The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-14
KANSAS AFFAIRS ADMINISTERING AT INA
GINARY FOES. THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH,

The readers of the Uiion have already been APP
priced of the action of the late democratic conven-
ton Of Kansas of its hearty approval of the course
thus far pursued by Gov Walker and of its declara
ton of an earnest honest intention to adhere TO those
broad national constitutional principles which alone
can give peace to the Territory, prosperity to her
people, and permanency to her institutions. The
tone of the democratic press Of Kansas, and the adj
vices which have been received within few days
from leading pro-slavery men of the Territory
afford tho most ample assurance that in the proceed
ings of the convention have faithful reflection
of the sentiments and wishes of the national democ-
racy Of Kansas. We feel satisfied that if the true
condition of affairs had been known at earlier
day, the censuring resolutions adopted by the
Georgia and Mississippi democratic State conven-
tons would never have been offered-if offered at
all-in the shape which they appear on the rec
ord, and that we should also have been spared many
hasty Judgments, incorporate expressions, and un-
founded conclusions which not few of our southern
contemporaries have fallen into through want of cor
of the case.
Hasty action, if not attended with fatal conse-
quences, is generally followed by results Of pecu-
arly embarrassing character to be repented of when
the mischief is DONE and the entering wedges Of dis
trust and disagreement have partly completed their
work Without waiting to ascertain what the real
wishes Of the people of Kansas were, for the
ton of the constitutional convention for the ac-
ton of the democratic territorial convention which
was to pass Judgment upon the official course Of
Governor Walker, and while the whole Of aboli-
tondom was ringing with the most bitter and
malignant denunciatons Of every federal officer in
the Territory, large number of southern presses
opened their batteries upon man in whose long and
brilliant public career we have uninterrupted man
Hesitation Of something more substantial than mere
friendly feeling for southern interests and southern
institutions, and whose greatest political triumpbs
have been triumphs in the cause of constitutional
rights and the equality of the States. The fire
opened, in too many instances judgment common
sense facts, appeals and arguments have been lost
sight of in the din and confusion occasoncd by this
uncalledfor and scandaous waste of saltpetrc and
in the heat and strife Of the battle the guns have been
often pointed at real friends imaginary foes.
few of our most extreme southern friends are de-
termined not no quit their arms-not to emerge
from the sulphurous smoke, although the conceded
masters of unopposed field They deal the fiercest
blows against traitors they cannot sec or feel and
push and thrust at airy phanoms if old and scar
red veterans of the national democracy were now en-
gagged in infamous plot to abolish the institution
Of slavery to lead the cotton sugar rice and tobac
planters into northern captivity, and to place the
rich, tecming, generous, glorious South under the
tender surveillance and aectionate guardianship of
Horace Greeley, Joshua Giddings, Lloyd Garrison,
and John Bell.
The attacks have been kept up by the class last
alluded to, although at the time they had not seen
the Presidents instructions to Governor Walker and
consequently could not tell whether he had lived up
TO- exceeded or had fallen short Of these instructions
neither could they tell whether the governor was act
ing in accordance with opposition to the public sen
timent and wishes Of the Territory few, in spirit
of indiscrminate censure have been unjust and un-
gracious enough to make the President of the United
States the object Of their querulous remarks and
complaints. We are told that the President owes
an immense debt Of gratitude to the South, which
must now be paid and, if paid in the way indicated
by his hot-headed advisers would lead to the sac
rifce of the great principle Of popular sovereignty,
which the people of Kansas are now manfully strug
Cling to reduce to successful practice. And we are
furthermore told, in many words that it is to the
South, and not to the North that the President must
look for counsel for, while he received from the lat
ter section Of the Union the electoral votes of only four
States, fourteen southern States stood unAnchnelv
by him IN the last great battle for the Union and the
constitution The facts of the case are correctly
stated, and are fully appreciated but while all honor
is due to the democracy Of the South for their
noble, heroic, and constant devotion to those en-
during principles which have made us free.
prosperous, and powerful nation, it should not
be forgotten that if the northern democracy have
suffered disasters and defeats, those rcycrses are
directly traceable to their loyalty to the consti
tuition, and their unfatering, un1inching, and self
sacrificing regard for the rights of the South.
Within two or three years, the ranks of the north
ern democracy have been greatly thinned by death
and desertion; but these were the casualties Of
righteous war, and Of war; too let it be remember.
ed, that was undertaken with patriotic spirit and
prosecuted with indomitablc courage for the consti
tutional rights of the South.
We may say in conclusion and il gives us great
pleasure to make the statement, that the msappre-
henson of many Of southern contemporaries in
regard to the real condition Of things in Kansas Is
rapidly disappearing under the weight of accumu-
latpp evidence which no rea sona blo rarsor ,..;u