The Placer herald., 1858-03-27
AUBURN, MARCH, ~, 1858.
The Kansas Question.

the Kansas issue as still the most exciting
topic of public discussion. The attention
of the whole people and the press was direc-
ted toward Washington, where the struggle
upon the Lecompton Constitution was draw
rapidly toward final decision. The ma
iority Of the Senate Committee on Territories
to whom the Constitution had been submit
ted, had reported in favor of the admission
of Kansas under it. In the House it had
been referred to special committee, ma
jority of whom it was thought would recon-
mend admission under the same Constitution
Every inch of ground was being holy con-
tested by the friends and opponents Of the
measure as the time for final action drew
nigh. The Republicans upon the House
Committee had offered resolutions, with a
view to prevent a settlement of the question
at this session of Congress,) to open up the
whole question and by sending to Kansas
and elsewhere for persons and papers, and
to enter into minute inquiries as to the pro-
ceedngs had in the formation of the Lecomp-
ton Constitution. AS these resolutions were
intended simply for the partizan purpose of
prolonging agitation, the majority Of the
Committee decided to limit their investiga-
tons to the properly authenticated docu-
ments upon the subject, to be found in the
Departments at Washington. This course
would have the effect of bringing the subject
to direct vote before the House in short
time, and relieve Immediately the public
mind Of suspense instead of prolongng it
for twelvemonth.
In the Senate there is decided majority
in favor Of the immediate admission of Kan
sas under the Lecompton Constitution. In
the House large majority of the Demo-
cratic members are in favor of such accep-
tance, but the dissenting Democratic and
Republican vote has bare majority against
the measure which will undoubtedly be
changed by the action of the Senate, which,
it is authortively said, have determined to
enunciate, in unmistakable terms the right
of the people of Kansas to alter amend, or
abnul their present Constitution at any mo.
ment, notwithstanding the clanse in the
schedule which specifies the year 1864 as the
earliest moment in which the instrument
shall be amended. This will remove for
midable objection in the minds of some MEM
bers, and hasten a settlement so far as Con
gress is concerned, Of this much vexed oues-
ton.
However much Democrats may have diff
fered as to the most equitable mode of set
ting this trouble, or whatever their feelings
toward the President or Mr.. Douglas, it
must be manifest, from the turn affairs have
taken, that speedy decision is now of the
last importance, e,-not only for the interest
OF the people of Kansas but for the peace of
the Union, and the integrity of the Dem
ocratc party. If such decision would result
in depriving Kansas of tie right to regulate
her own affairs, or deprive her of one attrib.
ute of sovereignty that attaches to State,
then it would better that the Union should
be agitated from center to circumference,
for years, than that so great a wrong should
be committed. But this is not done-the
admission of Kansas gives the people of that
State complete and entire control over
their own domestic institutions, to settle
them in their own way, without the interfer-
ence of Federal officers, Congress, the Abol-
itionsts of the North or the Pro- slavery
men of the South. And while Democrats
may have been seriously disappointed at the
manner in which the Lecompton Constitution
was submitted to the people of the Territory;
and we confess, for ourself, that we anticipa-
ted more extended and fair submission of
that instrument, yet it cannot be successfully
controverted, that the plan indicated by Mr.
Buchanan will give the people of Kansas i'm
mediate and absolute control of their own
affairs, which they have so long expressed
desire to have.
The Kansas agitation has been the stock
in trade of the Republican party for the past
three years, and they are now endeavoring
to make the difference among Democrats
instrumental in keeping up that agitation, in
order to recuperate their fortunes for the
Presidential contest of 1860. The peace and
welfare of Kansas is but of little moment to
them, if it but serve the purpose of prolong-
ing their political existence. They stake
their every political hope upon keeping the
difficulty open, fer they know full we'll that
when the distracted Territory starts upon the
caraar of q naacafi1l and .noa,AA.A..a CAa4a