Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-10-15
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
Kansas and tho Union,

Practically, the Kansas difficulty amounts to little
or nothing if we exclude principle from the considera-
ton and regardless of what precedent we establish
But if principle be regarded worthy OF attention, II
we seek to avoid the establishment of dangerous pre-
cedent, then Kansas still amounts to good deal.
The much-talkedof English bill accepted Kansas with
the Lecompton Constitution but refused to agree to
give the amount of land demanded by the State
the condition of her waiver of any claim to tax United
States lands or other property within her borders
Congress offered her admission with the amount Of lands
given to other new States If she chose to come in SO
she might do If not, she must wait her turn, until
the Of her population should prove her possession
of the requisite population to ente her to member OF
Congress.
Why, practically speaking, so far Kansas is con-
cerned the question may be considered settled arises
from the fact that no constitution be framed and
presented to Congress, preliminary step to the adj
mission of Kansas during the coming short session.
With the influx Of population, occasoned by the gold
discoveries on the South Platte it is evident that by
the close of 1859, when admission will really up,
the conditions of the English Bill in regard to popua-
ton will be fully complied with.
But all that amounts to little-be the time long or
short before Kansas In when in does come it will
be as free State. That we think is conceded The
real matter involved is, whether faith is to be kept
between the different sections of the Unon-whether
pledges Of any value, whether principles affirmed by
the Supreme Court and not denied by any true Demo
crat are to be acknowledged in the letter but tramped
upon in the spirit.
Now this adjustment, such it is was accepted in
good faith by the Southern Democrats 1t was not the
thing they wanted but it the pest they could get
If all southern men had united there would have been
no troube-Kansas would now be in the Union with the
Lecompton Constitution But this not the case and
part Of the compromise it inserted in it such that
if Kansas should fail to accept the offer then made to
her. she should be required to wait until she could show
a sufficient population to entitle her to a member. All
the other parts Of the settlement have been complied
WITH and yet there not wanting Northern who
voted for it, but who now deny any obligation Oredeem
the pledge which they thereby gave they contend that
no bill of this kind bar the future action of Con
gress OR prevent its admitting Kansas at any time, with
or without the requisite population. Perhaps they are
legally right but the morality of such lodging and want
of faith would be difficult to characterize would also
the cool effrontry of Mr. Douglas argument that ter
rory, though bound to acknowledge the rights of pro-
perty in the slave of the emgrant from Southern
State can legally deprive that emgran Of by refusing
to extend to it the protection of the laws although this
is in direct conflict with the decision of the Supreme
Court which Mr.. Douglas processes to uphold