The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-25
The Kansas Question and tho Factionists o
Congress.

Kansas in Congress is like Paddys fea-you
put your finger on him and he isn't there. We
bad anticipated the pleasure of reporting to our
readers yesterday morning the acceptance by
both houses of the English compromise, and tie
final passage of the measure for the admission
Of the new State but the fac tionists of Congress
are as capricious as the skies Of April when the
fairest morning may be suddenly broken up by
clouds and squalls of wind and rain The LIE
acquisition Of the Douglas deserters, as they
believed, to put through the new bill, when
presto! rebellion breaks out among the
Southern firee-aters, "apd all is noise and strife
2Dtantly availing themselves of this extraordi-
Try diversion, the opposition moved to post
pone the consideration of the bill to the second
Monday of May, and the motion was carried.
Thus resulted the FIRST trial in the House of the
land spoils compromise Of the Conference Com
mittee the House at length adjourning pending
motion to reconsider, which was carried yes
terdsy.
The bill Of Mr.. English, we believe, will set
tie the question. 1t offers to the people of
the public lands, which they can have if they
are willing to accept the gift; but if they do
accept it, they must consider themselves ad-
mitted under the Lecompton constitution. But
that Is not oil. If they do not accept, their
election will be considered q formal declaration
that they prefer to remain out Of the Union
until they shall number the ratio of population
required for one representative in Congress,
which is $4,000 to 1860, after which it will
probably be increased to one hundred and ten,
fifteen or twenty thousand. Now, without stop
ping to discuss this question of discrimination
between the Lecompton and a new constitution
for Kansas, we put the more important ques-
ton, will lot this plan, if adopted by Congress
settle the matter in Kansas? We believe it will
that the free State people Of Kansas, having
the organic State Legislature under the Lee
compton constitution in their hands, will elect
to accept it, in consideration first, Of the land
spoils, and, secondly, in consideration Of the
good old proverb that "s bird in the hand is
worth two in the bush"
We apprehend that the virulence of the op-
position of the black republicans to this com
promise plan Of Mr.. English is not because Of
the discrimination il makes in favor Of the Lee
compton constitution, but because they be-
lieve that this land grant, with the Lecompton
constitution will be accepted By the people OF
Kansas. The opposition Of the intrsctable
| Southern Know Nothings and fre-eat-rs can
only be accounted for upon the theory that
their policy is to harass and embarrass the ad-
ministraton at every opportunity. They have
certainly improved almost every opportunity
this session, in this way, in their factou' eosti
lily, upon some pretext or other. 10 every mea-
sure Of the administration, not excepting pet
ty police bill for the protection Of Washington
against the organized bands Of rufi.ns which
infest that city. We are grat'hed, however,
that the day il near at hand when. upon the
great tcst question Of the session the holy ALI
ance Of Northern and Southern di-organizers
against the administration will be vauquished.
There is nothing like the cohesive power Of
the public plumber, after all in settling knotty
question Of popular sovereignty The land
spoils will settle this question in Kansas Nor
should il be forgotten, in the mean time that while
the Lecompton programme, pure and simple
provide for land grants 10 Kansas to the extent
Of twenty three and half millions Of acres, the
plan OF Mr. English reduces the amount to TIE
odd three and half millions o. acres. This
land grabbing feature Of the Lecompton ordi
nance has heretofore escaped the attention o.
the politicians, and the credit is due to Mr.
English Of making II the turning point OF the
whole question. He will have accomplished nc
little thing in securing a saving Of twenty nil
lions Of acres Of the best lands OF Kansas to the
general government; bu. hn will have accom-.
plished greater thing in lie settlement Of this
Kansas imbroglio upon tie moderate peace
Offering Of three and hb millions OF acres
The people Of Kansas want tne lsnd-. aud her
hungry politicians want the Offices and other
public plumber incident to the orgsniz. alton Of a
new State, and they will not cast THE offer Of
Congress fcolishly away. The condition pre-.
cedent' will attract them, aud the condition
subsequent" will receive their serious attention
and they will accept their bread and butter,
wipe their weeping eyes, and come in.
4
| The RECENf PoPuLAR EXTRAvAGAyzAs-On
| Thursday evening two popular extrayayauZas