The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-25
SICK OF LECOMPTON.


The Black Democracy of the South, with a
few honorable exceptions, threatened dissolu-
ton of the Union last winter, if Congress should
hesitate about forcing the infamous and fraud
ulent LecOmpton Constitution upon the people of
Kansas. But the scheme failed. The North
revOlted en- mdsSe, and overwhelmed the party
with defeat. And now mark the effect upon
Southern politicians! Senator Hammond, who
stuck to the foul abortion as long as it had
spark of vitality in it, turns about, with an air
of virtuous Indignation, and declares that it
should have been kicked out of Congress! And
he gains universal applause for his manly frank
ness i'll denouncing as an infamous fraud a
measure which he voted for and defended in de-
bate not twelve months ago. This is certainly
gaining reputation for moral heroism at a
very cheap rate and what is most singular,
the very newspapers which were foremost in de
nouncing opposition to Lccompton as treason
to the Constitution, are now the readiest to pro-
claim their own prostitution by applauding this
speech of Mr. Hammond
We think that Mr. Hammond's frankness
and honesty come a day after the feast and
his denunciatons of the Lecompton swndle,
after he and his party failed to force it upon the
people of Kansas, furnish another illustration of
the moral contained in the fable of the Fox and
Grapes.
The following article is from the South Car
Gilman, which we believe is the central organ
of all the Chivalry, printed at Columbia, South
Carolina. Like Mr.. Hammond's speech, it
would have sounded much better twelve months
ago. Nevertheless, we are gratifcd to perceive
that reason and common sense are beginning
to make their way into South Carolna-a re-
suit attributable to the recent political earth
quake; and we are induced to indulge the hope
that a few more violent shaking5 may restore
the body polite to healthfu condition:
" Forgetful of every rule laid down in the
case of California, with unaniIAity before unpre-
cedented in Southern action, we all rallied Ia
the support Of the Lecompton Constitution, and
for the mere eXpediency of the moment, violent
ly and persistently urged its acceptance, not
withstanding the absence of an enabling act
the deficiency of population, and the known
multiplicity of election frauds What more
could we expect, than that our enemies at the
North should make use of this glaring incon.
sstency, and should turn it against us with tell
ing effect in their popular elections They had
told the people of the North that the South. in
opposing the admission of California. was moi
actuated by principle, but by expediency: and
these assertions we verified by voting for the
LccomptOn Constitution. The Administration
wavered in its advocacy of the Lecompton Con
stitutiOn, and many Northern Democrats ad
vised the South that it had nothing to gain
that the Pro-Slavery feature was a mere dead
letter, not worth, practically, the parchment
upon which it was written. But no: the warn
blood of the South was up. This advice wa,
Knocked, and leading papers in the State anC
| South denounced Mr.. Buchanan as a traitor.
"Madly we rushed on, under the impulse O
this ultra sentiment, which, for the time. seemed
to have inhamed the whole South until inall,
we found ourselves arrayed against the vast ma
jority of the people of Kansas, majority O
Congress, a majority of States, and vast ma
Jority of the popular vote and (what was of in
nnltely more consequence, and which led t.
the preceding majorities) We found ourselve,
butting with violent collision against our own
principles. In looking at the recent elections
we must not overlook these considerations. fo
the recent reverses are but retributions. which
have befallen us in consequence of our aban
donment of principles-and the only surprise is
that they have not been greater To this cans.
we are disposed to attribute the increased vot,
of the Republican party.
Had the South have acted as Senator Ham
mOnd says she should have done, and been tn,