Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-01

WAYS accompanied by statement o. ihe sue lie lin,
taken on the slavery iasue If general riot tool
place the killed and wounded were enumerated &c
curdnR to their classification on this question. In
abotoniss organized their party into the form OF
State government with all its machinery, civil ant
military, and ranging themselves under II lney s"oi
fierce defiance and deadly hostility to the REGULAR,
constituted authorities of the United States, smp!l
because of their views slavery. This was not al:
The contest extended itself from Kansas TO the ut
termost ends of the country. Ii became great sec
t;onal controversy and everywhere the burden OIL al
that was said and sung upon it was slavery. LIE
Union itself was in dapgsr-in great and imminen
dapper-and no one dreamed Of ascrlolng mat dan
ger to any cause except the unsettled condition OF tne
slavery question in Kansas.
In these unhappy circumstances, the ieeal ana sat
sfaotory settlement of this eKasperatng dispute was
a contamination most devoutly to be wished Ia
extjrpate th, root of bitterness the first thing tC
bs dons towards pacifcaton But how was It 10 b.
eftectedl Our political opponents thought-and
suppose -;il OF thu same opinion-that me peopie
of the United States through their representatives II
Congress, might decide it without consulting hansss
whose people, according to their theory, should oe
treated with uter contempt. But the democratic
party determined TO leave it with those VINO alone
were directly concerned in 1t. This latter doctrine
was trumphany sustained in Congress, at the polls
and by ths judiciary. After that the General GOV,
arnmeut could do no more than protect The people OF
Kansas in doing the work assigned them. How they
should DO il, by what agents or organs was no. pre-
.nch representatives as they might $50 proper 70
choose.
But unfortunately the Abolition party had becemi
40 rancorous that the olive branch was onered the
in vain. They nsalted and bsspbsned Inc laws
which left the matter to their own decision. The re
gular authorities could do no more than give all fair
chance of voting The Legislature first passed Ia I"
submitting the question of Convention OF no Ion
veution" to popular vote. The next Legislature al
forwards in accordance with the known Wishes Vi te
of hair rn riUllttuI AUTHORITY
enacted another law for the election OF delegates 10
a Convention. The delegates were chosen al falf
and free election after full notice to all tne voters
Whether the vote was large or SMALL not p0ssioe
to deny the right OF those who were chosen. 10 Say
that portion of the electors by absentpg themselves
from The polls could inv alidae an election otherwise
legal and regular, is simply absurd.
The members OF the Convention thus CHOSEN ms.
AZ Iecompton and then raised the new aiarin
the delegates, or some of them, Intended 10 maze
ssve Copstitu.iou in opposition to what they knew
10 be- The will of the people. While the fIesioent
that he had no right TO interfere between the
Kansas and their own representatives. anu Sn"H me
knew very we'll what was known 10 every QUIZ ia
1onvenIjon to sbape the Constitution spd 10 oec'ue
upop the form OF its submission he nevertheless g
pressed bis opinion freely, that IN the
the case and with reference TO that question:
the Constitution ought to be submitted. we" SUI az
mitted-so submitted that if there was maority oP
but to 20 to the polls and say go. u,o,o
Rut The moment the Abolitionists saw the whole
disposition Of the slavery subject placed 10 tner
hands, they abandoned apparently an lne'. no,.y
n IL They will not condescend not they, to vote on
a question so trihng. The principle for when tney
we're willing to drench the country in blood, has OIL az
once become too Insignificant to be worm oano';
Something else in the organic law never tnouRht Vi
before and not specified even now, mas suooeu'y 10
coma 40 important 10 their eyes that the slavery ques
,;n NAV bs decided aganat them for aught fhey care
shout it, unless this and underlined ana
ed grievance be redressed at the same tine' 10 ne
il ssemsperectly clear that conduct ks tn'a must oe
prompted either by prejudice almost insane, or else by
bvnnrrisy shameless beyond the reach OF comparison
r. ,hs Convention has no legal authority TO make q
Constitution without submitting the whole Of it to
nonnIar vote, then this Constitution ought to be treat
ed IA a nuty. But whatsoever denies the general
mower of the people TO cothe their representatives
with full authority to make Constuuon oinding on
Themselves and their constituents, knows not whereof
he afrms. All reason a. we'll as precedent Is against
him. o..
