The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-04

sas-one the election of State officers provided
for by the Lecompton constitution, and the
other on the adoption of the Lecompton consti-
ton ordered by the Territorial Legislature At
the latter election the Lecompton constitution
will be submitted to the people in three forms /:
First-Constitution with slavery; Second
Constitution without slavery; Third-Against
the constitution. Under the instructions of the
President, the Governor has to recognise both
elections as legal, and to use all the force at
his command, if necessary, to protect the polls,
and secure full expression of opinion.
Here the question arises, is it the duty of
Congress, or is it expedent on the part of Con-
gress, to await the results of these elections
and to shape the law for Kansas accordingly!
We should say no I; because, as the case stands
the regularly authorized popular proceedings
in reference to this Lecompton constitution
were closed with the election of the 2lst Decem-
Der. On the other hand, we are we'll aware that
a vote for the admission of Kansas as a
slave State will be dose Of wormwood to most
OF our Northern democratic representatives
at Washington; and We may. therefore, expect
a prolonged debate upon the subject, fierce
sectional agitation, and all sorts of pariiamen-
tary cxpcdients to stave off the main question.
But our Northern democratic compromisers may
rely upon it that no compromise will now be
acceptable to the South short of the admission
of Kansas under her Lecompton constitution,
including, most particularly, the full recognition
of the slavery clause.
Col. Forney, through his Rhiladelphia Reess,
informs us that 9the President did not expect
the question to take this shape. nor do we be-
lievc" says Master Forney, "that he expects that
admission will be effected without a re-submis-
SION" But VIC shall know more upon this point
within few days. In the meantmdShe Presi-
dent, we apprehend, upon the receipt of the
official report of the December Kansas election,
will feel that he has no other resource than to
accept it, and leave the issue of its final adoption
or rejection to Congress, At this point. we
fear, the North will be met by such determin-
ed front on the part Of the South, that the issue
will speedily become the admission of Kansas
with her slave State constitution, or the seces-
sion in body from both houses of the members
from the Southern States, as the initial move
ment to separate Southern confederacy.
And yet there is very simple plan of COM
promise at hand, as between the North and the
South, and the required materials are also on the
spot. 1t is the old plan of admitting slave State
and free State, side by side. Thus, even if
Kansas should be admitted as permanent slave
State, instead Of a slave State for six months
or year, the new free States of Minnesota and
Oregon will be more than as two to one against
her. This system Of sectional State equivalents
was put in practice two years after the adop-
ton of the federal constitution in the admission,
simultaneously, Of Vermont and Kentucky, and
has been followed up from that day to this
Thus in 1916, Indiana was admitted, and an
enabling act was passed authorizing the people
of Mississippi Territory to form State consti-
tuition. Thus, in 1920, the acts for the admis-
sion of Maine and Missouri formed the real
basis Of the Missouri Compromise. Thus, with
in short interval, Arkansas and Michigan
were admitted; and thus, as q Northern equi-
valent for Florida and the admission of the
Senators and representatives from the new
slave State of Texas, in 1916, enabling acts
were passed in reference to Iowa and Wiscon-
sin. But as there was no Southern equivalent
for the admission of California as free State
in 1850. that fact gives the South an additional
claim in reference to Kansas.
In this old and frequent plan, then, of COM
promise in the simultaneous admission Of a pro-
vision for free State and slave State, or a
slave State and a free State, We have the only
practical method for a satisfactory solution Of
this Kansas difficulty The North will surely
be content, for the sake of peace to recognise
Kansas as a temporary slave State, with two
permanent free States coming in at the same
time. Should this good old plan be discarded
now, and should the Kansas Lecompton consti-
tuition be rejected because OF its recognition of
slavery the next proceeding will probably be a
practical Southern movement for the dissolution
of the Union. When the old rule of sectional
Cancellation is displaced by the law of sectional
coercion, the Union, in fact, may be declared
already at an end.
THE FIVE POINTS AND THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The advantages of selecting the locality Of
the Five Points for the site of our new Post
In, - tboD d.