Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-05
THE KANSAS IMBRoGLIO.

with which the New York Herald, in the article quo
ted at length below anticipates the action Of the Pres
iden and Congress unon the Lecompton Constitution
soon to be submitted to them. The peace of the coun
try, the patriotic sentimsn. of the masses, demand
that Kansas be at once admitted Gs State. We
doubt not that the excitement. will bo KEEP, up in tie
new State by arttul demagogues and mercenary con.
epiratorsbut wish the agitation 10 be confined to
the particular region and not 10 spread its deeteous
influence over the States Of the Uniou that would be
30 highly blessed, but for the intense sectional fury
which the Kansas imbroglio has given rise to.
While Senator Douglas aud those whoj act with
him, hold that the Lscompton Convention was an ir
regular body the Legislature authorizing it having
no power to call it. and that such an asaembage can
only be called into legal existence by an en-
abling" act of Congress, President Buchanan and
those who stand by him, North aud South, argue
with conclusive force that the Lscompton Conven
tion was regularly and legally constituted Assem-
bage authorized by The Legislature of the territory
which had the power TO call it, and direct the people
to vote for delegates, and, consequence that its
acts must be taken and held to be legal Even Gov.
Walker himself sustained the President on that point
as he clearly recognized the Convention as legally
called and organized.
Again. the President is right when he holds that
the submission, by the Lecompton Convention of the
slavery question, s a substantial compliance with the
requirements of the Kansas act; and that the best
and most practical mode Of settling the difficulty and
allowing the people of Kansas an opportunity of
forming their own institutions, sin their own way"
is to admit Kansas under the Lecompton Constitu-
tion; after which the people, in the capacity of citi-
zens of the State at any time alter, reform or
abolish their Constitution in such manner as they
may think proper. BY this means, We fully agree
with the President, the people of Kansas have the
full privilege of forming their institutions in
their own way, and at the same time relieving Con-
gress and the country at large from the agitation and
excitement that has surrounded the Kansas ques.
tien:
Those who refused to vote on the question submit.
ted-of Slavery or no Slavery claiming at tho came
tipe that they constituted majority othe legal voters
cannot now justly complain, should Congress admit
Kansas as Slave State under the Leconpton Const
tuition, for, claiming to be the majority, they voun-
tary allowed the minority to have every thing their
own way. When Kansas shall have been admitted
into the Union ss sovereign State, her people will
have full power to amend change her constitution
90 as to carry out the wishes of the majority if 1t does
not now do so.
We are happy to know that the Presidents views
are sustained by large number Of the leading
Democratic papers Of the non slave-holdng States,
and among them the Cincinnati Enquirer. As that
able journal says, in Kansas the people we're called
on to vote for delegates to form State Constitu.
ton; party claiming to be the majority, refused to
| take part in the election. constitution was formed
and adopted, but the Convention left to the people
to say whether the State should be free slave
State. The came party, claiming to be the majority
said they would not vote and suppose did not. The
| great bone of contention was the slavery question
whether Kansas should become slave or free State
other issue was thought of talked of. Here was
full and fair opportunity for those who had been pro-
fessing to be Free State men, and who claimed to be
largely in the majority, to make Kansas free State
They have, as We understand, refused 10 vote. The
President thinks such course wrong Mr.. Douglas
thinks il right The President thinks that the proper
course now to be pursued is to admit Kansas under
the Lecompton constitution, and let the people, il
they do not like that constitution, call convention
and make another that will suit. Mr. Douglas thinks
that Congress should intervepe-psss judgment on
the way the people Of Kansas have been managing
their own busnessAundo what they have done-and
tell them how they shall hereafter do. We think
with the President, that it would be more in strict
conformity to the Kansas act; q, we'll as more prac.
tical and just to all parties, to admit Kansas into
the Union at once; after which the people could,
among Themselves, without Congressional or other
outside interference, make Just such constitution as
they pleased.
| The following is the article Of the Herald" which
with the exception of few obnoxious phrases, will
be endorsed by the friends of constitutional law and
peace to the Union
| TION.
According to our latest authentic information from
Washington upon Kansas affairs. the Administration
will, most probably, adhere to the Lecoinpton Con-
stitution with the adoption Of the slavery clause
and upon that basis recommend the admission of
Kansas into the Union as sovereign State. And in
view of the removal of this bone of contention from
Congress, and the transfer of the entire authority
and responsibility in the matter to the people d-
Tocty concerned, the prompt admission of Kansas,
even as slave State, is, after all, perhaps the best
| thing that can be done.
| The Lecompton Convention was legitimate and
authoritative body. 1t submitted the only consttu-
tional issue OF any moment 10 vote of the people.
Granted that the Kansas tree State party then are
party. the responsibility lies with the former for al.
lowing the latter to carry the late election by default
But again, no serious outrage will be committed upon
the free State party by admitting Kansas as slave
State, possessing, as that party does, numerical as
tendency sufficient TO change their organic law with.
| in six months into free State Constitution.
Next, 80 far as Congressional balance of power is
concerned, the admission of Kansas as slave State
and it's temporary existence as q slave State, will
amount to nothing az q Southern acquisition Min.
nesota, with her free State Constitution and with her
Congressional delegation as State already elected
must be admitted within few weeks. Close behind
her will come Oregon as another free State, and with
case clearly and indspUtably in favor of the &C
ceptsnce of her Constitution that she cannot be re.
eoted. Here, then supposDg Kansas to be admitted
as slave State, che will be more than counterba-
anced by two additional free States admitted during
| the same session of Congress-
There was very great agitation in 1920 against
| the admission OF Missouri as slave State; but the
equivalent to the North in the admission of Maine as
new free State, formed essential element of the
Missouri Compromise. And surely at this day, with
their preponderance in the Union firmly established,
the Northern States may consent 10 the admission of
Kansas as temporary slave State, in consideration
of the paramount object of giving to the people OF
Kansas the absolute right and the entire responsibility
of managing their own affairs in their own way.
We anticipate tremendous row in Congress
| should the administration recommend the admission
Of Kansas Slave State upon the basis Of the late
Leoompton constitutional election but let the act be
consummated, and within elk months all the existing
agitation, and all the terrible uproar which lie threat
ened, will have died away. The Southern fre.esters
threatened to tear the Union all TO pieces, in conse.
quence Of the great outrage of giving the whole of
California to the Norh-all of it on the North eide
and all on the South side of the Missouri Compro.
mise line. They got up their Nashville Conventions,
their military encampments, armories and arGenals,
and their secession eections but they were reduced
to submission by the sensible messss OF the South
within very short time.
SO It will be should any revolutionary attempts be
made in the North on account of the admission of
Kansas es q slave State. They will soon be put
down ct the polls by the sensible masses of our Con.
servative people. AS for the integrity of the Demo
cratic party, that ia affair which belongs to the
party. 1t ls the duty of the Administration to exc
cute the laws, regardless Of parties, factions or
sections. 80 far as all the solid practical interests Of
Kansas and the country at large concerned, the
sooner that Kansas is admitted Sovereign State
the better.