Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-02-26
Candltlly EXPRESSED.

The New 7 ork Mirror, a candid Know Nothing pa
per, has the following in relation to Kansas affairs
Is it possible to look at this subject in calm and
phosophic manner or must it be done with aundiced
eyes? We believe it is possible, and have endeavored
to do so. There two parties this Kansas ques-
uon which have taken ultra grounds, and third the
JUsTE MEU who, seeing the extremities to which the
others have proceeded in favor of closing the breach
at once. Our first proposition is this this country is
governed by written Constitutions and laws formulas
which assent to- though sometimes they bear rather
hard personal freedom and private judgment. These
however have many safety valves there is really little
danger from them and submit to temporary pressure
because we know there is no danger.
This being system and the basis of our institu-
tons, how was Kansas to come into the Union? By
the adoption of Constitution framed under territorial
authority given by Congress. Has such Constitution
been adopted? It has, and those who say it has not
been have not said at the ballot boxes to which they
legally invited to express their dissent That there
gross frauds committed there by the prosavery
men, is freely admitted but why did not the majority
OF the people of Kansas deposit their votes protected
they were by the armed forces of the United States p?
We have fraudulent elections in every part of the United
States are accustomed to them the wards of this
city, but we submit to them until legally disposed Of
because cannot 60 behind the forms of law by nsur-
rectiOn resistance but by appeal to the remedies
which the law has created for these cases.
IT, then, the LecomptOn Constitution has been adopt
e it is in accordance with the laws authorizing its con-
structOn and in pursuance of the authority given the
Territory by act of Congress 1t has been carried
by the vote of Kansas those who refaned from voting
have nothing to say On the recordand these records
all we have to go by in popular elections-it
appears to have been regularly adopted All the clamor
and objection outside of these facts and not cogniza-
BILE by Congress What course then has the President
to take but the very he has taken? We idol
worshppers we do not care pin about James Bu-
chanan if we should judge him by his conduct towards
his best friends in New York. we should have little to
say in his favor Yet he is tried statesman, and
conservative in whose hands the country is safe But
how he could have acted differently we do not see and
strange to say he finds his best explanations in the let
ters and adviceo Robert j. Walker.
On the whole, then, think he has done the best he
could He takes up the official documents before him.
and acts upon them. Any other would occasion
series of invovements, not only affecting him. but the
whole country. He has done what he thought airest
and most concatory it is for Congress to approve Or
dsapprove If the Lecompton Constitution is accepted
there is not doubt but that agitation outside of
Kansas will at If it is not we may expect
continuation of present difficulties fomented by the
prominent candidates for the next Presidency for they
really are at the bottom of most of our troubles.
We are in favor Of settling this Kansas question pre-
cisey the South wish settled and as the President
seeks to settle it, looking to the law and the Constitu-
| ton.