The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-20

election of delegates and in Decembcr by direct vote
on the naked question of slavery slavery. The
question was not whether the people should have right
10 decide or themselves whether they would have slavery
or not but il question OF whether having the OPP
portny 10 exercise it, and refusing 10 DO twice, they
were To be ndugcd in indefinite number of oppor-
tnnities on in other words whether those who refused
to vote should be counted The antsayery n'could
have elected feoSate delegates, they could have
voted do@a the slavery clann. How absurd II s, then
IN Mr. Douglas TO pretend that IL aquestion whether
the people should decide for against slavery They
had actually exercised that right. The Lccompton
yention conceded TO the people that right.
But still more amazed that Mr. Douglas should
speak OF the Criticnden Montgomery amendment "a
perfect exposition OF the doctrine of popular Sovereignty
OF all the phases assumed BY the Kansas mbrogo, this
to mind the most absurd reckless and danger
GUS Ii nothing short of proposition to delegate
the people Of Kansas only the right to make
State but 10 admit it into tho Union matter what its
character might be- II assumed that the Lccompton
constitution had not been fairly made and for that
il should be emanded back TO the people for their
sanction and in doing this il did present TO the PEG
pie tho darling right much talked about by Mr. Doug
las, OF determining whether they would have free
slave State The question would have been for slave
State or no State at ALL for slavery in the Iecompton
constitution and the vote would have been for against
the constitution But the alternative ncase of the
lection OF the Lccopton constitution the monstrou
part OF this proposition In that event. the people
authorized 70 de sssro elect Delegates hold u
convention, make constitution and State government
and put la operation and bring the State into the Union
noi roiss without bringing it before Congress at
all. The Lcconpton constitution to DO Icmanded be-
cause in the opinions Of the authors Of this proposition 1t
had not been fairly made and 1t proposed to permit
the people State and bring 1t into the Union
without such congressional supervision No matter that
it had been rocking with fraud corruption and usurpa-
ton, the State must como into the Union No matter
that 1t should be anrcpublican In its forms, it
come in. Inc PRESIDENT 1t IL true to issue proc
Ix,,tk hal,
seria Now if Mr. Douglas felt it his duty TO remand
the Leconpton constitution as of honor be-
1t fraud, how could he consent "a man Of
honor to permit the people to become State and
bring it into tho Union through amy measure of fraud
they might proper to practice? If he bound to
that tho 1ccompton constitution fairly made how
could he disregard that duty to any subsequently,
made The proposition is too absurd for discussion and
yet this is the measure which Mr. Douglas go ont Of
his way to commend In his anxiety to justify his
carries this question and to attcr his nongrc assoc
ates in the work of resisting the administration Had no
shown half the willingness to overlook whatever Of error
there may be in the English BILL he could have made il
acceptable to all his followers and tho party might have
united on it, Had he again shown much anxiety to
overlook whatever of error he may have in the poll
cy OF the administration as he has to latter ts vest
emcs and to commend their action he would have done
much more towards reconciliation Of former friends
We certainly have inclination to renew the contro-
versy with men Of our party about Kansas, and
heartily regret that the address Of Judge Douglas
not such to command our unqualified approval. Tho
question of admitting Kansas under the Lccompton
stuon has been disposed Of and the position of tho
party fixed by tho action of tho majority in Congress
and it is only necessary to entire harmony in the
future that those who preferred different should
acquescc in and sustain the adjustment that has been
made The responsibilities OF this policy must be met
and those who intend to remain Of tho party must be
willing to share in that work. There can he no halfway
ground. Those who are not for us against To
this point all must inevitably within brief period
The action Of the administration ON the Kansas imbrogo
viii be made the ground of special and violent hostility
to it and the party and men will have to take Sides II
there be men of our party who think 1t unworthy
of continued support because of its action this
question, they will have to leave us and go to the
enemy. This cannot prevent however much may
regret it, But submission to the decision Of tho
ority is indispensable to the organization and future
SUCCESS OF the party Without this can havo
harmony in our support of men principles. We do
not wish to democrats prescribed for the proper nd
vocacy of policy different from that adopted by tho nd
minstraon and the majority in Congress, long tho
question open one butt that it has been de-
cided those who peist in hostility to what has been
done evinoe disposition To rule ruin-to MD tho
common enemy and damage the democracy Those who
persist in this longer democrats in fact and
have claim the confidence and support of the party
AS for the nominees for office, far they willing
to acqucsce in the decision that has been had the
Kansas question: and TO sustain the party in Its contests
with the common enemy, we say they should have the
support of ALL though they may have preferred differ
cnt adjustment of the Kansas imbrogo. But there
class of men in different parts of the country claiming
to be democrats and asking democratic support who
constantly making open on tho administration and
the policy of the party Such not entitled
to democratic support any more than republicans.
They should be treated as Of tho enemy.
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