Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-02
THE CABINET on THE KANSAS QUEs.
TION

WAsHrNsroN CRY, Dec 26. 1857.
uENILEHEN You invite Inc to be present
At the Democratic meeting to be held at Phila-
deiphis, on Monday evening next called for
The purpose of endorsing the Message of Presi-
dent Buchanan
have already endorsed it by implication as
one member of his Cabinet but [ cannot let
this occasion pass without publicly making
hnown my full free and cordial approval Of il,
How could 1, how could any true and old fash
poned Democrat, who had reared in the school
"i jackson and Polk, withhold his assent and
support to the great and leading doctrines Of
that message On the present revulsion of our
Commerce and the disordered condition of our
currency, with thc various causes which pro-
duced theB--on all the questions which relat-
ing to the disposal and management of our
fGeiic domain, as we'll as those affecting our
Intercourse with foreign nations, that message
out lnsplcates and enforces the same great doc
.fines aud principles, taught by those illus
trlous statesmen. On the absorbing topic If
AanSas affairs. what has the President said or
dcne which does not square precisely with the
organic act of that Territory, and especially
what he has said or done which does not square
with precise and perfect accuracy with the Gin
cInnatl platform History with its iron pen
VIII record-it has already recorded-the fact
'hat rot single instruction has been given
rot single letter has been written bv the
freS'dent, or by his direction, that does nut
perfectly harmOnise with the principles of that
a,lattor,n, That platform is the very embod-
snent of the Democratic creed on the subject of
slsvery, not only in Kansas but in all the other
Territories of the United States 1t was adopt-
ell Tor the express purpose of putting an end
forever To subject which had on several occa-
elons made the Union 10 reel and stagCer like
falling man. When adopted, i. became, and
1cT all time to come will continue to be- the
test and tOuchstone of Democratic loyalty No
man could then have been nomiuated-no man
can ever be nominated for the Presidency who
Will not cordially, and without reservation ac-
knowledge that creed. 1t declares that We
recognize = the right of the people of all Ter
rItorieS, including Kansas and Nebraska act
Ing through the fairly expressed will of the
majority Of actual residents whenever the
number of inhabitants justifes it. to form a
Constitution with or without domestic" slavery
anu De Admitted into the Union on terms of
perfect equality with the other States
These are the identical words of the Cincin-
natl plattorm-the last revised. corrected and
improved edition" of the Democratic creed
Has the President in his message-in his in
strucuons, or In any way departed from it!
The creed declares that ths peopIe of Kansas
and Nebraska have the right &c Well. who
called for d Convention TIE people of Kan
saS through their own Legislature Who voted
under the law on the question whether il
should be called or not? The peoyie of Kan
sas, without one word of opposition by Con.
Sress. Who voted for members of the Conysn
ton when 1T was called? The peoDle Of Kansas.
no are to vote on the Gnal question whether
hansas Is 10 have Constitution with or with
out slavery, in the very language of our plat
form Ihe Peop> Of haHseS Thus il an
pears that the foundation Of every movement
IN Kansas has been the popular will Nov
what has the President said or done in his mes
sage or anywhere else, TO cleaye down this de-
clared night Of Tire psople, What has he
zone why, what has be not done to uphold
ana MAINTAIN IT. lie sent the army of the
& -,
10 secure at every stage of their proceedings
the freest expression of the popular will
But the platform at Cincinnati declares that
the duesu0n oi S|"rfTy shall be decided by the
People Vi hahsaS- III said not word how the
other domestic questions should be decided or
when No body had ever doubted or questioned
the rlght OF the people Of that Territory To de-
eide the relations OF husband and wife guar
dian and ward, &c, in their own way and ac
e0rdlhs 10 their own good will and pleasure.
IRE 0"fP matter iH dispute has been about
the question of admitting or excludino 49,,
IRON the terrltOries-abOut nothing else and
any man VINO now attempts to coninre up any
2'her point Of Controversy between the Black
hepuoiican and Democratic party in relation
20 the territories, hazards the los. NJ cverv
n 'o fairness and accuracy Of argument.
"eU, has the President said or done anvtbino
70 aorldge or impair the right of the people to
settle this precise question Of Slavery So far
from NJ, s9 soon az II was known that the Con-
he Il of hp
Psesent month Tor Its settlement he despatch.d
messengers with all possible speed. hearing or.
ders 10 tne proper officers TO protect and defend
the bona hde Inhabitants Of Kansas in the freest
and fullest exercise Of their rights at the bal
IOt-bOxes
put the most frequent objection taken 10 the
action of the President ON this Kan.as .pb;act
mas oeen that he has sustained the existing
Territorial government of Kansas and the le
saIy Oh Its recent Convention, whereas u
n0loT,fy OF the people are in fact opposed To
both, and 70 the recognition of neither i. spv
form or shape whatever In the Iiobt of rea.
rOn and truth, and Of the Cincinnati platform.
iet US try the action OF the President on this
'oJeclon The platform declares that the
question "t slavery mo other is to be decided
Oy tne people acting through The fairly ex-
pressed will OF a majority &c majority ot
whom Why, Of those rotiRy not those who
M not or will not come forward and vote at
all, and whose numbers there are no mean. Of
determining. II they have an opportunity to
vote and VIII not ii Governors and Secreta-
res, and Generals and soldiers are sent there
oy the President 10 guard and protect them in
voting and yet they will not, who il to blame
IL tney take no concern in voting is il not
proof that they are willing to abide by the re-
suit produced by those who do vote If thew
stay away and refuse 10 vote because they
VIII not recognize the validity Of that action
they will not yield obedience to the laws Of
fne Legislature created and authorized by the
organic act, or because they will not recognise
Ia any form or shape the legality Of the late
Convention, IN any or all of these cases what
are they but faetious and rebellious citizens.
who decline the performance Of every reason
able social duty, and stand out in omen def
ance to Congress, TO their own legislation and
the Democratic party to advance and exalt
them to perfect equality in all their rights
20 the people of the other States of the Union.
How else are the President and Vice Presi
dent OF the United States electe than by
majority of the votes cas-, in the eIec,io,
How absurd would it be for citizens nf the
United States 10 contend that they were not
lawfully the President and Vice President
because they had not been voted for bya ma
Jority Of all the citizens Of the Unitei States.
What member Of Congress member Of a
State Legislature, could retain HIS seat if he
Lad zhoux tIl.t In