The Washington union., 1858-03-10
THE LONDON TIMES ON THE KANSAS
nj E0SAGE.
From tho Times, Feb.

only but by pohcy alliances and NATIONAL interests
10 the Old World that now, when the United
States have become first rate power and British Amer
lea counts than three millions of inhabitants, most
Of skim with indifference every piece Of un
connected with business which from the other side
of the Atlantic The continent OF Europe still maintains
its supremacy in interest aud attention, and ques
ton relating to third rate kingdom some half
civilized and distant province 10 discussed at greater
length than the most important concerns OF the New
World We will not apologize to readers for sup
posing that they have little accurate knowledge Of the
Kansas question All OF us have feeling against sla
very andare that in Kansas pro slavery party and
abolition party have been in deadly strife for The last
three four years But OF the details presume most
people ignorant, not from want OF the opportunity
of knowledge for every letter from the States Is sure To
be full OF the matter. but from the compeAy oi the
subject and babitual indifference to American
affairs. But il is universally agreed that the crisis
has come and the question does certainly present
many points OF interest may enter for a moment on
the rough and chatless of American politics. and en-
deavor to discover what IL the issue which all repub
lican eyes are fixed
President Buchanan has just sent TO Congress mes
sage the affairs OF Kansas in which he takes the side
of the pro slavery party legal grounds and advises
that Kansas should be admitted State with the
suon framed by the constitutional convention recently
assembled This constitution establishes slavery, and
was settled by assembly for the members of which
most of the free soilers alstancd from voting The
gunent OF the President is that it be true de-
clared that the majority OF the inhabitants OF kans's
freesoiles yet, they abstaned from voting Tor
the members of the convention legally called they must
be bound by the minority, who exercised their rights
and should they wish overthrow slavery they must
wait until Kansas is duly constituted state aud then
strive to have another convention nominated to undo
the work of the Inst The President begins by declaring
that the whole party which refuses to acqesce III the e
gitmacy of the Letompon conventions and which sets
up the Topeka constitution law rebels against the
authority of the United States and fall little short of the
guilt of the Mormons. This is indeed blow to
the free soil party which had reckoned with conf
dence that the Justice of their would have counter
balanced ahy ngesson of strict constitutional law The
President declares that the government would have been
long since subvered by the nsurgent Topeka legislature
had it been for the assistance of the United States
troops "a large portion Of the pApe of Kansas, says
he haye been in state Of rebellion against the govern
ment with military leader at their head of the most
turbulent and dangerous character. The fact OF the
matter s that from the first settlement of Kansas there
have been two factions each ready to shed the others
blood 1t beyond doubt that the majority of the
first inhabitants were opposed TO slavery but large
body of slavery burst into the country from the ad
joining State of Missouri not with any intention of set
Ting but merely to force slavery institutions on Kansas,
and to deliver their State from the dread of free
soil neghbor. These the 'bordcr rufians, and
the time of the outages the 1885 and 1856
The soil party denied the legality of all acts done
der their influence, and assembling at Topeka passed
constitution to which they have resolutely adhered Mr.
Buchanan shortly after his Inauguration despatched Mr.
Walker as governor to Kansas Governor Walker
accompanied by strong force of regular troops, and
der his auspices constitutional convention has been
held with which the "Iopekaites would have nothing
to do Governor Robinson and General Lane, say the
dispatches of Governor Walker counseed total dsobe
diencc the United States authority. General Lane
raised volunteers to defend the Topeka Legislature and
Governor Robinson declared that the reesoil constu-
tion having been ratified twice. and followed by the
elections of State officers the law of the land
though considered by the administration at Washington
revolutionary.
The President absolutely denies the authority OF the
Topeka legislature, and declares that the constitution
which has been lately voted and which lie presents to
Congress is the legal expression Of the wishes of Kansas
and must c received SUCH but ii rests with Congress
accept il or BY the fundamental law Of the Uni
ted States any region within its jurisdiction which is su
cently settled may be declared Territory and when il
atains certain population, may be admitted as State,
the demand of properly constituted convention
Now, allowing that the convention which framed
the Iecompton constitution duly constituted, the
question is whether Congress, looking to the crcum-
stances of the case should admit it, The South is, of
course, eager in the affirmative The admission of Kansas
would for the present at least give two prosavery votes
in the Senate moderate party is for rejecting
the constitution and passing an enabling ill to give
Kansas tho power to form another, Mr.. Buchanan is for
the former He shows that it is inherent right
of Territory to meet in convention Kansas did, and
that it would bc unjust to refuse to acknowledge the
suon it adopted to contest the claim to admission
Moreover Minnesota and Oregon waiting also for adj
mission, and Kansas which has waitct longest ought to
| be disposed of first.
Yet it must not be supposed that Mr. Buchanan is
ious that Kansas should be slave State He merely
that the constitution which the convention has
tabshe enacts slavery and that Kansas must into
| the Union with this constitution and change it after
wards. if it pe,scs. The question of slavery sub
mittcd the people the 2lst of last December The
soilers abstned from voting recognising the
assembly which put the question II they had chosen to
vote the President, they might have made Kansas
free State they abstaned they must take the
ouenccs and remedy the evil by another vote after the
Territory has become State The late judgment Of the
Supreme Court which has caused such establishment at
! home and abroad is cited to show that Kansas being
United States territory from that very fact slave soil
" 1t has been soemny adjudgcd by the highest judicial
tribunal that slavery exists in Kansas hy virtue of the
constitution the United States Kansas is therefore
this moment much slave State Georgia South
Carolina So there nothing ~ 0e tnfs of The The
lac Of The country 10 foybd The iis,,on Of The Nsory M
/ is Experimentation
There can be no doubt that TIC President has much
on his side and that the free sellers have acted with inn
prudence and ntemperance They ut first ovcrpow
cred by the border ruiians. and might naturally
fuse to acknowledge assemblies elected by violence but
when the federal administration interfered aud gave
them an opportunity of showing their numerical strength
they might well have given up their sepratis legislature
and masalcl their forces for fair constitutional
test They are now branded by The highest authority
with the guilt of rebellion and it Is officially declared
that their acts neccssate the presence in the Territory Of
large body Of troops which much wanted elsewhere
That their cause will have the sympathy OF large class
both in their country and in Europe, we have no
doubt but that they will have to yield equally
clear Resistance to the central ov,rnment is the high
est of crimes in the eye of every true American and
when the Chief Of the republic calls upon the citizens to
support bis authority he will be responded to from every
side Perhaps the best solution of the question is what
the President proposes that Kansas should be admitted
and that tho