The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1858-09-29

mission of Kansas into the Union, with the
principle of the Pugh amendment sincorpora-
ted, as the speediest and most equitable me.
thod of adjusting the question which had SO
long distracted the country. The southern
delegation almost unanimously adopted and
isfed that the ratification of the pro-slayery
constitution framed by the Lecompton conven-
ton, was all that the people OF the south asked
/ for or expected. 1t was known that the ap-
prevail of the constitution would be of no IN
/ trinsic value to the southern States, but IN It's
acceptance or rejection By congress was invoIV-
ed the private rights of the people of the south
and incidentally the question whether any new
State recognising the institution of slavery
should be admitted into the confederacy. 1t
is superfluous to inform our readers, that while
the southern delegation, taking this view of the
question, with great unanimity ardently sup
ported the executive, a large number Of demo-
Gratis and malcontents under the lead Of Dou
glas, coalesced with the black republicans, and
defeated both the Kansas bill and the Pugh
amendment-kiIled them. Subsequently, by
the cxertion of every conceivable means and
I the influence of the executive the Kansas bill,
with the English proyiso passed congress and
became the law of the land. Under that law,
few weeks ago the people of Kansas rejected
the pro slavery constitution of Lecompton, and
| thus refused to become State. According to
THE English proviso, Kansas cannot now be ad-
mtted into the Union until her population
reaches the number requisite to entItle State
to member of congress, and that must be sew
eral years hence; but the black republicans,
Douglas and otheropponents of the Lecompton
constitution, declare that the territory should be
erected into State at any time its citizens may
present a constitution (anti-slavery) fairly
| adopted. So at this time stands the Kansas
question. But the Washington Union, in its
capacity of "official organ to the president,
has drawn aside the curtain that has heretofore
surrounded the secrets of the cabinet, to dis
close new scene In the Kansas drama. The
Union, in its official character reproachcs the
abolitonsts for not adopting its suggestion as
'the speedest means of excluding slavery''-
is reminding the people Of the north that if the
| Lecompton constitution with the Pugh amend
ment had been accepted by congress at its last
session, Kansas would ere this time have rid
den herself Of 1.-THE curse of slavery, despite
the provision forbiddiBg any amendment of the
constitution in this respect prior to 1854. The
Union, in an article approaching the opposition
fanatics of the north for not embracing this ad-
ministraton scheme for "speedly" running
slavery out of Kansas, notwithstanding her pro-
slavery constitution, says:
ITO have come into the Union under the
Lecompton constitution would have been to
invest herself Immediately with the power to
abolish slayery-a power wh1ch ste does not noao
possess and aohich congress cannot exercise for
her,
1T is not fact that the admission of Kan
sas under the Lecompton constitution would
have resulted in favor of slavery there. Not
only was it impossible that this was the opera
ton of the bill, but it was as impossible thai this
could be the intention Of its authors.
1.-The know nothing council admit that the
majority of the people of Kansas were opposed
to slavery. They know that, theoretically, un-
der the bred Scott decision, slayery existed in
the territory, and that admission ints the Union
under the Lecompton constitution was the quick
est process By whch they could prohibit that rela-
ton in Kansas. That being admitted, the peo
pie had sovereign poecer at once TO change their
constitution, and thus give effect to their opin-
ions on the subject Of slavery. In other words,
the Lecompton constitution was presented to
congress early last winter. Had the State been
admitted, long ere this, she could have framed'
nee0 constitution, and been free State, de Jacto
ct de jure! The know nothings and republicans
were fully advised of these matters, opposed
admission, and thus preyentedkhe people Of Aan-
sos from making a free State constitution. They
did this, knowing all the while that under the
federal constitution slavery was permissible in
the territory"
So much for the official expose of the Wash
ington Union. Could supple knavery farther
60 than this mouth piece of national dcmocra
cy? Itplainly gives the American people to
understand that the president and his friends
its own Notwithstanding been playing game
of double faced deception. In the NORTH the
president special organ tells the restless ia
natics that the freesoilers defeated the admins
tration's Machavelian scheme for driving slave
ry out of Kansas; while here at the south, we
are nformed.by the office holders' organs that
all those who opposed the presidents plan for
the admission of Kansas are "base traitors to
the south, and The opponents of slavery! We
now, perhaps, have the true key to the procla-
nation made few days ago by senator Ham
mond, leading democrat of South Carolina,
to his constituents, wherein he graveIy informs
| them that the Kansas bill Twas delusion and
deception from the beginning that at was a
snare to those at the south. 1t was rotten aOith
fraud, and those who made it flinched from its
consequences. Its only effect was to add anoth-
er free State TO the Union" What a sad COM
mentary this acknowledgement is on the moral
conduct Of our leading politicians.