The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-05
The Administration and the Kansas Question
WHAT VIII Mr.. Walker Dot

The Administration and the Kansas Question
What VIII Mr.. Walker Dot
II appears from what we have already publish
ed on the subject from Washington, that the plan
of MIR. Walker and the administration for the pa
ciication OF Kansas rests upon the basis Of the
election Law passed, and the elections provided
| for by the last Territorial Legislature. The
election law referred to was vetoed by Governor
Geary, but it was subsequently passed unani-
mously over his head. Governor Walker is of
the opinion that the law is fair and just one;
that it repeats the odious election tests of pre-
vious laws from the same w-making authorities,
and that it is sufficient for just, fair and i'm
partial solution OF the question Of slavery or no
slavery in the work of shaping out State con-
stitution for Kansas.
Mr.. Walkers views may be correct; bat the
difficulty to be overcome is the resolution Of the
free State party-recently adopted in General
Conventional have nothing to do with these
elections provided tor by the late Territorial Lc
gislature. The reason for this course is very
simple-the Free State party will not consent, in
any form, to recognize the legality of this late
Legislature or any of its acts On the other
hand, they declare that Twas fraud and an i'm
position upon the pei lie of the Territory,
effected by a lawless Invasion of Nilsson.
rians, and TO the total Acknowledgement
Of the free State party. If this party were
simply to refuse to participate in the elections
called, and let them goby default, they could not
complain should the result be pro-slavery State
constitution for Kansas and her admission into the
Union upon it at the next session of Congress.
But the free State party not only propose to ig-
more and utterly disregard the elections called by
the local Legislature, they proposelto hold Sc
parate election at subsequent day-a separate
State convention, and to adopt separate State
constitution.
The question then arises, what will be Mr..
Walkers course in reference to these conflicting
popular movements? If the prOslavery move
ment has The authority Of law, the other mi b.
without the authority Of law. But how faSAill
or can Mr. Walker safely goto enforce the one
and to suppress the other? That is the main
question. We must deal with things, not as We
should like to have them but as We find them
Mr.. Walker would like to have the people of all
parties of the Territory ready to participate in
the called election. He is convinced we dare
say that the result would be in favor OF Kansas
as tree State. But the free Stale party have no
faith in the local law, nor in the authorities pass
ing it, nor in the local agents appointed to carry
it out, aud they will have nothing to do with
them They have so resolved, and they have re-
solved upon separate course Of popular pro-
ceedings on their own account
These sharply defined conflicting movements
are provided for; and we apprehend that the out
side party managers and agitators on both sides
will do their best to work up another border
war: and hence we are mole Interested to know
what the administration and Mr. Walker propose
TO do to keep the peace than in anything else.
We have no idea that the Kansas elections OF
this summer, pro slavery or no slavery, will
amount to any thing practically except mischief
but We have All apprehension that they may pro
duce bloodshed and all the disorders renewed o
a border war. Mr.. Walkers opinion of the Kan.
sas law is one thing-it may be good thing;
but the opinion of the free State party OF Kansas
is the thing upon which his practical policy of
coercion or Cancellation must be shaped VIII
be allow the people of all parties of Kansas 10
hold as many elections, meetings and conventions
a. they please, and turn them all over to Con
gress for judgment or will be permit only
the popular proceedings called for by the Legis-
latnre, and suppress all others in conflict with
that authority: That is what we should like to
know.