The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-03-25

Territory have already engrossed an undue
proportion of public attention aHd the peo-
pie whom this decision affects are only "a few
thousand inhabitants of Kansas"
And in betrayal of this people the message
bids us, who are bound by the high behests OF
duty, let the consequences be what they may,
to take counsel of our fears. 1t tells N that,
unless we now consummats this outrage which
has been fipening under the fostering care OF
the Executive for years, "no man can foretei
the consequences" that "agitation upon this
dangerous subject will be renewed in more
alarming form than it has ever yet assnmedj {"
that Just in proportion Is this question is insg-
ni6cant to the few thousand people OF Kansas,
who detest this Constitution, "for this very
reason"-that is, because it is an insignificant
"The rejection of the Constitution will pc 90
much the more keenly felt by the people of
fourteen Of the States of this Union where
Slavery is recognised under the Constitution
of the United States"
wish, in passing, TO inquire which of the
fifteen slave States it 10 whose people have been
counted out here, and have determined not only
not to dissolve the Union, but not even TO STEEL
keenly" if this foul scheme shall fail. Per.
haps the Representatives of that Stats here can
inform the country. And, lastly, we are told
by the President, that unless this bald crime
against human rights shall be perpetrated,
SHARK and ominous Clouds" which he seems to
see already "impending over the Union" are
to "become darker and more ominous than any
which have ever yet threatened the Constitu.
ton and the Union" / do not share these fears
of the President do not see these clouds.
shall be slow to believe that the perpetuity of
this Union requires the sanction of this fraud.
But if did share these fears, should be dere-
ict of duty if took counsel of them. If saw
these clouds, should still find no justification
for the abandonment of right, in the aPprehen.
sion that else they might break over my head.
This doctrine has been preached to rs quite too
often already-it was never sound, and has
begotten many q peril, without ever averting q
single one. II can answer no further ends.
The Presidents hopes, too, are as vain al his
fears. How empty the expectation that do.
mestic peace will be the happy consequence of
this admission" or that it would restore peace
and quiet to the whole country" or that the
troops of the United States could then be with.
drawn from Kansas. Peace comes not of
schemes thus founded in wrong, and carried
out by fraud and force. Commotion and con.
fict more terrible than those which have al
ready shamed and shocked the country, will be
the fruit gathered Of such sowing. "He that
soweth the wind" shall most assuredly "reap
the whirlwind." You may cry peace peace |
but to you, who daub with this untempered NOR.
tar, there can be no peace.
Does the President hope, before the bar of
memorable Justice, to escape the sure condem.
nation of one who, with full knowledge of fraud,
aids in its consummation-of one who feeds
and fattens and hugs to his bosom the perpe-
traitors of robberies, of rapes, and of murders,
while their hands are still reeking with crime
He knows the foul wrongs which gave birth to
this Constitution, and the infamous outrages
upon which it has fed ; and, with full knowl.
edge, BY this message he adopts and makes
upon himself the responsibility for all the black
and damning plots and schemes and frauds and
crimes which have brought the Lscompton
Constitution here, he goes for trial before that
august tribunal, the American People, and
patiently await the verdict.