Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-11-19
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WMMINGTON, N. C., MONDAY. NOV. Is, 1853.
Political Prospects, Etc

In our last we referred to the tendency of ambitious
politicians of all parties to turn to what appears to them
to be the rising sum- irrespective of higher considerations
and regardless alike Of consistency OF action or hdey to
profession With them success is the test of merit
gratitude is lively sense of benefits to be received
Thank Heaven this is not the spirit OF the Democratic
party That party is never proscrptive unforgving
1t never closes its doors upon any who having stray
ed from its fod is DESTROYS to return But the person
so strayg must return to the party and to its princi
pe and its organization the party cannot and will not
move one inch to accommodate him, even if for him we
say en ard suppose them thousands or hundreds
Of thousands
How stood the matter with reference to Kansas and
how does it now stand? These seem to be the main
questions involved in the issues which have a.
risen between certain portions of the Democratic party
We pass the previous history of that territory and
come down to the attitude of affairs at the opening of
the last session of Congress- when application made
for admission under a Constitution framed at Le-
compton. Now we are free to say that the Conven-
ton, by which this Constitution was framed far
from Immaculate and there were not wanting strong
suspicious of the fairness of its getting up and of the
honesty of some Of its actors. 1t would also have been
BETTER think, if the whole constitution had been sub
mtted to the popular vote, instead of part of it. But
these things were matters for the people of Kanzas not
for u.s. nor for Congress 1t was their Convention
They might have elected whom they pleased to it. The
Convention called in pursuance of law of the Ter
ritory and charged with the duty of framing Consti
tuition. They not required by that law to submit
that Constitution to the popular vote for ratification or
rejection and it is matter of history that States
have been admitted with the constitutions that have not
been submitted to the popular vote than with conSu
lions that haze. Now, whether everything all right
about the Lecompton Convention is not for us to say
but at any raet appears to have been their own way
and it was in this light that Mr. Buchanan and the
jory of the Democratic party regarded and avoured
the movement for the admission of Kanzas under that
Constitution. We admit that there were ugly things
about Lecompton-we are not willing to see any COM
munty admitted as State without decent population
sufficient to send at least one representative to Congress-
We think men might fairly differ in opinion upon the
facts of the case without abandoning or contraverng
the principle involved and although we would rather
have Judge Douglas stand up with his party upon
this measure could yet have easily passed the matter
over. But such was not the case. Judge Douglas did
not stop here He did not simply differ from the admin
straton He and his supporters referred to the
recommended by the administration and voted for by
every Democrat from North Carolina as fraud and
Swnde. These among the midest terms employed.
This did not evince very concatory spirit, or any
prevailing disposition to promote harmony and know
how anxious Southern Democrats were to place the most
favourable construction upon Mr.. Douglas course, and
how anxious they were to avoid q rupture. But even
this might have been set down as simply matter of
ganizaton or something of the kind not affecting prn-
cple.
But let US 60 farther. Mr. Douglas, at Alton ILL.,,
in the last speech of the canvass between himself
and Mr.. Lincoln, reafirmed the position he had
taken before that Territory Territory
could exclude savery-could in effect, and to ALI
intentS and purposes prevent Southern men going
there with their property, by enactng adverse
laws by failing to enact necessary laws for the pro-
lection of this peculiar kind of property This is the
baldest form Of "Squatter Sovereignty, and this
point Mr. Lincoln his competitor had much the best of
the argument If the constitution Of the United States
interpreted by the Supreme Court in the bred Scott
case gives the Southern the right to take his slave
into any Territory and to hold him there how the
members Of any Territorial Legislature, sworn to obey
the Constitution Of the United States refuse Or neglect
to pass the laws necessary to give its provisions effect
The doctrine of the Democratic party is that State
already formed Or Territory becoming State, can
alone exclude any class of property recognised by the
Constitution of the United States under which slaves
stand precisely the same footing other property
Congress cannot exclude slavery from the Territories
still less its creature-a Territorial Legislature.
Mr.. Douglas is at issue with the National as well as
the Southern, Democracy this principle. On many,
very many other points, he is sound and reliable His
services the have hppn marked and efficient
Few men have done more to stem the torrent of North
fanaticism-no man processes greater devotion
to the equal rights Of the States or stronger deermi
nation to sustain them in the future We are unwilling
therefore, to believe that Mr. Douglas intends to finally
draw off from the party. We trust that he will again
be found acting with it in good faith. But this must
be for himself to say-not for the party Its duty is to
adhere to its principles Those who stray of must come
back, and they will be welcomed. And depend upon
it, they will come back before two years time The re-
action by that time will be overwhelming All the
talk about the Democracy being used up will then sound
ridiculous. The Charleston Convention will he harmo-
NOUS, and its nominee will be elected.
Our State Legislature.
Both houses were called to order to-day at II o'clock
and the oaths administered to the members by some
Judge or Justice of the Peace The old Clerks, ETC.,
will hold on until their successors are chosen. The
Clerks of both houses WILL wesuppose call them to order
until Speakers are elected
We presume that good deal of preliminary consul
taon has already taken place. and may be that pre-
siding officers will be chosen Immediately. 1t is proba
be however, that the Governors Message will not be
sent in before tomorrow. We will publish it as soon
as received. 1t will no doubt be an able document