The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-10-24

Il ~ ~
gathered from the answers 49, :. y.
have only to say that never doubted myself Mr
unes attachment TO the principles OF the democratic
n,rtv az virginia. or his friendship for Mr. Buchanan
administration and il distrust ON my part that
led me TO address him with view TO elicit his views Tor
publication.
81 GOV Walker in Kansas and have been land am now
equally confident that nine tenhs OF the Virginia democ
rcy concurred in that condemnation AT the same Time
have never believed that either he or they had the
slightest idea Of making war upon MI buchanan on ,ht
or any other probable ground
Very hastily, your friend,
LoYD's Essex COUNTY, Va,
October l6, 1857
DK.a an / received on yesterday your letter pro-
rounding 10 me certain interogaories to which, with
ont further delay proceed TO reply. They in sub
stance nearly the same with the questions upon which
the enquirer for time past has been demanding
NV answers But to these last have not replied, be-
cause they either accompanied with threats what
were 80 considered, which made answer my part
Inconsistent with serespect, else they founded
upon my presumed responsibility for the editorials
Of Virginia which weo not only u aMlfh2H the State
for me- but which claimed no such authority. was TO
be held responsible for the Of newspapers unless
before the public with criticism OF their course
and disclaimer of all sympathy with them-a response
bility which shall never acknowledge expressly i'm
pliedy, by any act Of mine To admit such response
by would place in the power Of any third person who
chose to mpute to sympathy with the course OF any
newspaper within without the State to call out in
public criticism OF its upon question of morals
politics which might be in discussion, else fix upon
the charge OF concurrng in the views of that paper
No power could force upon the Office of of the
public press certainly shall not assume it voluntarily
When any paper claims authority to speak for me- then
II may be the time to question in regard to it, bat not
before. .... .. ...a.-r
But to proceed with the to your interogato
es have to say first, that the mpuation of hostili-
on nv 81 Mr.
chanan is founded upon nothing that have either said
done. voted for him President and not only en-
terrain no feeling of hostility towards him, but wish
him dc has only to carry out the principles of
the democratic party understand them in Virginia.
to command my cordial support These, far appli-
cable will afford the test by which shall judge his adj
mnistraton and support oppose its acts they
form to depart from these principles Nor shall be
disposed to apply that test in any captious unknd
spirit but as justly and fairly More could not
say for any administration never would com
NIT myself to support Internationally the future acts of
any man. but will Judge them they arise sustain
them when believe they right, and to oppose them
when think they are wrong My opinions upon all the
great political issues be known through my votes
and speeches to those who feel enough of interest in
them to look into my past and these will afford
the best evidence of the tests which shall be likely to
apply in judging of the conduct of public affairs Whilst
remain in the Senate of the United States shall stand
there the representative of the principles and interests
Of my State far lean understand them and in pur-
suit Of these objects should not scruplc to differ if
cessary, with any administration In saying this it may
be perhaps fair to add that hope and expect to be able
to support Mr. Buchanans administration in the main
Entire concurrence in the views of any IL would be
too much to hope expect.
In answer to the other inelrogatory which you pro-
pose to the conduct of Gov Walker in Kansas have
little hesitation in saying that disapprove it, The
act passed under the hope that this
the last of the territorial questions involving the subject
Of slavery, might be settled upon ground
where party could be rallied from the North and South
and Tests ron tn he opcti
tuition against the assaults of its enemies and 10 admin
lister the government justly upon other than purely
tona ideas To rally party which might be able to
maintain the Union upon constitutional principles
object of high political Importance and Justified some
sacrifice of feeling and of interest. Accordingly
the bill was not such would have been framed by the
delegates OF either Section if had been submitted to
them alone Many perhaps most of the southern men,
of whom was one believed that property slaves was
MS much entitled to the protection of law in the Terrific
e 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 the ban under which
the domestic institutions of the South had been placed
by federal legislation Accordingly, bill passed
upon the principle of non-interventon in regard to
slavery so far as the general government concerned
and which left that whole subject within the control of
the people of these Territories when they should apply
Tor admission States This although all that
thought the South entitled to, great advance upon
the old order of things far she concerned because
II removed unjust and odious discrimination against
her domestic institutions from the statute booa moral
triumph which of vast importance to the South and
10 the institution Of slavery itself Nor could the North
object to bill which merely carried out principle by
which it had recently gained largely in the series of
acts denominated the compromise measure To all it
ought to have been subject of congratuation that
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 constitu
ona rights of any portion of the Union. The sole hope
OF accomplishing so happy result depended upon sub
uniting this question of slavery to the people Of these
territories, when they to form their constitutions
States without interference of any sort the part of the
general government With the decision of the people
themselves far the character of the new States was
concerned the democratic party of all sections declared
they would be satisfied To fulfil them the conditions
OF this agreement it was all important that there should
be no interference the part of the general
ether through its legislative executive influence Any
such interference calculated TO dissatsy the
ton or the other Under such circumstances it was in
my opinion improper for the highest executive officer in
inc territory the Governor of Kansas TO attempt TO IN
uence the decision of the people of that Territory upon
TINS question of slavery. Such interference the
part Of any branch Of the federal government inconss
ent with the principle the Kansas Nebska Neither
DO recognise his authority declare that they he con-
Venton do not appoint fair and impartial mode by whcha
majority OF the actual bona de resident settlers of Kan
s shall vote, through the fundamentally of impartial
Judges, will join you in all lawful opposition to their
oomgs and the President and Congress will reject their
constitution. IL the convention itself legally con-
Mtuted and elected, the question of submitting their
work to the people for ratification of which that
body had jurisdiction alone unless indeed the which
called them into being had required final ratification by
Gtot e..