The Washington union., 1858-03-20
LETTER FROM THE HON ASA BIGGs TO THS'
BALTINlkE MASS MEETING
SENATE CnAmEB,
Washington. March 3. Isl

cannot conveniently attend the ma.
meeting IN Baltimore, TO which kindly invited 4
yours Of 26th ult
The object OF the meeting cordially approve presil
Buchanan 10 my opinion. should not only be pubcyas
proved but he deserves the affection OF the people =
his bold and patriotic position in the face of an n,
eiped opposition and the detection of some demo,,.t
from whom be had reason to expect better things
candidIy confess that the state of affairs in K,n.
for the last three years has not given very exs,i
opinion of the character Of that people for an eoipbt
ed selfgoyemment but they partake of the charac,e
tics generally Of border population, Who drawn 4
gether 10y speculaiipg mans nna desire and expect
ton to make themselves speedily rch not yery s
pulous about the forms 0f law.
But what have We In the Lecompton constitution unl
which us plopored by ~ President to admit Kansas L
1t is deitstica eapaattag from legal authority and
in its afdPton all the Apsy forms Of law to ascertain
the peoples will iisse k@ observed 1t Is no doua
true that there have been fraud VIOLENCE and great ira
ularikes In the action of ali parties in Kansas and uo
pose - is charged. there fraud al tllo Delaw,n
Crossing othes precincts, yet il cannot bc denied tha
deducting this and all other fraudulent votes as u
ought TO be, with the emphatic condeanaon aud A.
nuncation of all honest men, still there is an owe,
wllelming .yal majority of the people OF Kansas yotn,
for delegates and approving the constitution IT, hon.
ever il he admitted that majority o the people In N,
Territory refused to vote, then 10 make that excus
for refusing admission, is to encourage dcon aud rcs
lion against lawful authority
IL may he seriously questioned whether do not mai.
dangerous precedent in admitting State with such
small population but upon the whole il is evident
my mind TINT the contest Is one between law am
order and faction aud rebellion between peace aud ee
t,ton between the supporters Of tho constitution and
constitutional rights Of all the States and toee ispS
to stir up civil strife and test the strength Of the po
for political aims and ends And in the language Of ,hs
President believe that the speedy admission Of Kan
into the Union would restore peaco and quiet ts
whole country Already the Affairs Of this Territory have
engrosscd undue proportion of public attention They
have sadly affected the friendly relations Of the people s
States with each other. and alarmed the nrs of pats
Tor the safety Of the Union. Kansas once admitted into
the Union, the excitement becomes localized, and will
soon die away for want Of outside aliment"
IL is nlpable That i the admission Of Kansas the Suih
only obtains the recognition Of principle which can
never be surrendered without dshonor Il cannot la
doubted that If the leading doctrine of the opposition
'no more slavcoling States shall ever be admitted into
the Union practically enforced, 1t will necessarily
work dissolution Of the Union that Union Which
the ondest hope Of the patriot hereof the friend Of free
Institutions everywhere That the South will ever con-
sent in the practical administration of this government to
admit her inequality because of the institution slavery
in the States to suppose her greatly degcneraci in
moral instincts and courage and totally unworthy of Do
litical association How can any honorable calcu.
late that she would tamcly submit to such position Of
nferiority which would humate her in her own esma
ton and disgrace her in the eyes of the civilized world
Let all be assured that the conclatory at the South
and those who depiecatca dissolution of the great
est caamtics that could bcall lis, of whom profess h
be one will yield to this disgraceul alternative
] do not thus write in spirit Of idle alarm 11s
breach between the extremes is wide in estangemen
of feeling begins to develop itself among the most pu
dent and moderate, North and South and ii becomes i'm
portant for them to understand each other dsnttl
calmly to survey the tendency of things that they msv
act together promptly and efficiently 10 the caias
trophe which threatens us aud which it is idle andI
criminal to treat with dcrision.
Could we interrogate the leaders of the oppositon
and obtain candid answer, would they not promptly rel
.pond
q ii the constitution Of the Uuited States were nov
for the first time to lie formed would consent tI
insert certain provisions therein contained touching Ml
question of slavery, and would insist upon other plc
visions which would secure the entire extinction Of slavery
in the States. "
Ii they would not make such avowal then theh
present professions hypocItca and nsncec and ii
avowed does it not nconcsably establish that their op
position is not merely to the liberation of slavery b
T'or's, but that they are radically opposed 70 e conate
ton sclf2
And will northern men, protesting to be democnt
give sanction to such sentiments and encouragement
such party And yet with pain do witness daily b
tendency in fewHe at least heretofore looked To and
relied upon as rampant, tas had hopcd,) prcpsnd
and designed to protect the sacred chart of liI'
aud stay the wild tile of fanatiCsn which thcatfTel
ment and cagrin, experiments for political prone
ton sclucc many. may congratulate ourselves thu
in the President have who with Roman fnnes
will not permit the State and constitution 10 suffer DIET
riment under his administration.
You do well, therefore, gentlemen, you props
publicly to hold up the hands OF the President to apwo
and defend his course. the just and grateful reward
faithful public servant.
have the honor to he, very respectfully your obd
ent servant, ASA BIGGS
Mcssrs B. H Richardson B. C. FRESHMAN, and J. J.
Graves, Committee Of Invitation.