The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-07
THE KANSAS TROUBLES DRAWING TO


The regular march of events in Kansas aut091
ICES us to assume that application win shortly be
made TO Congress for its admission into the Union
State with the Lecompton constitution, embracing
the slavery clause. We have right to expect,
therefore that Congress and the country viii soon
be relieved of this agitating subject The disturb
ances in that Territory and the Importance attached
to them by sectional and party coalitions have been
discredtabe to our country and its boosted civihza
ton They have been the struggles Of men contend
ing not for right but for acknowledgement for prn-
cpes, but for the qualification of their passions
not for sound healthy regulated liberty, but for
privileges which belong to state OF nature and
which are destructive to all social order and repug-
nant to all legal enactments Had it's citizens been
prevented from freely expressing their opinions on
the introduction Of the slavery feature into their
State constitution, they would have had some pre-
text to complain Of an Infringement Of their rights
but when this whole matter has been submitted to
their choice and judgment, aud the majority as
il would seem, have refused to vote upon itas they
previously refused to vote for delegates to legal
y-called convention to frame constitutionthe
luton Of their obstnacy---for it is nothing else
must be found in some other motive than sense of
outraged Justice. Such plea will no longer avail
them The real cause must DO seen to be per
verse disposition and wrong-headed determination
to set all law aud constitutional authority at defiance
Rational men, who are contending for their rights
and who have the opportunity of vindcating them
BILE manner 7a@
The recent turbulence in Kansas is certainly attlbu-
table to outside infuencesto the arts of designing
men, who to accomplish certain Interior ends Of
their ambition or avarice, have been willing to
fan the fame of popular discomfort and thus to keep
up perpetual agitation which shall precipitate and
aggravatc sectional quarrels The allegations that
the people Of Kansas have been defrauded Of their
rights by violence and intrigue; that they the
victims of an organized system Of oppression and
that constitution in the framing Of which they
were at liberty to participate, has been thrust dorn
their th,oats--we believe that is the accepted
phrase against their free and sovereign will, are
utterly absurd and untenable. Acting themselves
in the most unjustifable and lawless manner and
negecting and treating with contempt the opportu-
mites afforded them to institute government that
should fully accord with their sense Of the pop
ular necessity what right have they now to complain
Of the infringement of their American privileges
In what instance have they been trsnched upon
In none whatever and the motives of those who
persist in encouraging their outbreaking contuma-
cy and endeavor to persuade them, with view to
keep up popular agitation, that they wronged,
injured, down-trodden people, are well understood
and fully appreciated. However influential their
talents and position may be, we wish them higher
vocation and better cause, in the fulflment and
advocacy Of which they may maintain principles
that are sound and neutrality-suspicious., not of
discord and hloodsed but Of the best interests OF
the country and the harmony Of the whole Union