The Washington union., 1858-02-02
AN APPEAL TO THE DEMocRAcY.


arose between the democracy and the republicans
upon the question of the Legitimacy of the territorial
government of Kansas. That controversy was forced
upon us by the republicans, whose banners were
furcd for the great battle of 1856 in about half the
States of the Union. The corner stone, foundation
and superstructure Of their party opposition to
slavery 1t was avowedly anti-slavery party Its
creed planted alone in the free States. 1t repu-
dated all the slave States. 1t denied communion with
them, reprobated and condemned their local institu
tons, and avowed utter hostility to the policy and
principles which guided their conduct in their fed
era relations. 1t essentially a disunion party
II sought to make either the North or the South a
subject people. 1t would admit of no compromise
such as had united into nation and conducted
us through career Of prosperity wholly unknown to
any other people. II sought to dscredit the patri
oc democracy of the free States who would cling to
the constitution as the Apostles Of old cung to the
religion of the new covenant. They charged
with an abandonment of their own people, as if the
Union was already divided, and with sympathy and
traitorous friendship for public enemy. The whole
scheme by which the republicans sought to possess
control over the affairs of the federal government
based upon the radical idea that the North and
the South political commercial, and social en-
emies No effort was spared to poison the fountains
of public opinion 80 as to produce corresponding
condition Of popular sentiment powerful press,
ten thousand orators, representative men, all the ma
chinery of party, the fanaticsm Of the palpit,
prostituted Judiciary, State Legislation, inessant
alarms and misrepresentation Indicate the great
object and scope of the conspiracy by whicl tho re-
publicans were to rule ruin the government.
/. The power which was to aid them to attain this
result was the conceded majorities of tile North
The division ofthe people there into twocqal parts
seeking to discharge the obligations of the fed
eral constitution the other intent upon schemes Of
ambition and injustce-re rendered the latterpowerless
in action and contemplate in scheme The only
possible of success to be found in driving
the two sections of the country into conflict This
could be accomplished alone upon soma great issue,
like that Of slavery in reference to which the opin
ions of the parties had been mbbed in their cradles
and been made the subject of vehement and, too fire.
quenty, of most irrational controversy. 1t was at
first determined to seize upon the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise as that law assumed to create
kind of political North and political Southland
to raise the hueandcry upon the question Of its res
toration. But it abstraction. It was dead.
Even legal sanctions and party stmulants could not
give it life and action when restored. 1t wasaban-
doned, and the whole force of the republicans was
thrown upon Kansas Order was given to prevent
the establishment of territorial government under
the act of 1854 which repealed the Compromise. II
that was impossible, the authorities thus brought
into existence to be annoyed by every conceiv-
able device. The republicans IN the Territory were
instructed by their leaders ont to use the most effec-
iual means thwart and embarrass their local gov
ernment Meanwhile recruiting stations were OPEN
ed all over the free States money was collected the
press set to howng, the pulpit to praying, gossps
to lying and the telegraph to spreading the fearful
ravages of the slave power in Kansas.
Such was the game played to alarm and agitate
the North--such the means employed to prostitute
its public sentiment to poison the very fountains of
patriotism and to ALLEVIATE the democracy from their
adhesion and devotion to tho standards they had
borne in triumph through many battles. Kansas
itself was nothing Its people were Of no account.
They might have starved without eliciting single
appeal from Mr.. Beecher-without receiving SIN
gle loaf of bread from the whole army Of counterfeit
humanitarians who carried on the canvass Of 1856.
The game was played for the presidential stakes
for the Offices not including the honors OF the
presidency itself, which was to be conferred upon
an incumbent who to take the title in considera
ton for acting as trustee for his party leaders.
For more than two years the democracy, with
united and indignant voice, has warned the people Of
the whole country of the purposes Of the republicans
to which wo have referred. They have steadily
maintained the legality Of the territorial government
of Kansas. Gen. Whitfield here claiming a
seat in Congress- by virtue Of the action Of the people
under that government majority Of the House to
which he addressed his credentials were repubi
cans His seat was contested. The decision was in
his fav or What democrat faltered in maintaining
the right Of Whitfield to his seats Who then dis
claimed the legality Of the territorial government
When Mr. Buchanan came into Office there was not a
democrat in the whole country who did not approve
his instructions to Gov. Walker to recognise fully
the binding force Of the territorial laws; and we
know Of mono who did not then dencunce the repub-
licans in every step they had taken in Kansas and
especially every act by which they proposed to su-
persede the territorial system by that Of Topeka.
All the questions which are involved in the present