tanly not restricted except on the subject OF slavery
But il it's members abused their authority by fraudu
ently inserting any other provision which they kne"
70 be wrong or believed 10 be- dsspproved by their
constituency and dishonesty refused 10 submit II
ihen, il should be regarded with tho contempt due to
a cheat. But where is tho evidence OF any such
fraud The Convention had no motive to commit IT.
cessty of baving Constitution, nor on any but one
subject embraced within its provisions On every
other subject the unanmity Of opinion was az perfect
as il ever was in any of those States where Consti
tuition was not submitted at all. Ii lie easy enough TO
abuse these men, but fair minded person will not
accuse them without proof nor suspect them in the
absence Of motive. For myself, think It WAS not
unfair certainly not fraudulent for them to ADJUST all
the undisputed points of their Government oy the
exercise Of their delegated authority and to leave the
~ tbura Ot
the people.
The President seeing Constitution about to be es.
tsbshed for Kansas by legal authority, what could
he do He might regret some things mat were donr
he might disspprove of others-he might wish That
It had been different in many respects but still 1t
WAS the lawful work OF lawful body. Could he act
II aside Could he order the election not to be held
under it1 Could he drive the people away from the
polls He had no more power TO DO any OF these
things than he had to veto an act of the Pennsylvania
Legislature.
Since then there wac TO be an election on the direct
question of slavery, and an opportunity given for
full show of hands, he expressed bis ~ish ierventiy
and freely that all the people, laying aside their ami
mosties and prejudces, should come 10 the pos ana
there peacefully decide question which. as long as
il remained open would produce nothing but excuses
for crime and rebellion He believed that decision
of this question by clean majority OF votes would
give peace and order to Kansas. And with oil MS hear
he wished her to enjoy those blessings even tnough
ing the adjustment points to future and more
propitious time Ifthese sentiments have caused the
opposition to abuse him it cannot be helped; II they
have afflicted the conscience OF any honest man,
am sorry-ifany intelligent Democrat misnnderstanos
them an appeal to his reason and judgment will soon
act him right. Of one thing am sure: that james
Buchanan is the last public man iu the country who
need fear the place which will be assigned to him in
the history OF these proceedings and this will be
proved to the hearts content OF sll who live long
= tha mazda
am, with great respect, yours, &c,
To George Pitt, Esq, and others, Committee
1ErrrR FROM THE HON. J. THOMPSON.
WAsHISoToE CRY, Dec. 70, 1857.
Gsntlemep Your letter honoring me with an IN
yit.,ion to attend macs meeting Of the Democracy
Of Philadelphia, to be held on Monday tue 2oth inst
was received to-day.
Nv official duties require my entire attention al
this time. and regret that shall therefore be uu,
able to accept your Invitation.
The President 10 his message sets forth With great
force and clearness the policy OF the Democratic
party as applicable 10 the present state OF tne
country; and it should be the pleasure as 10 .ne
duty Of all true Democrats to endorse that Pofcy
and thus to aid him in the arduous la6ors "hlcn OK
sting difficulties have imposed upon him.
infer, however, from the call for this meeting,lna
you, the old, wetried friends OF mr.. buchanan, SsI
to give him assurance of your sympathy, and o.
your support of the policy he has adopted 10 rela
ton TO Kansas; and in doing So you are performing
duty as citizens Of your glorious old Commonwealth
which we'll becomes you. In thus mao!iesting you
approval of bis course you are but lending the aid
your influence to the President in Fastening the period
when violence and hgher.lawism shall disappear
from that Territory and the blessings of good govern
ment be secured to iis people.
The peace and welfare OF the country demand tha
the members of the Democratic party throughout The
Union shall harmoniousy and courageously co.ops
rate in sastauug his policy. Let the Democracy
with firm and steady step and with closed ranke
march forward to the Accomplishment of ts patriotic
purposes, and the dangers which beset our pathway
will disappear, and sectional strife will cease: :,
Every one comedies that the population OF Kansa:
is sufficient to justify Its admission into the Union a.
a STATE. In pursuance of an act of the Territorial
Legislature, the people decided in favor of calling
Convention to form q State Constitution. On tina
expression of the popular will, the Legislature au
thorised the election of delegates to Convention TO
that purpose. This Convention has met and adopted
a Constitution Republican in its form, and Democrat