Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-12-18
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL
WILMINGTON, N. c., MONDAY. DEC. II. 1857.

The KANSAS DIFF1cULTY.-We are sorry to see that
the discussion of this vexed question again threatens to
disturb the harmony Of Congress and OF the country tor
speaking less partizans than as citizens 1t must be
felt that anything which threatens the disruption of the
ties which unite the Democratic party on this question
must operate disasrousy the harmony of the whole
Union since the Democratic party is the only organza
ton which has been able to weather recent storms and
retain national vitality.
Mr.. Douglas thinks that the whole constitution of
Kansas ought to have been submitted to the popular
vote We think it would have been better lift had been
done So We do not like the putting to vote of one
question in such manner that the voters must approve
all others, if they 60 to the polls.
But surely the people of Kansas had the right to elect
the members of their constitutional convention, either
with limited powers in the formation of constitution,
or without limitations The earlier usage for con-
ventions to form constitutions submit them to Congress-
and for the new States to be admitted without resorng
To the popular vote. Had we been citizens of Kansas,
we might have urged the submtta of the constitution
but that is Kansas question, and not Congressional
questionone to be decided On general principles and
not on Mr.. Douglass wishes Or intentions.
CONGRESS AND KANsAs-JUDGE DOUGLAS AND THE
PREsDENT-The Kansas difficulty has opened upon the
country even sooner than expected Judge Douglas
has thrown the weight of his great abilities and influence
into the scale against the administration on this point
but so far with fewer results than he or his friends anti
cpated The number of Democrats in either House who
can be induced to follow him. will be very small AS
vet no Democratic Senator except Stuart, of Michigan
has ranged himself under the Douglas banner on this
point 1t has been limited that Mr. Pugh of Ohio, may
but this is doubtful The few Democrats in the House
who OPPOSE the President are still scattering, and their
force undetermined.
We have read with considerable attention the speech
delivered by Judge Douglas, in the Senate of the United
States on the 8th inst 1t is marked by the energy
and ability characteristic of all the efforts of the gifted
speaker; but it has failed to convince that he is
right That everything in Kanzas has gone on as we
could have wished, do not pretend to say. We are
fully prepared to admit that the action of the Lecomp
ton convention is open to objections and these objections
Mr. Douglas urges with great force. But the real point
is this Whether under the organic law of the Terri
tory, and in accordance with the principles of local
selfgovernmen-of deciding its own institutions III It's
own way, the Legislature of Kanus had not the author
ity to call convention to frame constitution and ap
ply for admission into the Union as a State. The e
gay of the convention called had never been called
in question, even 10y Governor Walker. The legal au-
thorities of Kansas took this plan of forming their own
institutions, and this was their own way States have
been admitted with constitutions formed by conventions,
who submitted no part of the result of their abors to
the popular vote, and by conventions called in pursu
ance of no enabling act Of Congress, although Judge
Douglas contends that without such act no convention
can have authority. Now the fact is that the ConSti
tuition nowhere gives to the new States the authority to
demand admission. The Constitution says that Con-
gress man admit StateS-nOt that it must or SbdA
So far authority goes the present application OF
zas is just valid any other nchoate State and it
can be Just ground for objection that it for
ward with a Constitution formed in its aray
Its own way has been through its legislature calling
convention-the delegates to which chosen by an
election in the main fair the President justly says
If men in Kansas did not choose to vote for delegates
they took their own way, and must abide the cOnse-
quences We do not approve of all the acts of the LIE
compton Convention, but the right plan would have
been to have voted for men who would have done differ
emily The convention was not bound by the law Of
the Legislature to submit the Constitution The mode
in which they have chosen to submit part is not the
way we would have liked Had we been citizens of Kan
would have felt bound if our efforts had failed to have
submitted to the law.
We have honored Judge Douglas too highly-havt
now too high respect for his alents-too lively
collection of his services to jump at into the ranks
of his denouncers We must farther and think more
but this, Judge Douglas the greatest earth
know that if he chooses to take up has ground and tina
ground should be opposed to the Democratic party hi
must take the consequences. 10 man must fatter him
self with any lien upon the Democracy. Its breath
drawn through mans nostrils. 1t may build up o.
pull down-no man can build it up Or pull it down.
WE LIKE TO ACCOMMODATE-but the fact is w
have long since given notice that transient advertise
ments will be published, in either the daily week
Journal, unless. the money accompanies them. Not
outstanding notice. there is not day passes bu
we are called upon to violate deyiate from it. This
of course, we have refused to do and no doubt man
think hard of our course. We regret this but still
have laid it down as a rule to do a cash business
is cheaper to the advertiser subscriber and much les
trouble to us. AS both parties thus benefited, W
hope will think the less of for rmness
carrying out principle strictly in accordance with tn
rules we have laid down.
A LIGHT SUPPER.-Last night (Thusday) a dec
was to be done in New York that may well be called
" wick ed thing. 1t seems that two men, of som
wealth, made bet upon the result of the election fC
Alderman of the sixteenth ward of \. Y. city. III
condition of the bet that the looscr should pay
the winner five hundred dollars, eat pound Of tao
candles, arlckS and aH IN the space Of h0ur TIME
10 how o,,5r 10