The Ottawa free trader., 1858-02-20
The Kansas Que.rion---A Ray OF Light.


No person who has posted himself upon
the progress Of the Kansas quarrel at Wa
shington can now need the spirit of prophe-
cy to forete,l where it will end. The dark
clouds that have surrounded the question
are dissipated to a very thin fog, through
which we are getting glimpses Of sunlight.
The Presidents last message, the speeches
Of the Lecomptonites in Congress, and the
editorial lucub: atoms Of the Washington
Union all point in one direction, and as
surely as the grey streaks in the east har-
binger the approach of morning, SO surely
do they harbinger the end of the Kansas
controversy in Congress. The whole pro-
gramme is thus chslked out. Fitch and
Bright of Indiana are to be kept in their
seats, and Shields aad Rice OF Minnesota
are to be kept out of their seas until the
Kansas question is decided. 4 majority in
favor of tie Leccmpton Constitution is thus
secured beyond contingency in the Senate.
In the House, there are some five or six
democrats whose votes are essential to get
Lecompton through that body, but who are
at present inclined to oppose it. These will
be appeased by John Calhoun agreeing to
give the certificates Of election to the free
State candidates at the election in Kansas on
the 4th Of January.
Thus Kansas will go through Congress
with the Lecompton Constitution; but at
the same time the government in Kansas
will he turned over to the free State party.
takes the position, and the Washington
Union is backing it up day after day with
long editorials, that, notwithstanding the
clause in the Lecompton Constitution in
hibiting its amendment before 1864, the
people of Kansas have the inherent right 10
amend their constitution whenever they
please; and, indeed, the Union finds prece-
dents in other States plenty enough TO sup
port the position.
Wen, then the matter proceeds thus
Kansas Is admitted with the Leconpton
Constitution. Her legislature Immediately
orders 4 convention to make q new consti-
.--ss--, -, = - --onihs IL will ~ 5000
and adopted. The administration stands
committed not to interfere with such pro-
ceedings. In reality, Kansas will thus not
live q day under the constitution forced
upon her by Congress, for no attention will
be paid to its provisions until the new con-
s,itution is put into operation.
Here then we have the end. The Presi-
dent and the South will have the nominal
triumph Of having forced the Lccompto1
constitution through Congress; bat TO Judge
Douglas and his friends will accrue this great
or and moro substantial triumph of having de-
feated and rendered nugatory and fruitless
the whole Lecompton game,-which was to
continue in Kansas the reign, after her ad-
mission into the Union, Of the small pro-
slavery squad who have hitherto had pos
sion Of the territorial government in the
face of an opposition Of nine tenths of the
people.
Such winding up of the Kansas con:ro-
versy will at least have this merit, that
neither party will have gained signal
victory over the other. One party will have
the name and the other the substance. As
nearly as possible, it will be draw game !;
and after all the tremendous fuss, such .
farcical conclusion, will have so much Of the
grotesque and laughable about it, that both
parties must, as in the case Of the admission
Of Missouri by the Clay compromise, laugh
in their sleeves over the result as the fun
niest OF hunbugs, and settle down more
good naturedly and amicabiy than would
have been possible had either the infamous
posite party succeeded in breaking it down
after a severe conflict with the United
South.
With the legitimate consequences Of this
doctrine, put forth BY the administration,
that Kansas can amend her constitution in
spite Of its own provisions to the contrary,
the anti Lecompton democracy Of course
have nothing to do. II the South are will
ing to adopt it, the North will not be apt to
complain. But if the right of revolution in
the majority is thus Internationally con-
ceedcd, we submit whether the South may
not find the doctrine returning some day to
plague its inventors, should the North con-
clude to act upon the doctrine and amer
the Constitution Of the L. S. in a manner
different from that pointed out in that in
;rument,
WEsTMrSIsJER RErrEw.-The contents Of