Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-07
EVENING STAR.
WASHING TON CITY:
TUESDAY. .JuIy 7, 1857.
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.

SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.
The UHi0R's leader this morning is Of
great interest and Importance insOmuch as it
clearly embraces the Administrations exposi-
zion Of its position with reference to the points
an the policy of Governor Walker, of Kansas, to
which the recent Georgia and Mississippi Dem
Oeratis State Conventions demurred so vehe-
mently, The article in question is poised in
excellent temper, and embraces showing that
will be likely to entirely stem the current of
Southern popular feeling on this question
which has arisen, evidently, for the most part
from temporary misapprehension of the facts
Involved The editor shows that in urging the
submission of the constitution to the people in
their primary capacity, Gov Walker is simply
urging adherence to the principle of popular
sovereignty as embraced in the Kansas Nebras-
ka act, to which every Southern supporter of
the Democratic national ticket pledged himself
IN the late Presidential canvass He also con
tends that the President cannot countenance
any other course on the part of the Convention
without. in effect. endorsing and throwing him
self upon the principle Of the Republican party,
which claims that the right to choose institu-
tons for the new State rests not in the bOna
.h'fe voters thereof, but elsewhere He holds.
Oi course, that no power ON earth is competent
TO select those institutions under the law of the
United States and the principle of its COnstitu-
ton, than the people of Kansas, and throws him
self on the decision of the Supreme Court in the
bred Scott case TO prove the correctness of his
opinion on that point His natural and proper
conclusion from these strong premises is, that
though the contention may last for years longer,
when finally settled, the institutions of the State
OF Kansas must and will be in accordance with
the Will OF its people; and, further, that there
can exist no reasonable hope that the contro.
versy will end until the question shall have
been disposed of in that way, upon the question
OF the submission of the constitution to the peo-
pie Alter showing that, though not sine qua
mon In all eases, in this case it is absolutely
necessary, IN order to bring about q termination
OF the controversy, the editor disposes complete
~ OF the bug-b of submission, in the follow
ing paragraphs-that being the point on which
the hallucination at the South bears:
. But who are the people, What shall be the
QUALIFICATIONS OF voter on the constitution when
II comes to be submitted We answer that this
Is Tor the Convention to settle. Those who think
tAdt the convention might declare the ConStitu-
tlon IN tulI force by virtue of their own will can
hardly deny that they might append to il a con-
dluoh requiring II to be first approved by the peo-
pie II they can do this they Can also say what
classes OF persons shall be counted as being part
OF the people. The Convention that formed the
teueTal Constitution exercised this power when
tLey referred II to their constituents 1.-THE States
and prescribed that their appreciation should be
given or withheld by State Conventions The
constitution or Virginia was submitted TO the
votes OF men enfranchised by the Convention for
me hrSt time Of course the Kansas Convention
VIII see That every proper guard is thrown around
The legal voter, and that his bona fde intention to
iemaln In the Territory is tested by a previous
residence OF sufficient length. We should saw
'dat The quail hcationS required to make legal
voter under the constitution ought to entitle an in
habitant to vote upon it-for or against its adop-
zion - F
The IHtSifigeneer deprecates earnestly the
continuance of the sectional controversy. and
lnelines to the opinion that the policy of the
Administration in Kansas affairs is most likely
to bring it to a close