White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-08-27
The Kansas Question.

The Kansas difficulties seem to very justly ex-
cite much discussion in the journals Of the day.
Editors and correspondents deal promiscuOusly,
snathenas maranaths, apologize appovals, or
positive laadations, as to the course Governor
Walker has pursued; and we are sorry to see,
too, that two writers for our estimable contem-
porary, the Carolinian, a." and " K" are
pitching into each other extensively. WHATS
the ssef We want unanimity, not Distraction
bear and forbear, honest convictions are doubt
less on both sides, and with right understand
ing Of each other, there is, perhaps, after all, no
very great difference, gentlemen, between ysu,
Governor Walker has undoubtedly gone beyond
the necessities of his position, in debating to
the convention that Congress ought, and would,
reject any State Constitution they should form,
unless it was submitted for ratification, to the
popular vote. Governor Walker knows as well
as any one, (for he is a statesman, however, we
may otherwise regard him. that, while there is
enough Of precedent, there is also even more
precedent on the other side. As thus, Of the
thirty -one States, the proportion Of those which
have submitted their Constitutions for popular
ratification, to those which have not, stand as
thirteen to eighteen. Again, in the Constitu-
ton of the United States, the only prerequisite
for the admission of new State is, that it shall
have a republican form of government. How
dare he then dictate to the sovereign voice of
the land assembled in convention7 How dare
he dictate the future action of Congressl
The convention has the right, undeniably, to
submit its action for popular ratification if it so
chooses, but Governor Walker has no right to
school the convention as to schat Il must do. We
have right, therefore. to complain of the course
taken by Governor Walker. He was not sent
there as a Lord Lieutenant, to dictate laws, but
to carry out those that were already in existence
and to carry them out, too, in good faith. Has
he done sol We think not, although we are
free to confess that, while we think him very
blameable for want of singleness of purpose, we
do not believe, however pure his conduct might
have been, any action would have long delayed
Kansas from taking the ffee-soil position she
now has. That she would come into the Union
as Slave State, was always question of great
doubt to Us. That it would have remained pro-
slavery, even had it effected its admission as
such, was still more doubtful. Its climate for
bidding outdoor labor for seven months in the
twelve-its distance from the great marts Of our
country-its position in the rear of the great
State of Missouri, which with the advantage of
position, was to be its established competitor for
every staple it could produce-its tortnous and
difficult navigation-all, combined to declare
that it was not permanently if ever, the abiding
place of our institutions. But there was yet an
other difficulty in the way-the gist of the whole
matter perhaps-and a difficulty which We very
much fear will always superyene regardless Of
isothermal lines and unfortunate positions, SO
long as the South shall content herself with Free
State dictation as to her peculiar policy.
The Sonth is unable to colonize. She has al
ready with her fifteen States. more territory by
over three hundred thousand square miles, than
the sixteen Northern States, which have an ex-
cess of population as compared to US of sir mil
lions. The attempt of the South, therefore, to
make Slave State of Kansas was a sort of hot
bed foreing-and il failed. Colonization can
only be successful when the result of abundant
population. 1t is the hardy and adventurous with
small means and competition at home who seek
such outlets. The Southerner owning but few
slaves was not so stupid as to prefer the risks
and difficulties Of Kansas to the security eff homo
or the markets of the Southwest. We repeat,
then, that the true cause of our failure in this
instance, was because we had no ereess Of labor
ing population with which to compete with the
Free States and their annual influx Of half
million of immigrants. That other causes have
materially assisted towards this result we have
already adnitted-5uf this after all underIies the
whsle stratum, and how under the circumstan-
ces, we could ever have had well founded pros
poets of securing this territory is, we confess,
beyond our comprehension. We started irTORg
let US now then take counsel of our misfor-
tune, and so legslate for the future, that Ue too,
when another occasion arises, may hare su6i-
Gent IsbOrin9 class also, to march step and step
with the Northern wing Of the Confederacy in
the work Of colonization. II is the only hope for
the South to remain IN tie UaisR! Let her look
to 4 in tims.-CoIumbia (S C.) Times