The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-02-24
Political.

It's safety. These revulsions in politics
have been so frequent within the last ten
years, and followed as they have been by
comparative quiet, that the present one re.
ceiSes far less attention from the MASSES
than It's merits (or demerits) would, under
other circumstances, en- title it to. Six
months ago IL WIS contended, and with
some show of reason, that the Democratic
party, North and South, who seemed [, net
in concert and who numbered more than
two thirds Of the entire Umon. was n omar.
antee that the spirit and letter of the Con.
sthution, giving eQ unl amenities and privil,..
ges to all sec.inns, would continue to bs
observed in despite of the continued howl.
ihgs 'ef the abolition rioters. negro shrek
ers, and all others who come under the
general title Of Black Republicans. This
hypothesis was plain 80 long rs thc Demo.
Gratis were united but here was the rub
Already We see them clas. ed as Admins
irai'on Democrats, Opposition Democrats
and Freesoil Democrats. Preecpt and rea /.
son teaches us that house divided against
itself mus, faI! and how fraiI must be the
protection which this unweldIy mass affords
To the dearest interests of the South.
These contending elements Of the Dem
ocratic body have been developed through
the Kansasissuc in Congress TSs, il was
which has made plain to Che South the
quality and number of her fricnds.--
Many whom she has honored and regarded
as lights in her political galaxy TO lead her
to position of security and equality in
the Union, are now found battling side by
side with her enemies. Conspicuous among
these, stands the little giant of the West,
Stephen a. Douglas, whom less than two
years ago the South would have delighted
to honor rs President, and decidedly in pre-.
ference to him who now fills that dis,in.
guished position with so much credit to
himself and whose prominent deeds have
been appauded aud concurred in by hcr
Next We have The Hon Benry A. Wise Of
Virginia, before whose fiery zeal for South.
ern Rights the conservatives of his own
section have been made TO quail, and now
We find him w.th the opposition and fight.
ing in the Black Republican ranks. John
w. Tourney, the prominent journalist and
statesman, hose influence, six months ago,
was felt, far and near, in favor Of the Ad-
minis,ratioh, has reversed his position. and
the President, the Cabinet and the South is
denounced by him in terms strangely incon-
sistcnt with the character of u Northern
conservative Democrat.
We might 60 on and point 10 numbers Of
similar instances, where distinguished pub.
lie characters, whose antece dents have been
snsh rs to win the confidence Of the South,
have changed their tactics and under cir
cumstances calculated to exci'e suspicious
of trcachery. This, it seems, should teach
the South that she must mainly rely upon
her own strength snd that there is danger
in placing unreserved confidence in the pro.
iesslons of those who are not identified
with us in interest.
The immediate cause Of thi. disnffcc,ion
IN the Democratic ranks, is the paramount
question Of the day, now claiming the nj.
icntion of Congress, whether Kan, "a h,
admitted into the Union under the Lecomn
ton Constitution. The President recon-
mends that it should and has expressed ,he
opinion that this instrument CONVEYS the
regularly expressed wishes Of the peoul.
Of Kansas through their Representatives
II, rs the opposition contend, i, does not
express the wishes Of the majority Of lh.
bona tide residents Of Kansas, il is. never.
theicss, the constitution Of the Convent,
who were elected by the people, and if a
majority. through their neglect to vote, has
suffered defeat by the minority, upon their
own heads, should rest the conse, ucnces.-
IL Is clearly the duty Of Congress- To admit
Kansas 18th this Constitution, and then the
question OF slavery or no slavery can be
discussed by the Kansas Lcgis Iature which
is the proper place for ita final settlement -
II, as they aIirge, the free State men have
n large majority in the Territory, when ad.
mitted as State, the clause allowing slave
ry may be expung.d. Congress- would
then have nothing 10 do with the local af.
fairs Of Kansas; but as the question il now
before that Body, it is a matter
Of principle with the South, as v ell as Of
all who are lovers Of law and order, that
she be admitted with the pro. .sIaveiy con.
s.!,utirn. This j. the view taken nv the
President, by the South and by portion of
the Northern democrats. The Black Re-
pubIcans, aided by such of the democrats
as have deserted their colors. as Douglas
and others TO whom we have alluded, are
arraigned upon the opposite side, contend
ing that the Constitution sho uld again be
referred to the popular voice of the peop Ie
OF Kansas before it can properly he acted
upon by Congress. This is strainiug A
democratic principle to an extreme point to
carry out the sinister views of the Black
RePgbIlcans and their followers.
1t these fanatics do not give way the days
OF the Union ore numbered. The South
pannut Vi.l1 t,y.t a