The Kanzas news., 1857-08-01

The Democratic Ultimatum with re-
gard to Kanzas.
Though the Administration and the au-
thor and repudiator of the doctrine of pop
ular sovereignty are said to be working at
cross purposes in matters looking to the
Presidential succession, they are, as We
have recently shown, entirely agreed in the
determination to compel the people of Kan
zas TO accept in perpetuity the tyrant rule of
very small minority of the citizens of the
Territory. The ready plea, as set forth by
Gov. Walker and reiterated by the Union
and Mr.. Douglas, is, that the great body
of the people forfeited their right of self
government by refusing to take part in the
recent bogus election. A little examination
of the matter viii show that this is an ar
gument which proves too much for those
who urge it. Not to insist on the notorious
fact that the whole course of federal inter
ference and internal legislation in Kanzas
has beeen in direct contravention of the
known viii of large majority of the peo-
ple-not to cavil at the equally notorious
fact that no census at all was taken In about
half the districts of the Territory, as the
basis of an apportionment previous to the
election-the unbiased, fair-minded por-
ton OF the community ARE very naturally
anxious TO know if it be really the purpose
of the administration and the meaning of
Mr.. Douglas that about two thousand per-
sons-the number who turned out TO vote
for delegates to the Constitutional Conven-
tion-shail determine the institutions of
Kanzas for all time to come? Is the Con-
stitution which they may frame, to be forced
point of the bayonet? Does the "National
existence on an issue like this?
So it would seem, Judging by the late
pronunciamentos of the party. And yet
we must believe that the cool-headed portion
of the party will be compelled to move for
a reversal of this most unheard-of decision
They may perhaps join Mr.. Douglas and
the Administration in giving final coup
de grace to the doctrine of popular soyer-
eighty, but they cannot so easily bring them
elves to the alternative of levying war up
on a community of a hundred thousand
people. They will wisely consider that the
question of government for Kanzas must
be decided before many months, and that,
recognized or ignored, the people of that
Territory are determined, come what will,
to have voice In the framing of their own
institutions and laws. A reference of the
constitution which is to be formed by the
convention resting on constituency of bare
ly two thousand voters( some accounts say
not more than fifteen hundred, might not
be safe experiment for the Administration.
Imperfect as the census was, the poll-lists
of Secretary Stanton embraced more than
double that number of names, but the mea-
gre result of the election shows that ma
jority of the persons thus scheduled had
substantial reasons for not voting. 1t is
fair to infer, nominally PrO-slavery as they
were, that they were disguised with the
gross discrepancy between the professions
and practice of the Administration with re-
spect to the self-government of the people,
and determined to await a better opportuni-
ty for the discharge of this great duty of
citizenship. It would be danper upon the
''powers that be- if the bogus constitution
about to be framed should be voted down BY
the dissatisfied portion of the National De-
mocracy!"
1t matters nothing to the final issue to
say, as the advocates of the present sham
government of Kanzas constantly do, that
the Topeka government does not fairly rep
resent the people, since it did represent a
majority of them when it was first adopted,
and would be shown to do so now if an hon.
est vote could be taken; while their own is
the yeriest swindle that was ever sought to
be established over the citizens of free coun-
try, and rests upon so small portion of the
popular vote as to render it Ridiculous
Their ground would be equally untenable
were their charges against the Topeka gov
ernment true. In that case the people
would probably in good time reject both,
and organize one more in accordance with
their desires and convictions. The game of
double dealing is about played out in Kan
zas. Both the Administration and Mr.
Douglas may as well make up their minds
to little wholesome popular sovereignty"
whether they like it or not. It is too late
to -''crrtsh OUT its exponents. They might
as well have saved their credit by sticking
TO the old dogma, and played out the Jesu-
iical game to the end of the chapter
CkicGgo Democratic Press.
From the Carleston Mercury, June 24th.
The Slavery Question in Oregon.