The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-02-04

nonintervenfion recognised and sanctioned by the
organic act, which declares In express language il
favor Of 'non-interrention by Congress with slave
~ In the States OF Territories" leaving ssthe peo
pie thereof perfectly free to form and regulate
their domestic institutions 10 their own way, sub
jeet only to the constitution OF the United States
| In this manner, by localizing the question oil
| slavery, and eonfHing it to the people whom II
Immediately concerned, every patriot anxiously
expected that this question would be banshei
from the halls of Congress, where il has always
exerted a baleful influence throughout the whole
country.s
1t is proper that / should briefly refer to the
election held under act OF the territorial legis
lature, on the first Monday of January last, the
Leeompton constitution. The election was held
after the Territory had been prepared for admis-
SION into the Union as sovereign State, and when
no authority existed in the territorial legislature
which could possibly destroy its existence or
change Its character. The election, which was
peaceably conducted under my instructions, in
soiyed strange Inconsistency. large majority
OF the persons who voted against the Lecomptop
constitution, were at the very same time aud place
recognising its valid existence In the most solemn
ana authentic manner, by voting under its pre-
Visions. have yet received no official informa-
tlon OF the result Of this election.
As a question of expediency after. tho right has
been maintained it may be wise to reflect upon
the benefits TO Kansas and to the whole country
which would result from its immediate admission
INTO the Union, as we'll as the disasters which may
happy consequence of its admission and that fine
Territory, which has hitherto been torn by dissen
sions, VIII rapidly increase iu population and
wealth, and speedily realize the blessings and CON-
forts which follow in the train of agricultural and
mechanical industry. The people will then be So
yerelgn, and can regulate their affairs in their
own way If u majority of them desire 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. The will Of
the majority is supreme and irresistible, when ex-
pressed in an orderly and lawful manner. They
can make and uumake constitutions at pleasure
IT would be absurd to say that they can impose
letters upon their own power which they cannot
afterwards remove. If they could do this, they
might tie their own hands for a hundred as
we'll as for ten years. These are fundamental prin
cIples OF American freedom, aud are recognised,
believe, in some form other. by every State con-
stitution; and il Congress in the act of admission
should think proper to recognise them. can per
celye no objection to such course. This has been
done emphatically in the constitution Of Kansas
1t declares in the bill OF rights that .salI political
power is inherent in the people, and all free 60
vernments are founded on their authority and ia
stituted for their benefit, and therefore they have
at all times an inaienable and indefeasible right
to alter, reform or abolish their form of govern
ment in such manner as they may think proper"
The great state of New York is at this moment
governed under constitution, framed aud esta-
biished IN direct opposition to the mode prescribed
by the previous constitution. If, therefore, the
IL,
the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty
four, could by possibility be construed into pro-
hibition to make such n change previous to that
period, this prohibition would be wholly unavaii
Ing. The legislature, already elected. NAV at its
very first session, submit the question to vote of
the people, whether they will or will not have n
convention 10 amend their constitution, and adopt
All necessary means for giving effect to the popu.
lar will.
1t has been solemuly adjudged by the highest
Judicial tribunal known to our laws that slavery
exists in Kansas by virtue of the constitution of
the United States Kansas is, therefore at this mo-
ment as much slave State as Georgia South
Carolina. without this the equality of the soyer-
eign states composing the Union would he viola
ted, and the use and enjoyment Of territory ac
quired by the common treasure of all the States,
would be closed against the people and the proper
ty Of nearly half the members of the coufederacy
Slavery can therefore never be pr.hibited in Kan
sas except by means of a constitutional provision
and in no other manner can this be obtained SO
promptly, If majority of the people desire it, as
by admitting it into the Union under its present
constitution.
On the other hand should Congress reject the
constitution. under the idea of affording the disaf
fected in Kansas a third opportunity of prohibit
ing slavery IN the State, which they might have
done twice before if in the majority, no man can
foretel the consequences.
If Congress, for the sake of those men who re-
fused to vote for delegates to the convention when
they might have excluded slavery from the consti-
2lst December last when they might as they
claim, have stricken slavery from the constitution
should now reject the State because slavery re-
mains in the constitution it is manifest that the
agitation upon this dangerous subject will be re-
newed in a more alarming form than it has ever
yet assumed.
Every patriot in the country had INDUCED the
hope that the Kansas and Nebraska act would put
hnai END to the slavery agitation at least in Con-
gress, which had for more than twenty years con-
vulsed the country and endangered the Union-
This act involved great and fundamental princi-
pies and if fairly carried into effect will settle the
question. Should the agitation be again revived,
should the people of the sister States be again
estranged from each other with more than their
former bitterness, this will arise from cause. SO
far as the interests of Kansas are concerned more
trilling and Insignificant than has ever stirred the
elements of n great people into commotinn. To
the people of Kansas, the only practical dilferent
between admission rejection, depends simply
upon the fact whether they can themselves more
speedily change the present constitution if 10 does
not accord with the will of the majority, frame
second constitution To be submitted to Congress
hereafter Even il this were a question of mere
expediency, aud not of right, the small difference
of time, one way or the other, ia of not the least
Importance, when cOntrasted with the evils which
must necessarily result to the whole country from
a revival of the slavery agitation.
In considering this question. it should peyer be
forgotten that, in proportion to its insigaifcance
let the decision be what it may, so far as il NAV
AFFECT the Iew Thousand inhabitants OF Kansas who
have from the beginning resisted the constitution
and tue laws, for this very reason the rejection OF
the constitution will be so much the more keenly
felt by the people of fourteen of the States of this
Union, where slavery is recognized under the Con-
stitution of the United States.
Again: The speedy admission of Kansas into the
Union would restore peace and quiet to the whole
country. Already the affairs of this Territory
have engrossed an undue proportion of public at
tention They have sadly affected the friendly re-
latons of the people of the States with each other
aud alarmed the fears Of patriots for the safety of
the Union. Kansas once admitted into the Union,
the excitement becomes localized, and will soon
die away for want of outside aii,nent. Then every
difficulty will be settled at the ballot box.
Besides--and this is trifling consderation-I
shall then be enabled to withdraw the troops OF
the United States from Kansas, and employ them
on branches Of service where they are much need
ed. They have been kept there, on the earnest
importantly of Governor Walker, to maintain the
existence of the territorial government and secure
the execution of the laws. lie considered that at
least two thousand regular troops, under the com
mand of General Harney, we're necessary for this
purpose Acting upon his reliable information,
have been Obliged, in some degree, to interfere
with the expedition to Utah, in order to keep down
rebellion in Kansas This has involved very
heavy expense to the government. Kansas once
admitted, it is believed there will longer be
any occasion there for troops of the United States
have thus performed my duty on this import
ant question, under deep sense of responsibility
to God and my country. My public life will termi-
nate within a brief period; and | have no other
object Of earthly ambition than to leave my cOuD-
try in peaceful and prosperous condition, aud TO
live jn the affections and respect Of my country
men, The dark aud ominous clouds which now
appear to be impending over the Union, con-
scientiously believe may be disspased with honor
to every portion of it, by the admission of Kansas
during the present session Of Congress; whereas,
if she should be rejected, greatly fear these
clouds will become darker and more ominous than
any which have ever yet Threatened the Constitu-
tion and the Union. JAMES BUCHANAN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. ., 1855
THR CHRISTIAN POPULATION or CALcUTTA.--Of the
125O0 Christian population Of Calcutta, $500 are
Europeans, 5000 are EurasiaDs or Anglo Indians