Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-19

Walker and Wise will cost him his neck. The
renowned Brigham Young claims the rights of
sovereignty as belonging inherently to the in
habitants of Utah; and the chances are that for
carrying his theory into practice Brigham will
hang.
The position Of Governor Wise on the subject
Is not more strange and deplorable in public
point of view than it is inconsistent with his
own previously declared opinions lie de-
nounces the Lecompton schedule as fraud upon
the sovereigns of Kansas, from the fact of its
having failed to submit the whole Constitution
to the voters of the Territory; although he
himself had, in letter of November 10th last,
declared that it was optional with the Lecomp-
ton Convention to submit the instrument or
not. We quote from his letter of that date:
90 But, if upon precedent, the Convention of
Kansas adopts republican form Of government
and reports it to Congress, Without submitting
IL 10 the people, agree Nth Mr.. Hunter in ac-
eePting IL and roting TO reeeire Kansas as State
Stare or frse-into the Union. And WHY, Be-
cause, first, of precedent; and secondly, whether
il be accepted re- ected. il has to be submitted
is rejected at last in either event. to the popu.
lar will. If a majority do not approve of the
constitution, they may organize another Conven-
ton immediately, and adopt any republican form,
u Ill
at all to Congress-
Such was Governor Wise's opinion in No
vember and it not only shows that the action
of the Lecompton Constitution, which he now
dcnOunces as a fraud, had his previous sane
ton but in it he states the conclusive reasons
why the action, if taken, could not effect q
fraud.
Contrast these sound and conservative utter
ances of Governor Wise on the 18th of Novem-
Der with the following expressions Of Decem-
Der 3Oth. We quote from his Tammany letter:
That ILecomptonl Convention was, de Jure,
Legitimate. IL formed a constitution, and had a
right to form it. That was its function, and
there its power ended, except tn submit it, as
proposed organic law, to the fair and free cleo
tion OF the sovereign people, to b adopted to
be rejected by them. They, in their organized
being of legal voters, are alone sovereign The
entire constitution Ough to have been submitted
to their lawful voices at the polls.
- The POUsr Uds NOT delegated to the COnrsn-
fIOn 10 proclaim and establish a State n,,itu-
ton; it had to be approved by Congress, and
much more hat IL TO he approved by the sOrsrsign
principals for whom the mere nge"t-'he Conren-
an instrument of this dignity, that republican
government itself, was not to be submitted, in
| its form and plan proposed to the only lawful
Sovereigns, the organized peOple?'
There was 4 usurpation-a withholding from
them of a fair, free, full, and equal election to
choose or not to choose their own constitution of
sef-gOvernment" \ "This was but the
unveiled treachery and shameless fraud Of a 40
called schedule
But the Lecompton Convention did not abso-
lutely withhold the Constitution from the peo-
pie, as Governor Use had conceded it the right
to do in advance, but submitted the very gist
and pith of controversy-thes slavery question
to popular vote Nay, this clause was not only
submitted. but was carried by legal and con-
stitutional affirmative vote. The question of
accepting the action of the Convention, has
thus become more than one of formal propre-
ty-has become a question of Congressional
fair dealing with the South
The whole Kansas issue is thus resolved into
the question whether the admission of Kan
sas under the Lecompton Constitution shall be
refused by Congress because the instrument
embodies slavery-a slavery clause merely in
the letter. although, in fact it is notorious that
the clause can be voted out by the new State
If it sees fit to do So, in the first month
after admission. 1t is a question simply of
| honor and principle with the South. and not Of
any substantial advantage. True Messrs
Walker, Douglas and Wise, attempt to elude
this issue by trying to create another based on
the fiction Unpopular sovereignty in territory
hut the issue before the country between the
Republican party and the Democracy is solely
whether Kansas shall he denied admission ON
account Of slavery in the letter Of her consti-
tuition.
Thus the Kansas question has assumed pre-
cisely the form indicated by Mr. Hunter in one
of his recent Virginia letters. when, abiding to
the LecOmpton Convention, he said
II Will not conclude, however, without ven
turing the pred that if any serious atirIupt
should be made in Congress to reject the appli-
cation OF Kansas for admission i state into the
| mon, because the convention did not submit
the constitution for farther ratification by the
people II will only occur in the event of the adop
ton OF Il slavery organic law. Is Nirm LIMA
then, prepared to reject the application of sister
slave state to be received into the Union merely
because its convention has exercised its undoubt
I'd powers in the same way with MANY other States
which have acted similarly, without prejudice to
their claims for admission into the ConfcdeTacy1
do not doubt ii for a moment
notwithstanding Mr.. Hunters incredulity.
Governor Wise has put himself in position,
if not intentionally and literally such as Mr.
Hunter protested against yet, wherein all bis
personal, political and official influence enures
to the benefit Of the party opposing the admis-
N,
on account of the slavery clause We rejoice
to see that the Virginia Legislature, without a
dissenting voice, has relieved that great com
monwealth from the imrutation of occupying
a position, antagonistic to the whole South,
antagonistic to the national democracy, antag.
onistic to the Administration
The SS1 900 CAsE.-Really, it is likely to
appear to the uninitiated at distance, that the
House will have little opportunity to accom-
plish aught this winter but the vindication of
| its own honor Its numerous select committees
to investigate charges of corruption must look
to them as if the great task of the National
Legislature at present is to keep itself and
those employed by it, straight. We are quite
sceptical to the wisdom of so much fuss over
irresponsible allegations, as nearly all of them
are that are being investigated The last com
mittee raised seems to us to have been pre-