Sc in the party, and not merely folly
but crime for which posterity would never for
give 1T. For these reasoss, | do not believe that
the Democratic party, or the President whom it
has chosen will aid in any attempt to restrict the
power Of the people of Kansas, acting through
their convention, to form constitution according
to their own pleasure, both in manner and SUBJ
stance provided 1t be republican In its character
Having now answered fully your interIogato
ries, l need proceed no further; but as YOU are
kind enough to say that you question me not be-
cause you doubted Inc yourself, but to me
from misconstructon by others, feel that
ought not to conclude without thanking YOU for
yonr generous motives. To those who are dis
posed to misconstrue me I have only to saw that
If the past course OF who has sesved the State
In public capacity so long As have affords no
sufficient guarantee to his future conduct it is
idle to seek for further security in professions Of
faith NV st rnfds he hast