The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-25
KANSAS AND THE ADMINISTRATIONS.

term Of Office having expired.
KANSAS AND THE ADMINISTRATIONS.
While the opposition engaged in fierce attacks upon
the Supreme Court for having rearmed opinion
corning negro citizenship which has been acted by the
government during its whole history and while they labor
with bad imognatons to predict difficulties in Kansas,
and short comnBs with reference to them the part Of
the administration they studousy shut tbeir eyes to the
policy of Mr. Buchanan this whole subject he has
presented it in his Inaugural Address We beg 10 Iere.h
their memories by reproducing few sentences from this
admirable state paper The black republicans not cast
y satisfied with any political doctrines from which they
cannot manufacture party capital but how they
plain Of that cardinal feature Of American system Of
government which declares that the will Of the majority
shall rule of that practical policy which applies this
principle to the settlement of the question of domestic ss
very in the Territories? Mr.. Buchanan ssys
"What happy conception, then, 1t for Congress to
apply tbis simple ruehat the will of the majority shall
the settlement of the question domestic slavery
the Territories Congress neither legsate slavery
Into any Territory State to exclude it herefrom
leave the people thereof perfectly free to form and regu
late their domestic institutions in their way subject
only to the constitution Of the United States natural
consequence Congress has also prescribed that when the
Territory OF Kansas shall be admitted State shal be
received into the Union with without slavery their
constitution may prescribe the time their admission
"a difference opinion has arisen in regard the point
of time when the people Of Territory shall decide this
tion for themselves.
"Ths u.s. happily, matter of but little practical impor
lance. Besides 1t 10 Judicial question which legtmatey
belongs to the Supreme Court oil the United States before
whom pending, and will it understood, be speed
lily and finally settled. To their decision, in with
all good citizens, ha cheerfuly submit whatever this
may be- though il has been my individual opinion that
under the Nebraska Kansas act the appropriate period will
be when the number Of actual residents in the Territory shall
justify the formation Of constitution with view to its ad
mission State into the Union"
There is ambiguity Whatever in thes, paragraph
for the President is in the habit of using words
conceal houghtsbut he has here distinctly and plainly
informed the people of the United States that he accepts
for his guidance in territorial affairs that principle Of pop
ular sovereignty which is Embodied in the
ka act and that where judicial question arises upon the
construction Of that act, he will bow, in with all
good citizens 10 the authority of the Supreme Court of the
United States. Nor does he stop here but fully mprcss
ed with the Importance of giving to the law its full and
fair execution and Of permitting the popular will in tie
Territories to work out under the constitution its
legitimate results, he adds:
imperative and indispensable duty of the gov
Of the United States 10 every resident in
habant the free and independent expression of his opinion
by his VOTE This sacred right Of each individual must be
preserved inst penR accomplished nothing can De tacr
than 10 leave the people of Territory free from all foreign
interference TO decide their destiny for hemselves sub
Ject only to the constitution of the United States"
Here in these extracts, may be read clear day
light the whole policy of the administration in respect to
the Territories and when the question is asked with
mock anxiety and gloomy foreboding by opposition ed
tors "whst will the administration do about Kansas ~
we wonder that they do not find an abundant an
to it in the explicit language of the Inaugural The
administration, beyond all question: will act towards
precisely in accordance with the principles enun
cated by Mr. Buchanan from the eastern steps of the
Capitol the 4th Of March, The affairs of Kansas like
those of every Territory require be conducted with
honesty, and vgor, and wisdom. The organic act pre-
scrbee for the part the mode of their administra
ton. Within the provisions Of that act sclgovernmcnt
should undoubtedly be secured to the settlers there at all
hazards and they should be protected whenever
against nsurrection and violence at is the indispensa
BILE duty of the government 1--WE repeat again Mr. Bucban
ans we-weghed words) ITO every resident in
habant the free and independent expression Of his opin
ION by his vote The truth Of this statement no good ct
will deny, wherever be may reside or to whatever
party he belongs for such reasonably refuse to
others the rights and immun,s which be claims for
himself The win of the majority only be ascerained
by the exercise of free suffrage and it mockery to
hold elections il only half the voters be permitted to
attend the polls Very clearly this is Mr.
idea Of free suffrage popular sovereignty One of the
greatest securities In this country for obedience to the laws
that all citizens assist in making the laws and that
they cannot rebel therefore except against government