The Washington union., 1858-03-02

of voters participated in IT, That may be but had not
the majority fair opportunity OF doing sol Did they
not refuse TO participate from reasonable and rebel
hous motives Was their conduct not such require
the strong Of the military TO restrain them from overt
acts of treason Have they right to avail them
selves Of their wrong to the jeopardy OF the public
peace and quiet What said Gov. Walker and he
should be good authority with YOU In his inaugural
address published throughout the Territory he lays down
the following inoontrovertible proposition
Those who abstain from the right of suffrage author
iz those who do vote TO act for them in that oonngea
c and the absentees much bound under the laws
and constitution where there is fraud violence by
the act of the majority of those who do vote though
all had participated in the election
No one will contend that there either fraud or
violence in that election Every actual resident who
desired il had right to vote Mr. Secretary Stanton il
emphatic on this point In of his published addresses
he says
In this light the act must be allowed to have pro
vded for full and fair expression of the will of the peo-
Pile through the delegates who may be chosen to repre-
sent them in the constitutional convention.
Here, then have both governors, actual and acting
warning the recusnts OF the consequences OF their Iei
sing to vote And to show what was the understanding
in regard the duties of delegates when elected and as
scmbled in convention quote further from the last
named address
~ do not doubt however in order to avoid all pros
for resistance to the peaceful operation OF this law the
ting The great dracfag question REaARDISa TnER ~
srruros, which has long agtated the people Of Kan
sas to fair vote of the actual bona f residents Of the
Territory with every possible security against fraud and
violence. If the constitution be thus framed and the
question of difference thus submitted to decision of the
people, believe that Kansas will be admitted by Con-
gress without delay Of the sovereign States of the
American Union, aud the territorial authorities will be
Immediately withdrawn,
This but foreshadowed what the convention actually
did. They framed constitution, republican in form,
wise and well guarded in all its features, and submitted
the great dstactng question of their social institution
fair vote OF the actual bona & residents Of the Ter
ritory This, believe, works no violence to popular
sovereignty is in perfect harmony with - the great pn
ciples of the Kansas Nebraska act, and therefore, ~
believe that Kansas will be admitted by Congress, with
out delay of the sovereign States Of the American
Union
But there is another light in which regard the present
issue that invests it with paramount interest look
upon issue between the constitution of the Union
interpreted by highest national judicial ~buna
and that Wild ncendary spirit OF mobocracy and anat
icsn of the day, sacregousy known as higher awism
From the day the Kansas law was passed the leading
spirits of that ism avOwed their purpose of defeating Its
operations They boldly proclaimed that the principles
should never be reduced TO practice. To accomplish their
ends they appealed to the worst prejudccs of the north
ern masses organized emigr.nt aid societies taught
that resistance to the law obedience to Godsubst
tuted Sharps rifles for arguments organized secret
ceties and terrible oahs to resist the legal author
ities and finally adopted government In Kansas in tca
sonable opposition to that enacted by Congress and in
violation Of property rights declared legal by the Supreme
Court of the United States Recent conventions Of that
party in Kansas have avowed their unaterabe detrin
alton to recognise any other constitution than that
of the Topeka convention These, thcn are the men who
are now most canorous in favor OF popular sovereignty
These are the who denounce most vehemently
democratic the position Of the President These the
who have all at once discovered that the principles Of the
Kansas Nebraska act worthyof all admiration That
sense of duty has compelled many good and true DEM
uf the uueStiOn 1ecply
Is is not for question their motives their patriot
ism, nor do / intend to do SO. They have right to
their opinions have to mine. With many OF them
differ with the deepest regret Believing, however that
they have reached their conclusions honestly and in good
| fifth hope differ with them, though radically yet
courteousy. No would regret more than myself
serious schism in the democratic party No one would
make greater sacrifices to prevent It, Yet If Its unity
can only be preserved by sacrifice Of principle 1t mat
| ters not how its dissolution comes Bnt have
aith that the evil day is not yet believe the bannc.
of democracy will long wave in triumph, ! believe
Kansas will be admitted at the present session Of Con-
gress believe that thereby peace and quiet will be
stored to the country believe moreover, that nher
admission the wisdom Of the administration the conft
tuition of the Union the decision Of the Supreme Court
and the sacred rights of property will be gloriouy
vindcated
There is thing however, do deprecate It Is the
attempt to convey the impression that those who take
ground with the President and against Senator Douglas
agitators and seeking to distract the party Who
threw the first stone in this controversy Without there
being any question before Congress connected with Kan
sas without consultation with his brother senator's with
out the slightest practical result likely to follow from it.
that distinguished democrat on the second day Of the
session. made set and studied speech In opposition to the
admission of Kansas. He made speech that was receiy
cd with pturous applause by the entire Republican o
position. If there real difference of opinion be
tween him and the President, why did he make 1t? II
the President had not committed himself in favor of the
immediate admission of Kansas, why make the printing
of his message the occasion for elaborate and not by any
means temperate argument against it. The fact of the
business s disguise it you WILL the issue between the
President and the Illinois senator Is serious and radical
one It Is that will have to be met and boldly dis
cusscd. 1t is one fnught with veal to the dem
ocratc party. 1t il fundamental in Its nature
and upon its decision hangs unity in the future 1t
| is moreover ono which democrats will have to take
sides Believing the President to be right, have taken
| mine with him. plant myself upon the broad principle
of non interference right of the people to regulate
| their domestic institutions sin their gdy This |
conceive they have done, and in 'way not unprece
dented unusual peculiar If after admission they
desire to alter their organic law, let them do No
human power restrain them, This principle mean
to adhere to- and in the language of Senator Douglas;
twill follow it wherever its logical consequences will take
me- provided of course it bc not the ruins Of the
constitution the decisions Of the Supreme Court and the
most sacred and guaranteed rights of property
| Very respectfully, your friend,
BENZ. f. WASHINGTON
] d. W. GgLwIoKs esq, Editor Mountain Democrat
CPRING SUPPLIES IN FIRSTCLASS DRY
4 nprVno nj =