Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-02
The Democratic Party--Position OF the
Richmond Ebquirei 1.-The Kansas
Onestion.

Administration in regard to the propriety OF
ACCEPTING the Lecompton Constitution is to
be deaounced as an enemy 10y the adherents
of the Adminlstra ion, there will soon be
such schism III the party a. may lea'e
MIR. Buchauau but handful Of irIends-.we
mean men wno are received INTO brotherhood
by those who would drive IF from him every
Democrat who opposes the admission Oi hau-
sas without further conditions. 1t seems to
u that such course is suicidal II there
were Democrats dissent ng from the ADMIT
i>trati,n on the Kansas question because
they disputed the principle for which the
President contends in regard to II, We would
not hesitate to proIounce them aposthtes from
the par y. But if there are any such, We
are not advised of it. Mr.. Buchanan main
taus the principle of popular sovereisnty.-
Aud so does Senator Douglas Iney differ,
however, as to the proper means OF eniOrc-
!ug it III Kansas; iLst As the separate den"m-
nations vi the Christian church, deriving
their tenets from the same sacred fountaIu
head, and aiming to arrive At 'he same hap
Y end, observe tferent rites and advocate
dtfereut doctrines OF religious trutl. II
would lie as wise, as reasonable n just ana
proper for the Epi-cOpaiian t. denpun,e the
Presbyterian a. untrue 10 the teachings o.
Christianity, or for tho BtptI-t To rerud ate
the Methodist as an inf lei beyond the pale
OF hope for fI'ure happiness on hlEh, as Tor
patriots to be pronounced aidcrs AMI a6e;tpiS
OF atulitionlsm, simply because their sent
meuts on ere measure II expedienry are
in conflict with those Of their fellow citizens
and co-lab1rers 10 the common cause OF the
constitution, the South, and the Union.
II may be urged that the Administration
has staked It's fortunes on the Kansas ques-
ton; that it is fully and earnestly and Sit
cerely committed to the acceptance OF the L.
compton Constitution; and that the defeat oil
this it's cherished Object, whether effected by
Democrats or Il pubiicans, or 10y both, would
be hailed as an evidence Of its weakness and
forerunner Of its failure. We entertain
no such idea. We would not offer such an
insult to the Administration. Ii dee.t
upon a simple question Of cxpedleucy can 80
lmpair the inhueuce ami strength Ut the Adj
ADMINISTRATION, as to leave il at the mercy OF
is enemies. either James Buchanan, election
was "a farce, aud the principles OF the Demo
cratic party are nothing more than shifting
shsd Dws, or the differences that divide the
North and South hang heavily on the
lip while lying lightly on the heart We
admit neither the one proposition nor the
other. And we deny that refusal On
the part OF Congress to accept the Lee
COMPTON Constitution, would be blow to
PROSTATE the Administration. 1t stands
upon basis too firm, upon pTincIp pies too
sound to be 80 easily Uverthrowu. We say
this with no DISPOSE lon 10 encourage the op-
uouents of the Immediate admission OF Kan
sas Ga the contrary we would, II We could,
induce them all to acquiesce 10 the opinions
Of the President But we say it in justice To
the Administration aud to the Democratic
party. Oar views in relation to the receI-
ton Of the LecJmpton Constitution have been
repeatedly and always unequlvociliy ex-
pressed. As soon as We were advised Oi the de-
cislou Of the Convention to refer the slavery
clause to the people, we declared IN favor OF
the acceptance OF the Constitution 10y Con.
gress Ard we still staud IN the same posi-
ton. We have preferred Submission
Of the whole Constitution for popular roth
cation or rejection. But believing ire ques-
ton Of slavery TO be the soul Of the sut-
ject in dispute-the essence OF the con
trUver,y sought to be settIed--"e did COT
sider and still consider the Nebraska act en-
forced to its full intent; and, therefore,
we are now, as we were at first, warmly
10 favor OF the immediate admission OF Han.
sas with the Lecomptcn Constitution. We
believe it TO be the safest, speedest and sure5t
means Of giving n quietus to the question;
and in fairness we believe 1t to be equal to
any other mode that can possibly be adopted.
We differ from Judge Douglas aid from
Governor Wise al,O.
AS we have said, we regard the Kansas act
as enforced by the submission OF the slavery
claus, and, although there may be contra
dction and qualification IN the schedule OF
the CONSTITUTIONS still those things, we think,
reflect personally upon the Convention, with
out at all affecting the legitimacy Of their &C.
zion, to which alone Congress his right 10
look We most heartily hope for the admIs-
sion OF Kansas in the nude recommended by
the President. And whatever influence this
journal may possess, il necessary, shall be
again. as il has been, exerted 10 that end
Bot still, as friends OF the Administration,
aud advocates OF the unity Of the Democratic
party, we protest against the excOmmmuni-
cation Of Democrats who d. not concur with
US in this sentiment, and work VIII u Tor
this object Eng
a Man and wife Arrested for Robbery
The Boston Evening Traveller states that
"the Rev Samuel Smith, master oil the Co..