The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-23
THE POLITICS OF THE DAY.
REMARKS OF HON. r. H. GILLET,
an CANTON,
On The 7h Of October, 1885,

lFrom tho Poisdam (H. " Courier and Journall
ooSoLupED.
MOTIVES TUE ADMINISTRATION ON THE KANSAS
The administration desirous of promoting the welfare
of Kansas, and securing the peace and harmony of the
country turned its attention to the subject in which both
Kansas and the whole Union deeply interested 1t
wished To put end 10 the controversies aud conflicts in
the Territory, and 10 relieve Congress and the country
from further agitation, which deeply injurious to
Kansas and productive OF nothing but evil everywhere.
What the Presidents duty under the existing cir
cunstances The convention had been legally called
the election of delegates had been regular and accord
with law. In framing the constitution the delegates
acted under responsibility to their constituents and
complaint heard of its PROVISIONS except those which
related to slavery and those had been submitted that
all could vote, and had not been rejected Tho mode
OF submission, though not wholly coniormnble to his
views nor such he would have advised was in vio-
lation of no law constitutional requirement 1t
the work of the people Of Kansas, who will
ling to act under the forms Of law, managing their
own affairs in their way through delegates of
their own selection. SO stood the official record
before him. On receiving this constitution under
such circumstances the President mindful of his
stutona duty and paying due respect to the wishes of
the people, who desired termination of controversy
that had long seriously obsructed the necessary business
of Congress and been fruitful of nothing but evil deem
ed it his duty to communicate it to Congress- with
recommendation TO make provision to admit Kansas
State the best mode of terminating all strife and
contention Ii her people really dissatisfied with
an thing in the constitution, her legislature known to
be largely republican, could authorize another
on and clote 1T with power to make such changes
were desired and all in her way Congress made
no attempt to force the Leoompton constitution upon
Kansas but simply provided for the admission upon the
condition that the constitution and certain provisions
corning the public lands should be submitted to the peo
Pile of Kansas for approval rejection The republicans
opposed this measure and for the professcd but strange
reason, that the former submission had not inelu-
ded the whole constitution but only the slavery part
but main bpcau heir had To vote
the former submission when they claimed the abili
ty to defeat it. majority OF both houses of Congress
determined that Kansas ought to be admitted, provided
her people would sanction the constitution which had
been presented and to certain conditions
ing the public domain within her limits and the Prcsi
dent approved this determination No effort made
force the constitution upon the people of Kansas,
did the President and his friends recommend desire
anything of the kind. Both he and they would have
resisted any such attempt with as much sincerity and
zeal as amy republican. What they desired to give
Kansas full and fair opportunity to act and accept
reject the constitution aud terms Of the proposed adm
sion The President had desire to extend slavery or
increase the number of slave States His State had abo
ised slavery long years ago. and he approved her action
and did not desire it changed The question of slavery
slavery he believed rested solely with the major-
y of the people of State under the powers reserved to
them in the federal constitution and that the consequent
ccs whether good bad must fall upon e and he had
power desire to interfere control He believed that
State had the constitutional right to control its
local aud domestic affairs in its way and that neither
he nor Congress had any power or authority to prevent
them. The action Of Congress submitted this, well
all other questions involved to the people of Kansas
WHAT REPUBLICANS ADVISED KANSAS.
When Congress provided for the submission Of the
question of admission to the people of Kansas the
publcans in and out Of Congress, advised them to reject
these and refuse to be admitted and doubtless
for the distinct purpose of making Kansas matters the
subject further agitation This proved by the fact
that they neglect consider and upon the garing
matters Of abuse and complaint at and near home while
they incrmcdde with those of that Territory Why
agiiae Kansas affairs The republicans have the legis-
lure there and all the elective offices in the counties
where they have the majority Their laws are it is
conceded legally and fairly administered Peace regns
within her borders The Legislature repeal objection
able laws If any exist and make such they deem best
Why not then, let Kansas attend to her affairs in
her way? The answer is obvious Unless further
agitation be secured there the lf-blood Of the
publican party will stagnate and curdo, and its death
must speedily follow. The prediction is hazirded that
the effort will be perseveringy made by that party
agitation upon the affairs of Kansas The rcpubli-
resolutions of Syracuse to have no other real
object in view But the effort will utterly fall unless
sufficient raised to induce the former brgands
to their work of plundcr, carnage and death
wHAL KANsAs CAN AND PROBABLY WILL DO If TO
II she chooses to resort TO them Kansas has the means
of coming into the Union sovereign and independent
make under which she manage her domestic affairs
she fit She has the power uuicr her organic act
and the Topeka held and the
lcans in Congress declared, to enact law authorizing
convention to form constitution She has also express
power to do under the present net called Englisls BILL
IL her population is sufficient to enttle her to member
of the House of Representatives which the republicans
allege that she has, she doubtless will have by
the time she can form and present constitution III the
organic act was not enabling law, though think it
clearly is, and is not repealed by the English bill this is
one and question her power to
act, if she chooses, and she do freely as any
State control her affairs II she wishes enjoy
the privileges and burdens of State government she has
only go through the usual forms bc entitled do So
and early she conform her constitution and pre-
sent herself Congress stands pledged by statute to admit
her without regard to the question OF slavery and neither
the President any democrat will dispute her right when
she presents herself in the usual way Ii Is understood
that the majority of her people prefer her being free
State which she has the right to be, il such is her wish
either when forming and presenting her constitution
ut any time thereafter And certainly there has been no
period, since her population deemed sufficient to
title her to admission when she could not thus have
been admitted if the republicans of her limits had
not intemcdded and prevented portion of her people
from expressing their wishes through the baotbox and
thus occisioned enbaassments and all of diff
cutics This outside interference has brought upon Kan
ss the evils and calanitics with which she has been
afflicted, and upon the country the agitation and excite
nent which has SO much disturbed public quiet and hap
pness If left to themselves the people OF Kansas will
form institutions to suit themselves and establish -four
sng State to be filed with useful and happy people
which all good citizens must earnestly desire If rcpub
can dcmagogres Interfere us they doubtless will and
their advice shall be followed, they will neither enjoy
peace quiet nor happiness at home, nor command res