The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-20
NATIONAL DEMOCRACY.

The editor of the New Lisbon Ohio Patriot writing
from this city under date of the th instant upon Kansas
matters generally gives utterance to the suboned views
which are entirely consistent with the position of the
tiona democracy
Assuming that the late election [of the 2lst of De-
cember has been fairly conducted and full opportunity
offered for all to vote for against the slavery article
shall Congress reject this constitution merely because the
so called free State have refused to vote That is
the question In ordinary cases. on such state OF facts
the answer would be plain 1t il question that often
arises in our own elections 1t often happens that
party is beaten by portion of s adherents failing to
turn out and vote matter from what cause whether
prevented by accident staying away voluntarily yet
who ever heard Of contestng election endoavorng
to set it aside that account We have known officers
elected by vote of minority Of the votes of township,
but the fact Of the majority staying at home did not a
feet the validity of the election In the State Of New
York last fall 1t is known that nearly hundred thou
sand voters stayed away from the election yet nobody
has the harhood claim that the candidates receiving
majority of the votes cast are not rightfuy elected
Who proposed send that election back to the people
Nov, apply these illustrations to the Kansas case,
and 1t plain that Congress has nothing to do with the
question whether majority Of the voters Of Kansas did
did not vote at the late election. Admit that
ority did not and it still does not alter the 1t il
sufficient that the election was legally held where all
might haze ,oed they chose and that the result is the fairly
expressed will Of those who voted thereat Those who
from any cause neglected on refused to participate in the
election are bound by the result and must abide it, until
they can reverse it in legal way This they can soon
do If they have the majority and if they have not q
majority they are bound to submit ut any rate.
We know 1t is said by way Of excuse for not voting
that no person could vote against the slavery article with
out voting the constitution, bnt this pre-
text The returns already received show that the great
est latitude was allowed with regard to the Of
voting much that in Lcavenworth it is stated that
nine ballots were cast incrbed TO hell with the const
tuition! So it every permitted to vote IN
his ardy.
In view OF all these facts free to say that we
hxt ADJ
II Congress is satisfied that the constitution is republican,
that the question of slavery has been fairly submitted to
the people and the election conducted without fraud and
admits Kansas into the Union the 1ecompton constu-
ton as it now stands shall maintain that the demo-
cratic party and the administration have honestly and
Justly discharged their duty looking to the interests Of
the whole country and in good faith redeemed the pledge
that the people of that Territory should be free to form
their domestic institutions in their way without
any interference the part of Congress any other
thority."