Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-13
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

news.
WASHING TON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
ARKvIEw OF THE KANSAS IsBRoeLIo. The
London Times of the 18th ultimo reviews the
history Of the Kansas mbroglio from a foreign
standpoint, with no mean ability. Whatever
opinion We may hold with reference to the
soundness of the editors statement of the case
colored by the notorious sympathy Of the jour-
nal tor the free-soil cause-we recognize the
justice of his deductions from them. That is to
say, we recognize the propriety of his advice to
those who have his sympathy-the Republican
party-to accept, GO as the best solution of the
question, what the President proposes-that
Kansas should be admitted with her present
pro-slavery constitution" &c:
From the London Times, Feb III
We are so much bound-not by geographical
links only, but by policy, alliances and national
1nterests-to the Old World that even now when
the Cnited states have become a d rst-rate Power
ana British Amer ca counts more than three mil
lions OF Inhabitants most of us skim over with
lhaiuerenee every piece Of news unconnected
with business which comes from the other side
OF the Atlantic. The continent Of Europe still
maintains Its supremacy in interest and at
tention, and question relating TO some thiT rate
Kingdom, or some half-civilized and distant
province, Is discussed at greater length than the
w
Will not apologize to our readers for supDosino
that they have little accurate knowledge of the
Kansas question. All of US have a feeling az ainst
slavery, and are aware that in Kansas a pfo-sla-
very party and an abolition party have been in
deadly strife for the last three or four wears But
or the details we presume most people are igno-
rant, not from want of the opportunity Of knOwl-
edge, for every letter from the States is sure TO he
full Of the matter, but from the completely of the
subject and from our habituaI indifference to
American affairs. But, As ii Is universally agreed
that the crisis has come and as the question does
certainly present many points of interest, we NAV
enter for moment Oh the rough and chartless sea
OF American politics, and endeavor to discover
fixed.
President Buchanan has Just sent to Congress
message on the affairs of Kansas in which he
takes the side Of the pro slavery party on LEGAL
grounds, and advises that Kansas should be ad-
United as state, with the constitution framed
6y the Constitutional Convention recently assem-
bled. This Constitution establishes slavery and
was settled by an assembly, for the members IF
which most of the free soileIs abstaiued {, ON
voting. The argument of the President is, that
even II IL be true, declared, that majority of
the inhabitants OF Kansas are free soilrrs vet as
they abstained from voting for the members of a
Convention legally called, they must be bound
by the minority who exercisf their RIG hts and
should they wish TO overthrow slavery they
must wait until Kansas is duly constituted a
state, and then strive to have another Convention
nominated to undo the work Of the last The
President begins by declaring that the whole
party which refuses to acquiesce in the leyiti-
macy OF the LeccmptOn Convention, and which
sets up the Tope ka Constitution law, are rebels
against the authority of the United States and
fall little short Of the gnilt Of the Mormons
This is, indeed, severe blow to the free soil
party, which had Teckoned, with some conf
dence, that the justice Of their cause would have
been counterbalaDced any transgression of strict
constitutional law. The President declares that
the Government would have been long since sub.
vsrtet by the " insurgent Topeka Legislature,
had 10 not been for the assistance Of the United
States troops. = large portion of the people of
he - ha.. 10.
bellion against the government, with a military
leader at their head Of the most turbulent and
dangerous character" The fact of the matter is
thai from the fist settlement of Kansas there
have been two factions, each ready to shed the
other's blood.
1t seems beyond doubt that a majority of the
first Inhabitants were opposed to slavery; but a
large body Of slavery men burst into the country
from the adjoining State Of Missouri not with
any intention OF settling, but merely to force
their own State from the dread of a free-soil
neighbor. These were the border rufians ~
and the time Of the Outrages were the years 1855
and 1c56. The free-soil party denied tue legality
Of all acts done under their influence and as
ssmbling at Topeka, PASSED a Constitution to
which they have resolutely adhered. Mr. Buch-
ansn, shortly after his Inauguration despatched
SIR Walker rs Governor OF Kansas Governor
Walker was accompanied by a strong force Of
regular troops, and under his auspi IS a COnsti-
tutional Convention has been held, with which
The "Topek aItrs" would have nothing to do
Governor Robinson and General Lane say the
despatcbPs of Governor Walker, counsTled total
disobedience to the United States authority.
General Lane raised volunteers to defend the 10
peka Legislature, and Governor Robinson de
claIed that the soil Constitution, having been
ratified twice, and followed up by the elections
Of state officers, was the law of the land, though
considered by the Administration at w askingtOn
~ revolutionary.
The President absolutely denies the authority
Of the Topeka Legislature. aud declares that the
constitution which has lately been voted and
which be presents 10 Congress, is the legal ex-
preston Of the wishes of Kansas, and must be
deceived a. such but IL rests with Congress to
accept IL or not. BY the fundamental law of the
United States, any region within its Jurisdiction
which Is sufficiently settled may be declared a
Territory, and when II attains a certain popula.
non may be admitted as a State, on the demand
of a properly constituted convention. Now, even
allow g that the convention which framed the
LscomptOn constitution was duly constituted,
the question is whether Congress, looking to the
circumstances of the case, shOuid admit il. The
South is, of course, eager In the a hrmative The
admission Of Kansas would, for the present at
feast give Two pro-slavery votes in the Senate
A mo e modeTats party is for rejecting the con-
rtitutjon, and passing an "eDaLling bill, 10
give Kan as the power 10 form another. Mr.. BIT
chanan is for the former course. He shows that
10 Is an inherent right Of Territory to meet In
Convention a. Kansas did, and that II would be
unjust to refuse to acknowledge the constitution
30 adopted, or to contest the claim to admission.
Moreover, Minnesota and Oregon are waiting also
admission, and Kansas, which has waited long
est, ought to be disposed Of nrst
Yet IL must not be supposed that Mr. Buchanan
IS anxious that Kansas should be slave state
He merely says that the constitution which the
Convention has established enacts slavery and
that Kansas must come into the Union with this
constitution, and change IL afteTwaFd II IL pleas
80 the people on the slst Of last Deeeinber. Tie