The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1858-01-06
From the Washington "States."
The Presideat and sir, Douglas,


sat srf I" ~~> -
It is well lu.poli,ics as in navigation 10
take observations, and determine lati,udss
and ongiludss. II is no, easy to say where
we are going without knowing where we
are. The difference which EXISTS between
the political reckoniugs Of the President and
MI. Senator Douglas ought surely to be fully
examined. They start from The same point,
and have common destination. They are
both identified with the same great party, and
there is at least a strong presumption that
they are equally interested in ils preserve
lion and lriumphs in the future. The facts
60 far to render il possible that any differen-
ces of opinion which may exist between them
touching the reception and treatment of The
Lecomplon constitution may be- removed. At
all events, il is The obvious duty of the lead.
ing men symyalhizing with either eide TO
comprehend the exact nature of the case,
and to remove all possible exlrsneous caus-
es which may exist, tending 10 widen the
breach
How, then, does Judge Douglas differ from
the President! They concur iG the rrinci-
pie that the majority should rule. They
equally endorse the policy OF submitting State
constitutions 10 the people for ratification or
rejection. They regard tue Terrlorisl Gov.
eminent of Kansas as legal government
They concede that the Territorial Legislature
was fully authorized and empowered to call
into existence the Lecompton convention,
and, OF course, that that convention legally,
i! not numerically, represented the people Of
the Territory. They do not essentially differ
upon The facts connected with the notion Of
the peoI!e in ceiling and elecing that con-
venon. They both understand that there
was and is now in the Territory strong par.
ty, possibly embracing majority OF the pso-
pie, who have sought 10 defeat all efforts 10
orga-izc State system through iha agency
Of the Ttiriioiia, authorities Up to this
point there IS no essential divergence OF opin.
guisbed Senator and it musi be confessed
that inasmuch as they agree substantially
upon basis SO broad, there ought 10 be
strong hopes that they may yet come to.
gelher.
The Lecompton constitution having been
framed by duly athorized and organized
conveWruu, anu uasIuS ue'ernnrsu oISou sss~-
ssbmission OF tho slavery question toihe peo.
pie, Mr.. Buchanan, who is officially identi-
fled with the Territorial Governmeni--sand-
ing in legal contsm plalon al its head-felt it
his duty, without submitting 10 Congress any
special recommendation in connection there
with, 10 say that in his Judgment the consti-
tuition just framed had received all the legal
sanction required to render il valid judg.
ment Of the people, in their movement TO-
wards the establishment of State govern
ment. It i, exceedingly difficult 10 under
stand how he could have said less, and how,
in what he did say, he can be condemned by
any candid man who regards, as he does, the
success of The party as primary object Of
government in this country. He had EN-.
ployed large force Of the army 10 MAINTAIN
the Territorial laws he had instructed Fed.
eral officers TO protect the people at each re-
curing election; be had crippled the Utah
expedition, that The constituted authorities in
lbe Territory might be able, fully and Impair
TALLY, 10 enforce the existing system of which
We repeat, he has the head. Was II expected
that he would slul,ify himself by rebeIIious
opposition 10 the laws he bad labored so zeal
ously to maintainl Was he to disregard and
trample under foot constitution framed by
convention, the delegates 10 which were elec.
ted under fair law emenaliDg from lhe peo-
Pile al general election, which was the sub.
ject Of direct sanction by his Adminislra lion,
and by the whole Democratic party of the
counuys What excuse could he have OF.
fered for insisting upon fair vote Ct The peo-
pie in June, bad he denied the legality of
that election after The delegates had perform
ed their work? The least he could do was
10 express his opinion that the constitution
which had been framed was the work of
legally constituted convention, and binding as
such upon the people of Kansas.
Judge Douglas, taking substantially the
same general yiow Of the case, arrives at
widely different conclusion His position, If
we understand ii, is this that the people OF
the Territory derive their fower to organize
a Slate COVE rament from Congress-; that al
though the Territorial system was perfectly
legal for all mere local purposes, it possessed
no authority without an enabling act from
Congress to organize Stats'government. 1t
is easy 10 see ftom this position that Judge
Douglas appeals TO the terms of the Kansas.
Nebraska act of 1854, as obligatory and bind
ing upon the people of that Territory TO the
extent that Congress undertook, in ths. act,
10 direct them 10 what manner they might
establish State constitution. 10 this view OF
the relations subsisting between The Federal
and Territorial authorities, Judge Douglas in.
ssts by the terms of the last mentioned act
The Lecompton Convention was bound 10 re-
fer 10 the people any organic law they might
frame preparatory 10 their admission into the
Union as q Sta,e---lhat such was the letter
and Spirit Of the Legislation Of 1854, such the
intention of Congress and The country. five