Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1857-11-26

mnItLitJ - tu AdNul o Nnt IOI1 IIOIN seq lutI
will prevail, and the controversy will end. II
strict impartislity justice and fairness are OBJ
served, the people will not be incensed but II
a minority shall abuse the adventitions adFan-
taCe Of an organized Convention to send their
Constitution to Congress, without first submit
ting 1t to the people, they will be goaded by IN
dignstion 10 acts % violence, they will tear the
Constitution tito tatters and trample it into the
dust, and uphraid the pro- slavery party with a
willingness and attempt TO rule per as aai asfas,
and they will organize more stringently, doubt
less against slavery, than they would ever have
done at first. Again; II the Cor situti0n be
submitted to them FIRST, Il must be submitted to
Congress afterwards, 10 see that it, provisions
are republican, and Il must pass In review OF
the Representatives In Congress as well as In
toe Territory. But, n not submitted to the
people in the first instance, and Congress ae-
cepts Il, and thea the people Of Kansas change
aud adopt another, and, It may be, a worse
Constitution, his latter will not have 10 be,
and Will not be submitted to Congress At ell.
Aiming then at the same end, 70 protect the
equal rights Of Shareholders, and to end the
excitement and strife soonesr and safest, which
Is the better policy, TO appeal to the people at
once, In a peaceful, fair and just mode, or to be
Obliged az last 10 abide BY their anger and re-
ssniment, after impairing our own moral atti-
tude before the country? Are we not an danger
Of having our attitude impaired BY another
question which has arisen since Mr.. Hunters
letters were written2
II Gov. Walker did not go behind the returns
which he proclaims were fraudulent and sim
ulated /" on their fsce-and whether they were
80 or not, We have, as yet, no means Of deter
mining which were no returns-in q word, II
this be true, b. did right, Of course, in disre-
garding and setting them aside. He usurped
no authority, If his report be true, and but did
his duty in repudiating FRAUD UPON n ELEc-
TIVE FRANCHISE, and In spurning the insult
which demanded that be should give it his Of
fetal sanction and eountenanee. An exeeu-
tive has no Judicial or legislative power, and
must not dare to usurp either but il is some
thing more than merely ministerial authority,
and has the right Of protecting itself from
fraud and imposition. The ministerial ofheer
even has that power. Forms were made to
preserve the substance OF justice and truth, not
to aid fraud and imp0sture, and falsehood and
Injustice. Shareholders and the people Of
slayeholcing States are too high in their moral
tone, TO consent to owe the establishment Of
slavery anywhere to means like These. And
yet some Of the sublime oppositionists who
profess TO despise tTeaeherY in Gov. Walker,
In this age Of lawlessness and violence, do not
hesitate TO array expedieney against justice,
aud to aTraign a Governor Of a Territory be-
cause be dared to refuse to be paTtieePs GRIM
inis In what be knew to be a gross and patent
fIsudi Mr.. Hunter, | am sure, will not en-
dorse or countenahce such immortality as this.
And a difference on the other points, where we
do not agree, shall not divide me from him.
He is eminently right in one particular that
Congress has no right to prescribe the elective
franchise for the voters Of Kansas on The
adoption Of their Constitution. Tn bonG fds
inhGbifGats, by their Legislature or ConTen-
ton, must prescribe that for themselves. By
this | am Far from rejecting upon the Rock
ingham resolutions; for | understand them to
mean and to express the same thing. | know
not by whom, or where, they were written ;
heard not Of the meeting before il was held,
and the resolutions we're published some DAYS
before ] saw them OF knew Of them but
Judging from themselves alone, they seem to
me TO agree with Mr.. Hunter in contravening
the ideas which were at first started By his
wi friends, that only a particular class Of
voters, at first defined BY act Of Congress, were
10 be allowed to decide upon the adoption Of
the Constitution, if submitted to the people.
Mr.. Hunter takes ground with the Enquirer
from the start on that point, though, | think,
be had no occasion to take it in combating the
ROckinham resolutions which don't eontroTert
II at all, but, on the contrary, contend for the
principle Of the Kansas bili itself-that the
I people must be left to govern themselves, with
out the Intervention Of Congress or any other
power.
Z wien Wv hdlkeIS EomtnaflOu snail DC
made TO tue Senate Of the United States, il
made at all, 1t will 20 before Mr.. Hunter as
one Of the Senators who are to try its fitness
ard propriety. And, il upon a foil aud fair
examination of his course and conduct in Kan
SIS, he fals that the Governor has exceeded
his authority, has violated his oath Of Office or
bis duty in office, or has betrayed the high and
sacred trust repOsed in him to see the laws,
aud especially the Kansas bill, faithfully exc
49, - - III 49,
sections were alike, equally and impartiaily
protected-thea Mr.. Hunter will be reprehensi-
bic, indeed, if be does not vote to rejsct his
nomination, and 10 rebuke the msladministra-
ton. IL Gov. Walker has really attempted to
dictate 70, and 70 threaten the Convention or
the people OF Kansas, in any form or to any
extent, be deserves the severest apprehension.
