Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-02-12


the members Of the confederacy. Slavery
can, therefore, never be prohibited in Kan
sas, except by means of a constitutional
provision. and in no other manner can this
be obtained so promptly, if a majority OF The
people desire it, as By admitting it into the
Union under its present constitution
On the other hand, should Congress re-
ject tf@ constitution, uader The idea Of
afordine the dissFectei in Kansas a third
opportunity OF prohibiting slavery in tie
State, which they might have done twice
before if in the m%ajority, DO man can tore
tell the consequences.
If Congress, for the sake of those men
who refused to vote for delegates 10 the
convention ~ben they might have excluded
slavery from tire constitution, and who
afterwards refused to vote on the 2lst De-
cemher las', WHEN they might, as they
claim, Lave stricken slavery from the CON
siitu.ion, should now reject the State be-
cause slavery remains in the constitution, 1t
is manifest thar the agitation upon this dan
qerous subject will be renewed IN a more
alarming form ,aaa il has ever yet
assumed.
Every patriot in the country had INDUCED
the hope that the Kansas and Nebraska act
would pot a final end TO the slavery agita-
ton. ~ least in Congress, which had for
4Dore than twenty years CONFUSED the
country and endangered the Union. THIS
act involves great and fundamental prtncI-
pies, and if fairly carried into effect, VIII
settle the question. Should the agitation
be again revived, could the people OF the
sister States be again estranged from eacii
other with more than their former bitterness,
this wiIl arise from u cause, SO Tor as tile
interests OF Kansas are concerned, more
tfifiing and insignificant than has ever
stirred the elements Of q great people into
eelnuao ton To the people of Kansas, the
only practical difference between admission
or REJECTION depends simply upon the fact
whether they can themselves more speedily
change the present constiiu ion if it does
not accord with the will of the majority. or
frame a second constitution to be Submitted
to Congress hereafter. Even If this were q
question uf mere expediency, and not OF
right, this small difference Of time. one way
or the other, is not of the least importance,
when contrasted with the evils which must
necessarily result to the whole country from
u revival OF thu slavery agitation.
In considering this question, it should
never be forgotten that, in proportion to its
insighifcance, let the decision be VIVA; il
msy, So far as it may affect the few thousand
Inhabitants of Kansas who have from the
beginning resisted the constitution and the
laws, for this very reason the rejection OF
the constitution will b. so much the more
keeDly felt by the people OF fourteen of the
States of this Union where slavery is recog-
nized Under the constitution OF the United
Sta.es.
Again: The speedy admission of Kansas
into tho Union would restore peace and
quiet to the Whole country. Already the
affairs of this territory have engrossed an
undue proportion of public attention. They
have sadly affected the friendly relations OF
the people Of the States with each other
and alarmed The fears of patriots for the
safety OF the Union. Kansas once admitted
into the Union, the excitement becomes
localized, and will soon die away for want
OF outside alitnent. Then every difficulty
will be settled at the ballot-box.
Bssides-and this is no trifing considera-
toni shall then be enabled TO withdraw
the troops of the United States from Kansas
aid employ them on branches of service
where they are much needed. They have
been kept there on the earnest Importantly
of Gov. Walker.t to maintain the existence
of the territorial government and secure the
execution Of the laws. He considered thai
at the least Two thousand regular troops un'
der the command of General Harvey, were
necessary for this purpoae. Acting upon
his reliable information I have been obliged
in some degree, TO i~ntefere with the expedi-
ti0n to Utah in order to keep down rebellion
in Kansas. This has involved a very heavy
expense 10 the government. Kansas once
admitted, il is believed there will no longeT
be any occasion there for t roops Of the Uni
ted States.
Ihave thus performed my duty on this i'm
portant question, under a deep sense of re
sponsibility to God and my country. NJ.
public life will terminate within a brief peri
od;. and + have no other object of earthly
ambition than to leave my country in
peaceful and prosperous condition, and +
live in rae affections and respect of IN,
rountryniea. The dark and olninous cloud
which now appear to be impending over tn
Union / conscientiously believe may be dis
sipated, with honor to every portion Of i
by the admission of Kansas during the pres
ent session of Congress-; whereas if it shoul
be rejected, | greatly fear these clouds wi
become darker and more on.inous than an
which have euer yet threatened the cons,itu
tioa and the Onion.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
WASHINGTON, February Q, 1858.