The Nevada Democrat., 1858-03-31
Henry A. wise on ExpcdIency.

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ter of Gov. Wise, of Virginia, to the Democracy
of Philadelphia. The letter is dated at Rich
mond, Feb. 9th, and was read among others at
the anttLecompton meeting, held on the sth,
which was the largest that has been held in
Philadelphia for many years:
Ah! but we are told that it is r1erpedient to
raise this question at all; that inexpedlency re-
quires Congress TO decide the question. When
was it morally determined that the policy Of
this nation should be governed 10y expedlency
rather than 10y justice or rightY But whatright
has Congress TO set up its DEGREES of expedIency
over and above the sovereign rights OF peo-
pie to free and fair election? Is eXpedlency to
be carried SO far as TO allow Congress to inter
vene so as to set its will over the will of the
people of Kansas, or to substitute its will for
theirs and 10 give minority Constitution to a
maiorty2 This would be intervention with a
vengeance, in the teeth of non-iutervention, so
much exclaimed for by those who advocate this
Constitution
But the President offers an inducement to the
ant-slavery party in Kansas by saying 'If
majority of them (the people of Kansas de
sired to abolish domestic slavery within the
State, there is no other possible mode by which
this can be effected so speedily, as by prompt
admission" This hint is somewhat dangerous
in point of policy. 1t cuts both ways. ltmght
be asked whether this commends itself to pro-
| slavery gentlemen who are advocating the
"prompt admission" Some Of them once re-
pealed laws protecting and establishing slavery
in Kansas. They had better not make it too
apparent in the South that prompt admission"
would most speedily unmake the slavery there
which was restored by the Dred Scott decision.
But this was not the Presidents fair meaning
He meant TO say only that it was in his opinion
the speediest way TO obtain a fair vote by the
| Tn fh.r IL n In a
thing in order that it may he Immediately un-
done! Why do it to be undone: Is Congress
, to give the Territory Constitution ObnoXonf
to majority in order that that majority may
have State sovereignty to put it to the tortures
of its indignation? Why not rather allow the
sovereign people directly and at once to select
for themselves the form of government they
prefer, instead Of submitting to their passions
an instrument which the argument admits they
abhor? Would it be less trouble. or take less
time, to refer the matter back to their decision,
and to avoid the issues which mi ght and would
, arise under an adopted and admitted Constu-
ton which undertakes to bind the sovereignty
Of the people not to change their form of Gov
ernment before ammo Domni 1864? By au-
thenticaing this instrument by the arbitrary
Intervention OF Congress, every sort OF question
of vested right and of bounden sovereignty
would arise. BY "leaving the people perfectly
free to elect their own form of government in
their own way, without fear. force. fraud, or
Intervention, those issues and worse would be
avoided. The agitation in Kansas would be
intense, to adopt the Leccmpton instrument,
aud the excitement there would be reused in a
new aud more fearful form than ever and re-
main still in Congress- the Cabinet. and the
country universally. proposed, on the con-
trary. in my Tamnaay letter, that Congress
should not decide the question Of fact but refer
il back to the Territorial Legislature for submis
sion under territorial law, to the whole OF the
legal voters, under fair. free. and full cleo
tion. This was done both in the case of Wis
consn and of Michigan, under cases involving
the principle of this case of reference and sub
mission. This imposes no condition Of adms-
sion. but receives the State into the Union pro-
visionally-provi ided only that the Constitution
is the will of the people fairly aud legally
polled.
And why impose this Constitution OF a mi
noriiy on majority? Gu bono? Does any
Southern man imagine that this is a practicable
or sufferable way Of maxim. a slave State
Who believes now that Kansas will be made
slave State. or kept one for any time, by the
admsson OF this Constitution ? Who will carry
a slave there now to become a bone of conten-
tion in a border war? the sport Of violence and
fraud and force like that which has so long en-
dangered person and property, and political
Franchise, in that unhappy battle ground OF sec
tional feuds? To what end is this thing to be
done, If speedily it is TO be undone with State
authority. created to drive slave property from
the Territory?
We have proudly. heretofore, contended on
y for equality and justice but il this be wan
tonly done, without winning atake-the power
of slave State thereby-it will be worse than
vain. 1t will be snatchng power per Jds dm ne
fas, to be lost speedily" with the loss of some
! thing of far more worth than political vote
our moral prestige. If we are not willing to do
justice, we can't ask for justice; if we can't
agree to equality, we must expect to be denied
it. 1t is our bull goring the anti-slavery OK
Suppose we had had majority Of Shareholders
in that Territory: suppose a minority of abol-
tioniss had gotten the census and registry into
their hands and had kept fifteen out Of thirty
four counties out of the Convention; suppose
they had formed Constitution with clause
prohibiting slavery. and had sent it to Con-
gress without submitting it to a majority Of the
legal voters or suppose they had submitted all
parts OF the Constitution to the popular vote
except the one clause prohibiting slavery. know
ing it would he voted down If submitted to the
majority of the people; suppose such boot
on the other leg had been submitted to Con-
gress and we had then heard the absontPness
| Of Convention contended for by Black Repub-
licans, demanding of Congress to sustain the
doctrine OF "Iegitimdcy,' | tell you that every
Southern man would have been in arms and
would be reused to the shedding Of blood rath-
er thai submit to Congress fastening upon
majority Of pro-slavery people an arbitrary re-
script of a mere Convention, unauthorized to pro-
claim its Constitution without an express grant.
This is the same principle, accompanied by
trickery and fraud. owe arc willing to do unto
others as we would have them do unto u.s."
The Southern people ask for no injustice, no
inequality.
We are told that prompt admission of Kan
sas as State will end the agitation in Con
gress and localize il in Kansas" What is the
Kansas question? Is it local to Kansas! NO.
1t never eau be local again. 1t has pervaded
all places and all classes in our country. Let
Congress endorse this schedule Of legerdemain,
let the South insist on it, let the Northern De-
mocracy be required to consent to the Injustice
and the precedent becomes of universal applI-