The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-27

democrats. The democracy OF Detroit
send greeting to their brethren of the whole Union
that they sustain and fully endorse the administration
of James Buchanan"
LETTER FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF KANSAS.
We call the attention Of our readers to the start
ling narrative contained in the following letter. 1t
is no story manufactured for effect like most of the
Kansas accounts for whose transmission the black
republicans prostitute the telegraph but plain I'M
vanished statement of ascertained facts from the
learned and estimabc chief justice of the Territory
where the events occurred 1t is sickening to read
such record of lawlessness and rebellion. 1t is
painful to reflect that there respectable citizens
outside Of Kansas whose conduct tends directly to
the reproduction of these scenes and to the contnu
ance of this disgraceful anarchy. The remedy for
them al-the complete and adequate remedy--we
had almost said the only sufficient remedy lis to be
found, as every comedies, in the admission Of
Kansas to the Union. Then, beyond all pcradven-
ture or dispute, the people of Kansas would have
absolute control Of their own domestic affairs Then
their institutions would be committed to their
own hands. Then, they would be in the free ex-
crcise of popular sovereignty. Then the voca
ton of jim Lane and his banditti crew would be
forever ended, and they could no longer commit
robberies and murder in the sacred name of " the
majority Then, Kansas would cease to be word
of threatening augury to the Union and its residents
would live in peace in their homes under the do
minion of their own laws. When tho Lecompton
hope for this benefcent result What was the orr
r n. a. mn
apprehension this point. The convention was not
merely the creature of Legislature, but it had the
higher authority of the people The first territorial
Legislature elected in March, 1855 and one of it's
laws provided that the question of constitutional
convention should be submitted to the people at the
next election in October, 1856 AT that time, when
the delegate and the Legislature were chosen, there
called to frame State constitution for the Territory
The vote was in favor of the convention. 1t was in
pursuance of this vote that the act was passed which
inaugurated the Lecompton convention. The people
had spoken, and the Legislature obeyed. The con-
venton therefore, had not only the legal insignia of
legislative authority, but the questonable creden-
tails of the sovereign people themselves. The dele
gates chosen afterwards, at popular election
which fairly conducted, and then, at the APP
pointed time, they met in council. No respectable
person, outside of party prejudice. ever doubted
their authority. Mr. Stanton recognised it; Gov
ernor Walker recognised it, and in the democratic
party, at least, there were no voices raised against
it. After anxious deliberation, and some close d.
visions of opinion, the convention made its constit,
ton and adjourned 1t is admitted that on the
whole, tho constitution is good one and the ques
ton Of slavery was submitted to the people. There
is no preence that the election of the 2st instant
was not likely to be fair one, and that thus the
great subject which had made the first difficulty in
the Territory could not be decided according to the
will of the majority. Was there not good reason to
hope, then, for suspicious adjustment of tho Kan
sas troubles? Was not the President right in anti
cipatng this settlement Was he not right in doing
everything within his official power to produce it +?
Was he not right, in such critical period to use
renewed efforts to keep the peace in Kansas? Was
he not right to caution the acting governor to pre-
serve the freedom of the election? Was he not right
by circulating part of his message prior even to its
delivery in inviting the freest suffrage ON the import
ant question submitted? Was he otright finally in
peheNuB nat nc hBnt soon congratulate the country
upon the final settlement of the Kansas question.
and its fortunate admission as State into the Union
by general consent and without contest? If he
was, land under these circumstances we think that
nearly all his couutrymen will agree that he was)
why is it that on the very threshold of peace we
have been met by the sounds of war Why is it
chat at this moment when the opportunity was of.
fcrCd of CLOSING tho Kansas u,,oei;on roro,o, $50
should have had the governor of Kansas returning
home, breathing hostility to the convention, and
presses in Philadelphia and elsewhere denouneing IT,