Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-07-07
THE eorEREoRs OF KANSAS AND THEIR

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founded upon great truths loose qualities which
commend them to regard, by the faithlessness of
those to whom their application in practice may be
confded Aaais fallible,-princplss are immutable
and Interchangeable. The unworthiness of a licensed
expouuder of the principles of Christianity, does
not tarnish the brightness Of the Christians faith,
OF diminish his confidence in the efficacy of reli-
giOn. The American Revolution had its Arnold but
the great principles of the Revolution survived his
treacheTy. Kansas had her Reeder, and yet the
doctrine of popular sovereignty and equal rights
embodied and promulgated in the enactment which
he selected to enforce, is the less dear to
the popular heart because of his faithlessness.
ThesgitatiOn fthe slavery question in the Northern
States of the cOnfederacy, and their ceaseless
saults upon the rights of the Southern States, in
duced imperative necessity for the establishment
of some line of policy which would be just and
equitable in The settlement of all questions which
might arise involving this subject. The only aspect
in which this question could be presented wherein
the general government might be called upon to act,
WAS in the admission of States into The Union
The subject thoroughly considered by Congress,
and the Act establishing Territorial Governments
for Kansas and Nebraska was passed, embodying
the great principles which were advocated by the
Democratic party in the late Presidential contest,
and which were trumphantly sustained by the PEG
pie. 1t is needless to state what those principles
were-they too familiar to our readers to require
repetition here.
But the enemies of this measure adduce the con-
duct of the several Governors who have been appoin
ted by virtue Of this law. argument against the
lov itself A., policv oF rEa rrasant Govarpop
as promulgated in his inaugural address and ex-
planned in his public speeches in the Territory, are
addueed as proof that under the operations of the
law, the prO-slavery or Southern party, are to b
deprived of those equal rights 10 which they are
entitled and which, by the law in question: is fully
guaranteed TO them. We have no hesitation in say
ing that do not approve of or endorse the views
or course of Gov. Walker. Whatever may be his
motive whether, as he would have believe, he is
operated upon by patriotic regard for the public
veal or his enemies insist, by motives of per
sonal aggrsndizement, free to admit be
lief that he has violated the spirit and true inten
of the trainers of the law, by attempted inter
Veution in the affairs of the Territory unwse under
any circumstances, and unwarranted by any present
public necessity. But does this create an argument
adverse to the great principles which underlie the
Kansas law! Certainly not. These principles have
already survived the base reachery of Reeder, the
mbecility of Shannon, and the trucking subservi-
eney of Geary. Surely the indication of
personal wish, on the part of Walker, that Kansas
shall come into the Union a free State (which is
the chief charge brought against him by the South
ern friends and enemies of the bill will not produc,
result which the greater faults and errors of his
predecessors had failed to accomplish
But it is charged BY many, upon the faith of Wal
ker's declarations that be is but carrying out the
policy of the administration. Although superficial
observer might thus conclude, yet careful perusal
of Walkers inaugural address and speeches, has
convinced that this assum ton is erroneous
The only reference made by Walker to his specific
instructions from the Executive is embraced in TIL
following paragraph, which occurs in his inaugural:
'AIy instructions from the President through the
Secretary OF State, under date OF the Both OF Mare
last, sustain 1.-The regular Legislature OF the Territu
ry'' in assembling a convention to form cOnsti
tuition" and they express the opinion Of the Presi
dent, that ''When such constitution shall be sui
ntted 10 the people of the Territory, they must b.
protected in the exercise OF their right of voting TO
or against that in rument and the fair expressio,
Of The popular will he interrupted by frau
or violence.
1t is clearly manifest that the foregoing extract
covers the whole ground Of Walkers instructions
from the Government If stronger language had
been used, he would have so declared, in order to
diminish the weight OF his own responsibility by
sharing it with the heads of the State Department
and the President. Now these instructions, thus
set forth in Walkers own language, contain nothing
10 which any Southern or National man could OBJ
isct
In fact they are just such should have been
given and are in direct accord with the spirit ard
sentiment of equality and rigid impartiality whic
the Kansas law inculcstes The Southern peOpl
have never advocated the principles of this bill 70
the reason that it conferred upon them any specia
advantages but on the contrary, they incOrpo
rated in good faith into the Democratic creed, b.
cause they offered basis of settlement upon Il
subject of slavery, entirely equal in its operations
upou every section of the Union. The Kansas law |
was founded upon the great idea upon winch the |
superstrucure Of our Government rests, that the |
people should have the right TO make their own |
laws and establish their own constitution, untram-
meled by the diciaGou OF any other power. Gov |
Walkers instructions Illustrate and enforce this |
idea, and nothing more. When Gov. Walker assumes
to instruct advise he Constitutional Convention Of
Kansas to submit the result of their deliberations
TO all the people who may be in the territory at the
time of such submission. he does so upon his own
individual responsibility, ia most clear from
the tenor of his instructions. Ii there were any
doubt thrown over this subject by the declarations
of Walker, they are authoritatively removed by
late article in the Washington CuoH, which no
doubt expresses the sentiments Of The administration
We extract tue following paragraph:
"The Democratic, conservative portion Of tie
country will regard as the people Of Kansas ONLY
SUCH AS ARE NOW UNITING TO FRAME A
FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN ACCORDANCE |
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF LAW and not tLose
who are seeking paralyze the popular viii by IL
legal subtertuges and the bubbles of fanaticsm.
Whatever the Constitution may be-whether recOg- |
Mining or excluding slavery, silent in regard 10
the institution il will he ricUsd the oppression Of
The tcH Of he people Of Kansas, those rho frame
,gU act under The Federal CyEstitu0R and a
reco ynized By the organic lac"
The New Yrko Trbu, characteristics the fOrego-
ing enunciation Of the Presidents views ''an e.
ef condemnation md Tpudi0tiOn Of the promises By