The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-20

There is trouble Ii store for tn BLACK epublican
members of the present Congress. Their action on
the CrittendenMontgomery substitute is far from be
ing universally satisfactory 70 their party; and in
their blind zeal to defeat the democracy and cripple
the administration they have run their necks into
halter from which they are likely to experience
siderable trouble in extricating them The New York
Herald of Sunday morning contains letter signed
q An Ohioan" and addressed TO Governor Chase in
which the writer, who is evidently black republi
can, prefers long bill Of indictment against his
brethren in Congress. He charges them with having
abandoned set at nought and repudiated every prin
ciple Of the republican party;
With having stultifed themselves and their party
in respect to all they have said about Kansas and the
Lecompton constitution; 81 M ara ~ ~ M
With acknowledging the justice and propriety of
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise the consti-
nationality and expedency of the Kansas territorial
Organization the validity Of all the acts Of all pre-
vous territorial legislatures the legality Of the call
for the Lecompton convention--the legal and poit.
cal obligation to submit to the constitution framed
by that convention goirg r3t M 5}e sila.
And, finally, with bringing upon the republican
party terrible calamity that must inevitably end in
its early dissolution. BY a
| ytl "a bt6u sf WASHINGTON April 8, 1858.
MY DEAR SrR Three months ago who would have
thought that Critenden Bell and few other southern
nothngs could have put the whole republican party
together with the democratic backsders whom the
republicans hastily and useessly have gloricd
much into bag, like so many blind pups, with all
necessary weights and securities to insure the extinction
of life Yet so it is strange 1t may The la
Dor of twenty-thrce years is abruptly and suddenly
brought to close In less than half hour the other
day every principle of the republican party aban
doned set at nought repudated and every for which
the democratic party has contended from the beginning
recognised with exception The Crttenden amend
ment Montgomery substitute covery maintains that
the national government Is lord paramount the
right of eminent Domains absolutely sovereign over
territorial possessionsand thereby prescribe
terms and conditions which shall enter into the consu
ton of State, well the in which they
shall frame their constitution This constitutes the only
difference between the two parties they stand.
This however when correctly considered is vital point
in the democratic creed 1t is the doctrine of the party
and the decision of the Supreme Court from which the
democracy will not reccdc that the general government
does not possess the right Of eminent domain in pub
lie ands only trustee by the deed of ceson and the
constitution of the Union But enough of this now.
Let look at the manifest and unconcealed features OF
| the case
The whole of the Montgomery substitute is contained
in the few first lines of tall else is merely directory
and mandatory from Congress- absolute sovereign
The first section declares THAT the State of Kansas be-
and is hereby admitted into the Union equal
ing with the original States in all respects whatsoever.
It, however attaches condition precedentthat another
election shall be held another vote taken 'nasmuch
it is greatly disputed whether the constitution framed
at Lecompton fairly made expressed the will of the
people" Now had parcel Of green politicians been
caught in this manner the thing ght have been
be but for men of learning, philosophy and experience
statesmen to change front suddenly to abandon all
their principles earnestly oontende for In both houses
of Congress up to the fatal day. is matter wonder and
10 Ry of
have they donei 1t is logic, it is law, it is common
that what is not denied il admitted and need not
be proved Republicans then, by this vote have stuted
themselves and their party in respect to all they have said
about the Kansas niquy and the Iecompton swnde BY
voting for Kansas slave State under the Nebraska ard
Kansas act and the Lecompton constitution what do they
do Don't they acknowledge the Justice and popriety
Of the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise tho consti
nationality and expedency Of the Kansas territorial
organization the validity Of all the acts of oil previous
territorial Legislatures ?the legality of the call for the
Lecompton convention and the legal and political obi
CATION to submit to the constitution framed by that
vcntion Do they not admit by this Montgomery and
Crttenden the moral legal and binding force Of all
the test Oaths the taking of them prerequisite to
the right to vote that they should and swear to
support the fugitvesave law and that they have
been engaged in the aid of runaway slaves helping to
steal ''nggersf These things enumerated all must ad
mitnone can deny. The thing hastily DONE yet so
eifectualy that there appears to be remedy--no
means OF preventing dissolution of the republican
party. FL 7f s
hlitiy men HcIc See oS you ue cnIBHttHcu
of the republicans of Ohio from the beginning that
this thing would be ruinous. Some grow impru-
IDENTIFY and almost profanely express themselves "You
have voted away all your principles says democrat to
republican, the other day. mo, haven't, says the
latter, the main panks in platform still left
opposition to Heaven and the democratic party This
kind of profanity and will not however, suit
and satisfy the honest @
1t may, however, be said that If have been sold |
the democratic party, far has been defeaedthat
have brought the administration into state of stand
stisn This, however is poor consolation The party
will soon rally and recover They will not yield they
will stick with the utmost pertinacty to their doctrine
that the general government enjoys not the right of emil
nent Domains not absolutely sovereign in the Terrific
ries-in no place except here the "ten miles |
square, and such other territory as with the of
the States the general government acquire for forts
arsenals, dock yards, &C. This democrats you know
hold to be the extent of the constitution and they will
stick to it, In the Territories the general government
they hold to be no more than trusteethe sovereign
power being in ns the lawyers would say until the
heir becomes Of the people have acquired
beers and other capacities sufficient the Of
sovereign State This, however, extensive question
and requires close logic cannot therefore, fully discuss
now butmay hereafter call your attention to it in
tail There Is my dear sir, prcsentment kind ofnspi
ration belonging to all minds that think and thouglst
rid Of 1t will often press itself upon U.S. whether will
For than month have felt that some aw-
full calamity about to befal the republican party
From the first start Of the union ayer-meetngs good
ness and mercy visible. Had the calamity which
has overtaken the republican party happened to the
preachers and people who previously earnestly
gagged the nigges against the President and tho