Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-07-29
The Issues Before the People.


Since the failure of the Lecompton
scheme, and its seeming abandonment
by considerable portion of the democ-
racy, something of a calm seems to per-
wade the country. Scarcely four months
ago, the democracy were urging upon
Congress the admission of Kansas UNI
der the Lecompton Constitution, and
the democratic presses were everywhere
exuitant over the prospect of such con
summation. The administration was
urging on the measure backed up by
the power and patronage Of the govern
ment. Now, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS very
generally to be given up, and many who
once professed to have regarded it with
great favor, seem now to discover it to
have been an iniquitous project to de-
fraud the people of their just rights. The
apparent Indifference which now pre-
walls in respect to this late exciting is
sue, may mislead to the conclusion that
the danger passed. Let none suppose
the enemy is vanquished. Simply for
the time being he is submissive.
The truth is, the Lecompton iniquity
did not grow up in night, but was on
ly part of a series Of measures deliber-
ately planned, and although checked in
one aspect, will manifest itself in other
directions, with determined purposes
This whole Kansas affair was projected
before the repeal Of the Missouri Com
promise, and was part of the pro-
gramme of the. projectors of that repeal.
The men who pressed with every ener-
gy the enforcement of Slavery III Kan
sas, are still in power in every branch
of the governments. If the next Con-
gress is equally plant as the past one,
the annexation of Cuba, or the acquisi-
ton of other territory for the spread of
Slavery will be quite sureto be develop
ed as a prominent measure of the admin
istration. The power ofthe peculiar in
stitution, which has so long engaged q
controlling influence in the councils of
the nation, although defeated of its pur-
poses in Kansas, will yet make despe-
rate struggles to gain dominion in 9th
err quarters. Never until the election OF
a Congress, or President infexibly
committed against the extension of Sla-
very, will all danger of that overshad-
owing evil be removed.
The election Of President is yet dis
tant, but the election of Congress is
close at hand. The character of the
next House Of Representatives will es-
sentially settle the question for freedom
or slavery; from the President and the
Senate, the cause of freedom has moth
ing to hope. And is it possible that
with the now we'll understood policy of
Buchanan, the people will elect House
to be composed of men in political sym
pathy with him, or who even nominal
ly give in their adhesion to his admins
tration? After the experience of Lee
compton yet fresh in. the public mind,
and the strong affiliations Of the admin
iStration with the slave-holding propa-
gandists of the South, will the country
arm Mr.. Buchanan with prolonged pow
ers of mischief, by giving him a House
of the same political cast with the Sem
ate. The future schemes of ambition
and conquest of the Slavery extension
lists, is doubtless awaiting the result of
the next Congressional elections, before
being developed. 1t is evident that ev-
cry possible appliance of money and po-
litical patronage, is to be employed to
secure democratic ascendancy in the
next House of Representatives.
In view of the vital interests involv.
ed the coming congressional election,
vii. not every Republican, see the ne
cessity for vigilant and determined ac-
ton. The cause of freedom has been
nobly vindicated by the Republicans of
the North during the past few years,
but the victory which is to give it q per-
manent ascendency and remove the dan
gers which threaten our free institutions
has not yet been completed. What ben
efts do the democracy propose to con-
fer upon the country by the election Of
a Democratic Congress? Simply, to
throw the power of the government in
to the hands of the President and the
slaveholding interest of the South. Let
the history of the past Congress suffice
on this point. Thepower of the modern
democracy is represented by the States
South of Mason and Dixon's Line; this
power aided by its northern democratic
allies, is enabled to large extent, to
control the pohcycf the country. When
therefore, the freemen of Wisconsin are
asked to aid the democracy, they are
simply invited to throw themselves in
to the arms of the slaye-holding South.
On all the prominent measures of pub
lie policy, the administration democra-
cy Of the north boast of being unit