Bu-, before he is condemned, he ought TO be
heard By his judges, who are to sit officially
upon his acts. IL | am not greatly mistaken
In the ability and metives of the man, he may
be able to show that the very words Of his
speech, quoted by Mr.. Hunter, are capable Of
a far different meaning, and are anything but
uIfTieDdly to the South or to slavery. He may
have meant to throw upon Topeka psrtisans
tue responsibility Of not voting, 80 that if a
p1o-slsvery Constitution should be sent to Con-
gress, The plea could not be put up that the
people were not implored to vote and decide
AZ 4E54E AA tAtiuhrlfEhs ANU lusLtdQ OF
meaning to dictate or to threaten, his very
words quoted may have meant simply to re-
mind The Convention that their work was 10 be
submitted TO a body-Congress-which had
solemnly settled the principles, that the people
Of the Territory were to adopt or reject their
civil Institutions for themselves, without inter-
vention from any quarter.
This may have been and seems to have been
an awkward way Of conveying the meaning,
as 1t is so easily misunderstood; but if that
turns out to be the true meaning, Mr.. Hunter
might find be had mistaken a friend for
a foe. But, surely, it is not expected of Mr..
Hunter or myself, at this distance. With total
want of correct information as 70 bis motives
or measures, to condemn the Governor Of Kan
sas with a purpose prepeHss to reflect on the
Administration, and to damn all who honestly
doubt and defer judgment to a fair hearing. I
know MT. Walker very well. and have seen his
nerve tried. / would have preferred that be
had acted in his Office rather than have made
speeches on the stump, but be will, in due
time, l suppose, merely-for | am not informed
Of his intentions-make his defense, and then
we shall know better how to find our verdicts.
IL he be guilty, as charged, | SHALL Join strong
ly in his condemnation. And If | hnd him void
# ofense, clear in bis Office, / will respond
4" not g~Uilty,' without fear, favor or affection,
50 help me, when I ask for justice, in spite Of
NA NliALlEdA GldMOIs LuOt2u 4 snail stand alone
on the panel. / have been too long tried in
my truth to the South, and TO slavery, to fear
any false inputation upon my motives, though
my judgment IN the case may be erroneous
when rendered. II is not rendered yet.
So, then, these points being, though material,
open, some of them to q fair difference Of opin-
ion, and others to further investigation and
proof; and Mr.. Hunter disclaiming the ipirit
and purpose Of opposition, by expressing the
desire and expectation to be able TO support the
Administration in the main, | make no issue
with him; and with my understanding Of his
pledges, 1 cznn0t allow ny name to distract
and divide the Virginia Democracy in opposi-
tion to bis reelection. / can have no personal
issue With Mr.. Hunter; our relations have ever
been too friendly to admit OF any other acts on
my part than those of kindness. He is an EN-
NEATLY able and long-experienced statesman,
and cannot be well spared, by the Democracy
Of the State, as long as be desires and expects
70 support the party which it so tTiumphantly
put into power against the foes Of the South
And the South needs, at this time especially, to
be united. and cannot afford a division on i'm
material OF personal issues. Whether there be
a disposition to sacrifice me or not, I an ready
to be made a victim, il Il will unite the South
bind TO our affection and confidence the true
patriots Of the North, defend the Constitution
and State Rights, preserve the Union, and keep
the peace OF the country in the bonds only Of
an equal and smieable confedsraey.
You say right, In saying that an not re-
sponsible for the editorials Of the Enquirsr, nor
IS the Enquirer responsible for my opinions or
course. No paper has been authorized to
speak for me on the subject Of this letter. !
have organized no presses, and I have exacted
or asked FOR no pledges Of candidates for seats
in the Legislature. Much that I have seen IN
your paper ! do, and some things 10 not ap-
prove. Some Of your editorials have rather
TOO swespingty denounced g sscessionists y aud
g hTs-esters-p You have explained whom you
meant, but / wish you had called other names
those With which your humble servant
himself has ever been denounced. ] am one Of
those who believe in tee rightful remedy Of .
separation from the COnfederaey, whenever
the exercise of that State right is demanded BY
good and sufficient cause. And, If the exercise
of that right is not peaeeably permitted, it may
be enforced by the appeal to arms. The Fare
well Address Of Washington Is the old, and
the Virginia resolutions Of $3.50 are the new
teata mept NJ my n ,liffraI Faith uii main /