The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-08-27
Irom The ll'ushinytaa Union.
AFEw WORDS ABOUT WALKER Ann KAMA,

Under tile above caption, we find IN n
late number of tho raulling (Alississippi)
Clarion timely aud sensible article, which
is written in such u calm, candid and con.
servative spirit, that it cannot fnl to remove
much Of the prejudice and orror which cx
lists in many localities in the South in re.
gard to what is termed the Kansas policy
OF Gov. Walker and the national admins.
tration. The broad ground at first assumed
by several extreme journals, observes tho
Clarion, that the submission of the con-
sttution to vote of the people for ratfica-
ton should not be tolerated by the South,
has, as we always thought it should be,
been abandoned, as unterabo upon any
wcll-established principles of Democratic
reasoning" The Clarion then adds: "All
now appear willing to leave that for the
convention itself to determine. The only
subject which we can see any propriety in
the Soutli's being concerned about is, that,
in submitting the constitution to such a
test, the right of suffrage shall be so guard
ed as to insure proper application of the
principles of popular sovereignty and of tho
organtic act Of the Territory"
The convention which is to frame the
constitution will undoubtedly provide all
needful tests; and here, we think, the mat.
ter should rest. Our limits will only per-
nit as to make room for the conclusion of
the Clalion's article, which is as follows:
"Thc mistake has been made of consid-
ering the question whether Kansas was to
be slave or free State MS still an omen one
and of arguing upon it as though it was
Walkers course alone which was to decide
it against the South. If this were true, no
condemnation of him, nor of the President
who retains him in Office, would be too Sc
we're. But the fact is that this question
was virtually settled long before Walker
ever saw Kansas, or Mr. Buchanan was in
augurated President. No Intelligent man
who has visited the Territory since last fall
has failed to report that the free State set
were largely in the majority. When the
Territory was first thrown open for settle
mcnt under the Kansas act, and the strur
gle for the ascendency commenced, both
sections of the Union put forth their best
efforts to send the largest number of emi-
grants. In this contest the North, with its
immense surplus population and its greater
libciality in raising money, triumphed, and
sent three or four times AS many settlers
into tine Territory as the South.
"This was expected by many of the
most prominent Southern statesmen from
the first, who yielded their assent to the
Kansas Li!!, not because it necessarily made
Kansas a slave State, but because it estab-
lished great principle which secured to
the South its dignity and its constitutional
rights. If, under the application of this
principle, in itself just, and acknowledged
SO to be by the South herself, she has lost
Kansas from her inability to cope with the
North in pcopling new Territories, that is
her misfor unc, and one which she must
bear with what cluanimity sic can COM
mand. 1t is childish and absurd to vent
her disappointment in railing at Walker, or
the administration, for IN event which they
were i'll no manner instrumental in bring
ing about, and which they were utterly
powcrless to prevent. The only way in
which Kansas can possibly be brought into
the Union rs slave State, is by the Ter
ritorial convention which frames its Consti-
tuition Withholding that instrument from IL
vote Of tho people; and even those loudest
in their condemnation of Walker do not
now insist that this should bo done. Tho
effects Of such a course, if adopted in obc-
diencc to southern clamor would te evil,
and evil only, TO Kansas, to the Democratic
party, 10 the cause of the South itself, and
ultimately to the Union.
"The charge that it was a mere device to
escapea decision Of the point by the peo-
pie could not be met the Democratic party
at the North would be swept from tho face
of the earth, and an Abolitiouist elected to
the Presidency in 1860, when the South
would have the choice of submitting to his
Administration or dissolving the Union
Besides, the footing obtained for slavery
against the will of the majority would be
but temporary. Though the popular voice
might be stifed. in the first instance, the
State government would no sooner be Or
ganizsd and set into operation than it would
makeitselfhea;d. The slavery clause would
'be stricken out Of the Constitution, and tue
trick BY which slavery had been imposed
upon them against their will would have
the effect Of sending every northern settler
Into the Black Republican ranks. Tie
South would thus lose all practical adEah-
Al e.