Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-01-30
elected and assembled irDconventon, quote farther
from the last named address:

elected and assembled iIsconventon, quote farther
from the lastnamcd address:
~ do not doubt, however, In order to avoid all
preferf for resistance to the peaceful OOeratOn ot
this law, the convention itself will in some form, pro-
vide for submitting he prem disfrdctinQ qHtSft0h
REGARDNG TuElR sttIIL INSTITUTION which has so long
agtatcd the people " Kansas TO fair vote of the
actual, bona Rde residents Of the Territory with ev-
cry possible security against fraud and violence. IL
the Constitution he thus framed, amt the question Of
difference thus submitted tO decision Of the people,
IGeiiere that khn@ds ScW be admitted by Con-
OreSS IrifOHt dtldD, Of the sovereign States
Gf the American Union, and the territorial Suthori-
ties will be Immediately withdrawn"
This but foreshadOwcd what the convention actually
did. They framed constitution, republican IN form,
wise and well guarded In all its features and submit
ted "thc great dstrncting questions Of their social in
stutiUn to fair vote of the actual bona Hde resi-
dents Of the territory" This, believe works no
violence TO popular sovereignty, Is in perfect harmo-
ny with 'the great principles ofthc Nebraska
Act" aud therefore Il believe that Kansas will be
admitted by Congress without delay, as one Of the
sovereign States of the American Union"
But there IL another light In which l regard the
present issue that invests il with paramount interest
look upon ~ issue between the Constitution Of
the Union, rs interpreted by our highest national
judicial tribunal and that wild, incendary spirit Of
mobutracy and fanAticsm nf the day, sacraligousy
known as highcr'lnw-sm. From the day the Kansas
law passed the leading spirits Of that ism avuwed
their purpose uf defeating its operations They boldly
proclaimed that its principles should be reduced
to practice. To accomplish their ends. they appealed
to the worst prcjudiccs Of the Northern masScsur-
ganizrd emgrnnt aid socicties-taught, that csst-
anCr I" the law was ohctlicncr to Gud-suhSttuted
SharpS rifles Tor argumCnt>-organiLC secret socic
ties aud swurc lrTrhy oaths tn resist the legal
thoritics, and finally apoptcd government in Kan
saS in reasonable opposition to that enacted by Con-
grrsS, and In violation II property rights declared
legal 10y the supreme Court Of the United States
Recent conventions Of that party in Kansas have
avUwcd their unaltcrahlr determination never to
cognzc any other constitution than that Of the Topc
M Convention. These then, the men who are
now most 'lamurous in favor Of popular s0ver-
eighty. These ARE the men who den"unce most
Vrhrmcntly nS undrmncrutic the position Of the
President These are the men who have Nil at
once discovered that the principles oi the Kansas
Nebraska act are worthy ~ all admiration. That
sense OF duty has compelled many good anu true
Democrats tO take their side IF the question deeply
regret II Is not for to question their motives or
their patriotism, nor do intend tn Il" So They have
u right Ia their opinions aS have To mine. With
many Of them l differ with the deepest regret, lie
lcving, however, that they nave reached their
illusions honestly and in good faith, hope differ
with them, Though radically, yet cuurtcOusly. No
one would regret more than myself serious schiSm
IN the Democratic party. M one would make great
sacrifices to prevent il. Yet II its unity only
he preserved by sacrifice of prncir 1t matters not
how soon IT, dissolution but haye faith thai
the evil day is not yet hrlirvr the banner " De-
morrary Will long wave III triumph. believe Kan
saS will hr admitted at the present session Of Com
grcss. believe that there by peace and quiet will he
restored IL the country believe, moreover that in
her ,.lH,l--li. the of the Administrations the
OuSttut;On of the lninn the decision az the Supreme
Cudrt. and the most sacred rights of property will be
goriullsly viudcatrd.
There is one thing, however, do drprccatc. 1t is
the attempt I" convey the impression that those who
take ground with the President and against Senator
Douglas. are agtatnrs, and seeking IN distract the
party. Who threw the first stone III this controversy
Without there being any question before Congress
connected with kanSas- without consultation with
his brother SrnutnrS-whnut the slightest practical
result likely To follow from it-that distinguished
Democrat, on the second day " the session, made "A
set and studied speech in opposition To the admission
"ikanSa>. u" mad" speech that was received with
rapturuuS APPLAUSE by the rutirr republican" OPPOSE
tim. II th,r real liiTc VI opinion be-
tween him and the President, why did he make II -
IL the President had not committed himself in favor
"f the Immediate admission Of Kansas, why make the
printing ut his message the occasion Tor an elaborate
and not by any means temperate, argument against
it, The fact uf the business Is, disguise il ms yuu Ill
the iSSuc between the prrSicut and the Illinois SEN
Atur Is Il serious Slid radical nna.lt-iS that will
have To b. met and boldly discussed. 1t is one
trauglIt with veal wnr t. the Democratic party.
1t Is one "Iunamrnlal in is nature, and upon its de.
ciSon hangs unity in the future 1t l.
which Democrats will have tn take sides Relieving
the President tnhc right, have taken mine with him.
plant myself upon the broad principle Of nonntrr
fvrCncchc right of the people To regulate their do.
Int site institutions ~ +&rit'c'tct n-fhty I
conceive they have done, and in way" not uhpr,-
cCdcutel, unusual or peculiar. II after adml> Sion
they desire Ia alter their organic law let them dn
No human power can restrain thrm This prinrpl
lmeNn to- nhrrr tn, and in the language ~ senator
Douglas VIII follow il wherever It's logical cnnse.
QuenccS will take me- provided Of ccurs,.it HI not
over the ruins NJ the Constitution, the decisions oi
the Supreme Court and the most sacred and guaran-
| tied rights u! property.
| Very respectfully
| Your friend.
| BENJ. =. WASHINGTON.
DIV. CIV wlrHs. r>l,