Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-02-12
Tired of tn 50 are we

The KANSAS QUESTION" Tired of it SO are We
It is time to be tired of it, Of all the actious fictitious
issues which have sprung upon the nation rarely have
had anything so dlsreputabe, SO worthless as this
The Nebraska act should have BEEN as it was
designed to be- the end of the controversy But since
its passage and up to this hour when almost everybody
realizes its substantial justice and proprety it has been
made by interested spectators and politicians flaming
brand amidst the political affairs of the nation 70 this
very hour with the prospect OF easy equitable Just
and final settlement of the perpexed issue within me-
date command we find the strife at its very acme and
macontens writhng in view of the most rational and
obvious solution of the whole difficulty 1t is time to
be tired of so Fictitious and degrading theme of strife
TO an impartial observer of the contest it affords an
Illustration of the weakness of men, however great they
may be- measured by the mere anagoniss of political
life It is easy to put up an issue Under favor of pOpu-
lar prejudice and discuss its abstract merits with all the
erceness force and persstency of gladiatoral strife
But the value of the contest in the end is only to be cal
culated by the applause of the spectators and the
sonal and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the contestants
No public good can be derived from the conflict more
than that which must inevitably flow from the success
of sound principles. The sooner those principles
indicated and brought into practical effect the better
it is for all those whose peculiar interests are not ident
fed with strife.
The message of the President accompanying the con-
stitution of Kansas is plain frank vigorous states
manke document. There is no ad coptandum about it
in spirit or phraseology. There is attempt in any
way whatsoever to defend or excuse the wrongs that
have been perpetrated in Kansas The sole purpose is
to exhibit the successive transactions which have taken
place under legal authority and to present for the final
action of Congress- the result it has been brought
length to the executive recognition In doing this the
President simply expresses his desire that Congress will
approve the constitution of Kansas and admit her
sovereign State into the Union. He prudenty nfers
from the history of the past trouble, strife and dangers
which no foresee in the future if this issue is
prolonged by the rejection of the Iecompton consttu
ton.
Out of the field of party strife are not insensibe
of the Importance of question which has so long dis
turbed the peace of the nation. Early in the history of
Kansas, Territory, became familiar with the out
RACES which dsgraced the scene and denounced them
and their perpetrators We have not doubt that great
wrong has been done in the progress OF public affairs
to this day or that bitterness of feeling exists which
it is difficult to estimate here. We believe that large
number of the residents of Kansas have absaned from
voting as the consequence of this feeling and that
frauds have been practiced to shameful extent in the
very face of all the effort that the governors and
bned authorities of the Territory could exert to the
trary These things in degree incidental to new
territory but it has been the misfortune of Kansas
the battle-ground of the slavery question for few years
past, to be peculiarly exposed to these evils.
But how are they to be estimated from the present
point of vew The organic act secured to the people
of Kansas the right to form and regulate their domestic
institutions in their way. 1t was the duty OF the
general to maintain the constituted author
ties during the progress of the Territory to that matur
ty of constitutional character which should develop the
proportions of the State Both these things have been
done, and Kansas applies for admission to the Uni
State organized upon republican constitution.
TO refuse this appeal involves the most serious
quences present and future 1t must ignore the broad
principle Of the Kasas-N ebraska act deny the legality
of transactions which have taken place in strict con-
tormity with it, approve the protestatons OF macon-
tents as the basis of action against proceedings had
der authority of law bring into activity obnoxious
congressional inerference originate new series of pro-
ceedmgs within the Territory rekndle in all their fury
the elements Of strife there ard throughout the Union
and prolong indefinitely the abomnabe contest under
state of feeling which contemplate but with
apprehension whatever may be the views of policy
tertained.
On the other hand, the adjustment of the whole mat
ter is within the direct scope of honorable congressional
action. 1t is not for u.s. for any journal to make
appeal with the hope of inducing politician to change
the course he has concluded to take upon the subject
But it is duty to put the matter plainly and nteli
gently before readers to illustrate the true ISSUE and
to let the result indicate the character of the action
by which it is attained, whatever it may be.
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