The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-11-05

opportunity to put himself in position where
he could be supported by the National Dem
ocrats" of the South. The bred Scott. decision
had been hailed by even the ultras in that Sec
ton, as triumph of their cause and so, Mr..
Buchanan, in reply to that letter, completely
endorses all the Pro-Slaveay doctrines of the
Court. What other President, exclaimed an
sod Line Whig," writing to the Richmond
Enquirer, has eyer gone so far as that? 1t now
became safe for that paper and its associates
to sustain the policy of the Administra-
ton in Kansas. While still admitting that
Governor Walker might have been rather uu-
reserved in his public declarations, it no longer
talked of restricting the submission of the Con-
stitution in Kansas, to those only who had voted
for the Convention. The Rockingham Demo
cracy, at one of its meetings, took the ground
that it would be Anti Democratic for the Con-
vention to refuse to submit the Constitution to
the vote of all the actual residents of Kansas !;
and the Enquirer endorsed their proceedings.
If majority of the settlers, it argued, were OPP
posed to Slavery, their will ought to be respect
ed. To attempt to ignore or evade it, would
only render the South obnoxious and alienate
friends in the North, without doing any good
at all-inasmuch as that majority even if Kan
sas were admitted as slave State, could i'm
mediately change the Constitution.
The lines now began to be plainly drawn.
On the one side, the South F" condemned Gov.
Walker for arguing against the adaptation of
Slavery to the climate of Kansas, and for using
his influence to induce the Convention to sub
init the question of Slavery to the People of the
Territory and demanded that the Convention,
without any such submission, should send the
Constitution to Congress. The Enquirer, on
the contrary, justified this policy, and sustained
the Administration in the enforcement of it !;
and at length the difference between them has
grown up into political test. Mr.. Hunter, a
candidate for reelection to the United States
Senate, having fallen under suspicion of hostil-
ity to the Administration, was continually called
upon by the Enquirer, understood to be in the
interest of Governor Wise, to define his position.
At last, in reply to some inquiries of Mr.. Leake,
ne writes long letter, coldIy expressing friend
ship for the Administration, and purpose to
sustain it 80 far as its course shall meet with
his appreciation; but he plainly eviuces his
sympathy with the South and its associates,
by condemning Gov. Walker, and discrediting
the policy of submitting the Constitution to the
People of Kansas. 1t furnishes good ground
for believing that he may vote against ratifying
the nomination Of the Governor, and perhaps
unite with Senators Toombs and Davis in
measures to defeat the admission of Kansas
as a free State. Al
The indications then are clear enough that
the next Congress will be the theatre of a COM
plicated and desperate struggle on the Slavery
Question. The nomination of Gov. Walker,
and the presentation of the Constitutions of
Kansas, Minnesota, and Oregon, will furnish
the occasion. Should the Convention in Kan
sas proceed in it's work, form ProSlavery
Constitution, and, without submitting it to the
People, send it to Congress, the ultras of the
South will be at once united and organized to
sustain it: the National Democrats" so
called, must then make their election between
that faction and their Northern supporters. If,
voting with the Republicans, they reject the
Constitution, and return it for submission to
the people of Kansas, they must make up their
minds to put down the ultras, or be put down
by them. If they yield to them, and bring in
Kansas with its Slave State Constitution, they
will give the Republicans VANTAGE ground 10
the free States, and ALLEVIATE large numbers of
Northern adherents. Meantime, the whole
question of political power between the Slave
Interest and its opponents would be brought
under discussion, giving rise to issues to be de-
cided by the election of 1860.
So much for the questions of the Agc" It
would not have propounded such inquiries,
had it kept itself well informed of the condition
of its Party in the South, and in relation to the
subjects which engross its discussions.