The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-28

W oouenefu INSTITUTIONS, Will elect an hOonlIoH
State legislature, send two Abolition Senators
TO the Senate of the United States, and a mem
| Der to Congress entertaining similar sentiments,
and that, at very early period, they would
amend the Constitution, and make it hostile, in
every respect, to the institutions of the South.
let they would have been admitted as State,
end their power to amend the State Constitu-
| ton could not be arrested Thus it would
happen that, whilst for short time Kansas
would have Pro-Slavery Constitution on
parchment, she would be rendered by this
course, in fact. an Abolition State, opposed to
the Fugitive Slave Law, and necessarily pro-
ducing collision with the coterminous State OF
Missouri. Indeed, if the Convention (of which
have no fears) should adopt Constitution
| without submission to the people, and it should
| be Fro Slavery In form, it would be accompa-
MED by an Abolition State Legislature, Abo-
lition United States Senators, and Member of
Congress, and an immediate movement for the
amendment of the Constitution, which would
soon be carried into effect and the Southern
States, in my judgment, would vote unanimously
against the admission of Kansas, because the
!, Constitution had not been submitted to the
people; otherwise they will have received the
Grecian horse within the walls of Troy. In
deed, 1t is universally admitted here that the
only real question is this whether Kansas
shall be conservative, constitutional, Demo
cratic, and ultimately free State, or whether
1t shall be Republican and Abolition State !;
and that the course pursued by me is the only
one which will prevent the last most calamitous
result, which, in my opinion, would soon seal
the fate of the Republic"
| This extract we quote from the same letter,
July 10th. 1t shows clearly the animus of
Governor Walker, and how groundess the con-
/ Of of <Lok L., IL
sympathy with them, or was controlled by any
high principle.
The Governor, acting as the agent of the
Federal Administration, proceeded in the
policy of active Intervention, so hypocritically
disclaimed and denounced by the organs of the
Administration. Having separated the Demo
Gratis from the Republicans, and united them
with the Pro Slavery party, his next step was
to shape the proceedings of the Lecompton
Convention, 80 as to secure Slavery under a
Constitution, in form, Free State, in substance,
Pro-Slavery.
We do not misrepresent. Robert J. Walker
is most upjustly assailed by Southern men. He
did all he could for their peculiar interests.
We shall again let him speak for himself
The passage occurs in the same letter, July
10th:
cater much conference with majority of
the delegates elected to the Constitutional Con.
vention which meets in September next, my
opinion is, that they will in all probability pur-
sue this course, viz: to adopt State Constitu.
ton very similar to that of some of the South.
ern States, securing the right to the slaves now
in the Territory, numbering probably from two
| 60 hron hrnA ra1 hot Al
| ton of any more slaves excluding all free ne.
groes, enforcing by most stringent provisions
the execution of the Fugitive Slave Law; &C.
curing the right of appeal in all constitutional
cases to the Supreme Court of the United States {;
and requiring all officers of the Government
legislative, executive, and judicial-the judges
and inspectors of all elections, and the attorneys
of all courts, to take An oath to support the Con.
stitution of the State and of the United States
Such Constitution, if submitted to vote of
the whole people, would, in my opinion, be
adopted by very considerable majority; for
think the great mass of the Free State Demo
Gratis and of the Pro-Slavery men would unite
in its support, as the best that could possibly
be done under existing circumstances. Such
a Constitution would meet my most cordial ap-
prevail, and l should devote my whole time in
addresses every day to the people of every coun.
| ty of the Territory, to insure its adoption In
deed, greatly prefer this plan to any other, if
it should be practicable.
"Many of the Pro-Slavery men object to
Constitution which shall be silent on the subject
of Slavery on several grounds first, because it
would not settle the question secondly, because.
the apastierweeh the rree State Democrats and
the Pro-SIavery men In the election of State
Legislature; thirdly, because, there being no
prohibition of emancipation in the Constitution
they apprehend the State Legislature would at
their first meeting abolish Slavery altogether in
Kansas, including the slaves heretofore in the
Territory, and, as the result of such an agita-
ton, throw the State into the hands of the Re-
publican or Abolition party. Still, however, if
the Convention deem it best to adopt such
Constitution, it will receive my cordial support,
and my hes: efforts would then be directed to
secure union between the Free State Demo.
Gratis and the o.Savery party in the election
of the State Legislature"
Such was Mr.. Walkers plaza Constitution
protecting Slavery as existing in Kansas, but
| prohibiting slave immigration-to be submitted
to the People, of whom, he supposed, his new
| Party, the union of Free State Democrats and
Prc-Slavery men, constituted majority. Alas
for the Agent and his Principal-for the Gov
ernor and the President Their Intervention.
| after all, proved miserable failure
In closing the letter, he refers to intelligence
just received of alarming intentions of rebellion
in Lawrence; and in another letter, dated
July 10th, he enlarges upon this danger, and
on the necessity of maintaining two thousand
troops in the Territory to preserve peace. But,
he soon recurs to his favorite theme-the or.
| ganization of ProSlavery Democracy in
| Kansas
The only practical way to maintain the
peace of the Territory, and to inaugurate par
| ty which would support the Constitution and the
Union, is to unite the Free State Democrats
here (who were with US in the election of 1861
with the Pro-Slavery party of Kansas.
This could be accomplished in no ether way
than by carrying out the policy indicated in nv
inaugural address and various speeches. This
policy was making great and successful pro.
| gress when the violent attacks made upon it
and upon me by Southern extremists reached
the Territory. These proceedings, l assure
you, have produced deep agitation among the
Free State Democrats, many of whom had pro-
fessed to me willingness not to impair the
right to the slaves now in the Territory, and to
adopt conservative clauses in the Constitution
as to the Fugitive Slave Law and appeals to the
| Supreme Court of the United States.
"But since the proceedings of those extre.
mists have become known here, some of these
Free State Democrats have receded from this
| conservative position, notwithstanding all nv
| arguments addressed to their reason and patri.
otism; and there is most serious apprehension
that considerable portion of them will Join the
| Repubicans-not, perhaps, in their revolution.
ary proceedings, but in INSISTING on q Copat;tu