The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-01-14
EzFzL WAR I'm KANSAS.
Ftc@ the Philadelphia North American

FS"s iee0''So 4loO, hansas may pc mae
'urste, yet ennIgh is certainly known tc
show ttsat civil war, if not already begun
ssc'rtain to be lighted up with wild fury
fhe moment it IS known in the Territory
that the Lecompton Constitution has been
F2cccaFtea by Congress. For this sad state
pf affairs We were not altogether unpre-
pared. From the day on which it became
apparent that the Free-State men largely
predominatcd in Kansas, one thing wds
rura-they never would copntenapce the
great swindle attempted by Pro-Slavcry
lartisans and Missouri borderers, not sub
init to have Institutions thrust upon them
by the violence Of q minority, even though
that minority was hacked up BY the whole
power Of the Federal Government.
Every one remembers the excitement
on the Kansas question that peryaded the
whole North and West during the Presi-
Dental canvas in 1856. 1t may be re-
membcred, toe, that even then the peo-
pie of Kansas were in arms against their
opprcssors. After the election and inau-
guration Of Mr. buchanan, however, tho
excitement was aiiayed and this circum-
stance vas seized On by some as evidence
ihat the Kansas agitation was only a trick
to defeat the Democratic candidate and
place the General Government in the
hands Of Designing men. 1t established
they declared, all that had been charged
against the " shriekcr5 for Freedom" the
friends Of q bleeding Kansas" How tar
Il J. :,
imbued with this idea we know not, though
there has been not little, in the course
lately pursued By the Administration, to
lead the country to suppose that they all
held similar opinions. If this be 50, they
are grossly mistaken Their view has
been far too limited, and shows that after
all, they have failed to understand the peo-
pie Of this country and have misread all
The circumstances Of our colonial end ma
tional history.
The quiet that followed on the election
Of President buchanan was not owing to
any Indifference as to the fate Of kan IS,
just the reverse. 1t was brought about
by the general c0ov;c,ion that Il .,ra.;
dent, although he might .cr time tenn
porize, would see - 1t that the elarine.
scknowled I'd, admitted wrongs perpetra-
'ed "a an overwhelming majority Of the
people, should BE- rodres8ed, and that they
should be allowed the privileges gaaran-
teed IN the organic act, Of framing their
institutions in their own way. The gen
orally received opinion of the Presidents
character favored this conviction. His
first acts gave it further sanction. His
instructions to the New Governor were
implicit. The Constitution was to be
submitted to the people. Walker assured
the inhabitants Of the Territory of this
over and over again. BY this means, and
this alone, was he enabled TO calm them
Gown, and induce them to vote for mem
bcrs of the Territorial Legislature. lie
has told US 50 repeatedly, and assured Us
that on his arrival he found the Territory
in state yerging on that Of civil war
But 50 soon as the people were persuaded
that justice would be done, they abandon
cd all thought Of an appeal to arms, and
lot until then,
We may safely appeal to the first six
months succeeding Nr. Buchan&O's 5 inau-
guration for evidence that his admini5tra-
ton was kinkly received by the opposi-
ton, and the presses representing it, Con-
sidering that Mr.. Buchanan vas elected
mainly by a section, on sectional grounds,
AMI that previously party feeling was at :
great height, it is surprising how soon
angry feeling subsidized, and every disposi-
ton was manifested not to embarras or
annoy the new administration uuuecessa-
Rip, but simply to judge it BY its acts,
Nothing could better show the high char
scter Of the Opposition. 1t proved that
in the main it contended for principles,
for truth and right, and that mere parti-
san aims and ends were far from it. But
we believe that all this modration has
been misconstrued. Confidence in the
character Of the Administration be-
lief that justice would be impartially
mated out by it, has been taken for indil-
ference 2s to the course that should be
pursued in the Territories The public
expectation has been disappointed; the
R'SNoS2 tITstt ASlloAS gwen are uON
seen to be violated Hence the storm that
has renewed its violence in Kansas, and
that is sweeping ip force over the North
and West
There is no doubt that the unexpected
policy the Administration has adopted to-
wards Kansas has made the Republican
party stronger, 6rmer, more united than it
was IN 1856; and even then it would have
elected its candidate but for one or two
untoward events. And besides the re-
newed vitality that has been inspired in
70 the Republicans, what shall be said Of
the detection among the Democrats Is
not the President we'll assured that Sena-
tor Douglas and the many leading Demo
Gratis who stand with him have influence
enough to carry every free State against
him? Even Pennsylvania is no excep-