The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-03-10
The Crumblins Process.


The attempt of the administration to
force the Lecompton Constitution through
Congress, is beginning to tell upon the
Democracy. When such men as George
Bancroft, tho historian, Gov. Wise Of
Virginia, ex-Gov. Walker, and Stanton,
Douglas, Forney, Havemeyer, Butler, and
host of others, prominent men in the
past, and the most brilliant in the party,
are driven out of it by the course of the
Administration on n question involving
issues underlying the whole Republican
fabric, there is good reason to predicate
thereon the inevitable destruction of the
party itself Whatever claim could be
made during the last election to national
ity by the Democracy, has been forfeited
twice over. The President is the agent
of the shareholders, and not the Chief
Magistrate of a nation. So he considers
himself, and so he is considered by every
intelligent man in the country.
That such position is repugnant even
to the great mass e the Northern Delnoc
racy is evident from the almost general
support with which the policy Of Dong
las is received, and the numerous and i'm
portant defections from the Democratic
camp. George Bancroft, the distinguish
ed historian, and Secretary of the Navy
under Polk, has published an address to
the people of New York. 1t is scholar
| ly, impartial and weighty document. The
closing paragraphs of Mr.. Bancroft's adj
dress are as follows:
eff to the question between the Lee
compton constitution and the people of
Kansas we apply the test of principle, we
find that the enforcement of that constitu-
ton will be an act of power against right;
of the army against the people; of force
against reason; Of usurpation against the
rightful will of q majority. 1t will be a
violation of the fundamental principle of
free government, which is governed by
olscnt. 1t is directly at war with de-
IN, cracy, whose cardinal point is the pow
or of the people. The supporters of tho
Lccompton constitution have not one
square inch of democratic ground to stand
upon. A constitution for its validity
needs the concurrence of the majority Of
the people, either silently by a general
acquiescence or by an appeal to the polls.
Shall full and undoubted evidence be re-
quired for deed of a foot of land or q
gift by will ola shilling Shall merchant
or banker have power to stop payment of
check fraudulenty held, and shall the
people have no power to stop their SER
wants from sequestering their rights Shall
the most insignificant treaty of minister
plenipotentiary want validity till it is rati-
fed? And shall the highest treaty of the
people with themselves be made in cor
ner by their servants without their assent
Is form everything and substance moth
ing? Is appearance everything and truth
and right and reality nothing!
| "Congress has power to admit states,
/ but no power whatever to make a consti-
tuition for state; still less to impose on
n state n constitution which the majority
of its people loaihe and reject. The ten
dency to Capitalization of power in the
general government is rapid and danger
Gus. We protest against its further in
crease and against its present excess. The
policy of enforcing the Lecompton constr
tuition on an unwilling people is member
wise, nor expedient, nor possible. Prin-
ciple is the true OWNERS wand by which
the president of a free people sways the
millions, and secures maiorities for his
measures in Congress. The neglect OF
principle for temporizing expedienee al
ways loses the respect of majorities in
Congress and out of it. The ship of state
is water-logged; throw the fraudulent lie
compton constitution overheard; let prin-
eiple take the heln, and the bark will
spring forward on It's way Is in the best
years of cur republic"