Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-12
THE RICHMONE ENQUIRER.

THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
RITCTIE 4 DUSNAvANr.
rTeS Day MORNiNa d. JANUARY IL.
GOV. WIsE's LETTER To THE TAMMANY
SOCIETY.
In-,o-day's issue of the Enquirer" we publish
1.,ter from Governor Wise to the rammany
society of the city Of New York, in response
10 an invitation to him to attend their celebra'
ton of the anniversary Of the victory at New
Orleans, on Friday last Its written with all the Co.
yernor's characteristic originality, nervousness ami
force And in 50 far it upholds the principle Ct
popular sovereignty, as matter ofindisputabe right
and justice in Kansas and everywhere within The
limits of the republic. it commands our appreciation
Blu, considering all The circumstances of the
csse, We are constrained to regret Its appearance
a. the present juncture. The Governor THINKS
that there has been uDfairness on bold
sides-on the part of the proslaVery men as
We'll as the aptislayery men in Kansas. And
Wa are not prepared to differ from him. There has
certainly been breach of faith on the part OF some
of the members of the Lecompton Convention. bu'
that is thing with which, We think, Congress mas
nothing to do unless is evident that there has been
such fraud a. absolutely to trampe on the popular
will and misrepresent the sense Of the people, de
simits of course, the regularity OF the Convention
and consequently, the legitimacy OF the Constitution
which it framed. He contends, however, that there
was wrong in the refusal Of the Convention to sub
NIT the whole Constitution for the adoption or reJec-
ton of the people; and we cordially concur with
him. But We are obliged, at this stage Of the
controversy, to dissent from bis suggestion,
that Congress should make the ratification Of
the Lsoompton Constitution, by all the bona .fde
inhabitants, the condition on which Kansas shall
b admitted into the Union. Iu the exercise of lite
legal authority the Convention, We think, stopped
.aor, of s moral duty to the people, whom it repre-
seated and contracted rather than expanded the ope
ration of the great fundamental principle, on which
oar government rests, when it determined to refer
only one clause of the Constitution to those for whom
1; was framed. But since that error is committed,
deem 1t decidedly best NOT to seek for the remedy
In the Intervention of Congress. This opinion,
which we have expressed on more than one occasion,
IL induced by several reasons, the chiefof which is,
that the slavery provision, which we cannot but con.
slider as involving the original and paramount mat
ter 10 dispute, has been referred to the people and
acted on by them-and in an election which we pre-
euue appropriated accurate test OF the sense OF
"a. people. closely it possible to arrive at II.
Ii there are men in Kansas who refused TO vote,
i, is their fault slone and they must nationally and
Justly be presumed to acquesce in the result. But
W. have other reasons. The Administration is CON-
mired, We think, in favor of the admission OF Kan
sas with the Lecompton Constitution, without any
farther legslaton In relation to it. very large ma.
jori;y Of Democrats we believe, North and South,
have taken the same position. Aud to propose
s plan of cotton now, different from that
upon which the greater portion OF the party have
already united, shording the safest means for CIV
ing quistas to the Kansas agitation it, We think,
Calculated to smbarrass the Administration, and con-
found the Democratic party by conflicting counsels.
a. rejecting the Individual opinions of an observing,
bold, and patriotic statesman, the Governors views
are we'll enough. Blu; as embodying suggestion to
DO adopted by the Democratic party and acted on by
Congress now, we must say that We consider his let
ter i'll timed and indscreet. The principle upon
which he places himself is nV only mpregnable, but
lis observance is the only guaranty of the preserva.
zion of our system Of government, and the security
Of tho South either in the Unen or out of it. But,
We think tina, principle has been sufficiently re-af-
frmed and enforced in the present instance, by the
TO the peoples since, as have said, that seems to
Is 20 be the only point op which popular sovereignty
10 disputed, even by the Black Republican party.
We agree with Governor Wise that the people Of
Kansas should have been allow ed TO pronounce, either
In approx al condemnation, upon every provision OF
the organic law. But think the time has passed for
that opinion to be persisted in, even for the attainment
of the just aod honorable end at which it aims. The
ConVentton committed the wrong. And it is too late
70 repair It, otherwise than by the speedy admission OF
Kansas with the Lecomptoa Constitution, 30 that
this exciting question may be Withdrawn, as soon
as possible, from Congress, and confined within
the limits of q sovereign State Moreover,
II il 10 denied that the vote in favor Of the adoption
Of the slavery clause, represents the wishes OF ma
iory of the people, it must be, OF course, on the
ground that the msority, at least enough to have
made majority, refused to 90 to the polls II that
b true-and we have little dorbt of tit s but req.
sonabe to suppose that the result would be con
seouen, upon the submission Of the whole Cous,itu
tou; for when men refuse to vote upon that question
in which they are, perhaps, mors Immediately inter
es,ed and certainly on which they are more excited
than any other, it is hardly TO be expected that they
would vote on those which they may consider secon'
dary, aud Of subordinate character Hence, we hold
tho, even if the whole of the Lecompton Constitution
had been or should be referred to the people, we
justified in nferrng that the result would have been
or will be similar to that which has been Of.
fected by the election with reference to the re-.
lection or acceptance of the slavery clause 1t is evil
dent, We think that the anti.savery men in Kansas
s.e determined not to recognize, as laws, any other
ensctments than those which they themselves may
propose. They seem to be bent Oh opposition 10
everything that is not in accordance with their ow
political code. An opportunity was afforded them to
vote against the establishment Of slavery we'll to
those In favor to vote for it. And they refused to
participate 10 the election then, we have reason to
believe that they would not do so again. That it
would have been in closer conformity to the true
tene,s Of republican faith, to the policy and prnei'
pies Of the Democratic party, and to an ele-
waited standard of fairness, equality and justice,
for the whole Constitution to have been referred for
tho ratification or rejection of all the legal voters OF
Kansas, we still steadily maintain. But We canno,
coucu. with Governor Wise, under existing circum-
stances that Congress ought to impose popular rati
dcation upon the Lecompton Constitution, as a con
di,on of its acceptance. We appreciate that rigid
regard for popular sovereignty, which has always
characterised the Governor, and endeared him to
tho people as defender Of their rights And we ap
paud the manliness and earnestness and ability and
eloauence With which he exposes the principle. and
contends for lite fullest enforcement in Kansas. But
ws dle. from him to the expedieucy at this time,
OF the means he suggests. To submit the whole
Constitution to the people now, would be second
Submission Of the slavery cause. And as that has al
ready been acted on, through election legally or
derea and regularly conducted We hold that there 10