The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-15

Anple the popular will and msrepresent the of
the people He admits, OF the regularity Of the
convention and consequently the legitimacy Of the
stitution which il framed He contends however that
there wrong the refusal of the convention to sub
nit the whole constitution for the adoption rejection of
the people and cordially concur with him But
obliged at this stage of the controversy TO dissent
from his suggestion that Congress should make the ra
con of the Lecompton constitution by all the bona @
inhabitants the condition which Kansas shall be ad
Initted into the Union In the exercise OF its legal an
thorty the Convention, think stopped short of its
moral duty to the people whom il represented and
tacted rather than expanded the operation Of the great
fundamental principle on which government rests
when it determined TO refer only clause Of the oons
tuition 10 those for whom il framed But since that
committed, deem decidedly best not to seek
for the remedy In the Intervention of Congress This
opinion, which have expressed on more than
csion is induced by several reasons the chief of which
is, that the slavery provision, which cannot but
consider involving the original and paramount
matter in dispute hos b referred to the people and
acted on by them, and In an election which pre-
sumo Appropriated an accurate test OF the sense of
the people closely ~ 1t Is possible to arrive at it,
there in Kansas who refused to VOTE 1t Is their
fault alone and they must nationally and justly be pre-
sumed to acquesce in the result But have other
The administration is committed, think in fla
Of the admission of Kansas with the Lecompton
sttntion without any further legislation in relation to
it. very large majority Of democrats we believe,
North and South have taken the position And to
propose plan Of action now different from that upon
which the greater portion of the party have already uni
ted afordng the safest means for giving quetus to
the Kansas agitation, s think calculated to embar
the administration, and confound the democratic
party by conflicting counsels As rejecting tho individual
opinions of observing, bold and patriotic statesman
the governors views are well enough. But as i'm
bodyng suggestion to be adopted by the democratic
party and acted by Congress now, must say that
we consider his letter i'll timed and indiscreet The pin
cplc upon which he places himself IL not only impreg-
nable but its observance is the only guaranty of the
preservation of system OF government and the Sc
curty of the South, either in the Union out Of it.
But think that principle has been sufficiently rcaf
rned and enforced In the present instance by the sub
mission of the slavery clause OF the constitution to the
people since, have said that to to be the
only point which popular sovereignty is disputed even
by the black republican party.
We agree with Governor Wise that the people of Kan
should have been allowed to pronounce, either in APP
prevail condemnation upon every provision of the
ganic law. But think the time has passed for that
opinion to be persisted in for the attainment of the
just and honorable end at which it aims The convention
committed the wrong. And it is too late to repair it.
otherwise than by the speedy admission Of Kansas with
the Lecompton constitution that the exciting ques-
ton may be withdrawn, soon as possible, from Con-
gress and confined within the limits Of sovereign State
Moreover if it is denied that the vote in favor Of the
adoption of the slavery clause represents the wishes of
majority of the people, 1t must be, of course, the
ground that the majority at least enough to have
made majority, refused to go to the polls II that be
rueand have little doubt of tit Is but reasonable
to suppose that the result would be consequent
upon the submission Oh inc whoie consuoh iof when
men reiuse 10 Voe upon INA. qucSuol, IA winch .'ey are
perhaps, more heoAtciy n'eiessu' anu certainty Oh
winch uaey are more eAc'ted snap any o.nef nardly
70 pe eAPec'ed 'hS' hcy "ou vo'o On sose WHICH 'ney
may consloer secondary ana Oh character
Hence we hoia ,na' even 'hs "noe o. Tue Lecoihp'oh
'u oo, W o4ou -, W .''o poo
Ple We a.o Jtn" ~ 'Is u"' NY isaa. "o w.
ave YET, " M ~" ,s ~, s. Ia, ~ "n "a'
ny. .. =, W az ~, -. , :. ~ -
ee'on - 49, nv. =, 'no 49,. Eoa
are s no. ~ .n ~ a o'ne
',"a 'a =. ,. my $1,000 ~ may
that is not in accordance with their own political code
An opportunity was afforded them to vote against the es-
adjustment of slavery az well as to those in favor of it
to vote for II and If they refused to participate in the
election then we have no reason to believe that thew
would not do 10 again That it would have been in
closer conformity to the true enets of republican faith to
the policy and principles of the democratic party and to
elevated standard Of fairness, equality, and justice, for
the whole constitution to have been referred for the t
cation or rejection OF all the legal voters OF hsas we
still steadily maintain But we cannot concur wfth Gov
Wise under exisng circumstances tnat congress ought
10 impose popular fathcatoh upon he hecomptoh consul
ways characterized the governor, and endearcd him to
the people defender Of their rights and applaud
the manliness and earnestness and ability and co-
. ,,;aL ~, ~,,sru, ia r;,o,,le o,d co,to,,,s
qnence WIN "sh hs eAinssS we piGpie anu ooh'cuS
for its fullest enforcement IN Kansas But we diner from
him as to the expcdency at this time Of the he
a,,nn;t whole constitution TIA ooo
euSseo'e. ~ ~, e i !. , S.s ~ ~. ~ -
Pic'now wouiu ~ seco.u supniosio VI Iae sAsvoiy