Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-02-06


at this moment, as much slave state as
Georgia or South Carolina. Without this,
the equality of the sovereign States compo-
sing the Union would be violated, and The
use and enjoyment of territory, acquired by
the common treasure of all the States,
would be closed against the people and
property of Iearly holr the members of the
Confederacy. Slavery can therefore never
be prohibited in Kansas, except by means
Of Constitutional provision, and in no
other manner can this be obtained SO
promptly, il the majority of the people de-
sire it, as by admitting il into the Union
under the present Constitution.
On the other hand, should Congress
reject the Constitution, under the idea Of
atlording the disaflected in Kansas a third
opportunity to prohibit slavery in State
which they might have done twice before
if in the ma ority, no man can foretell the
consequences. II Congress, for the sake
of those men who refused to vote for dele.
gates to the Convention, when they might
have excluded slavery from the Constitution
and who afterward refused to vote on the
2lst of December, when they might as they
claim, have stricken slavery from the
Constitution, should now reject State,
because slavery remains in its Constitution,
it is manifest that the agitation upon this
impor ant subject will be renewed in
more alarming form than it has ever as.
sumed.
Every patriot in the country had in
dulged the hope that the Kansas Nebraska
act would put fual end to the slavery
agitation, at least in Congress, which had
for more than twenty years convulsed the
country, and endangered the Uaon. This
act involved great and fundamental princ-
pies, and il fairly carried int, effect, will
settle the question. Should the agitation
be again revived should the people of the
sister States be again estrauged from each
other with more than former bitterness,
this will arise from cause, so far as the
interests of Kansas are concerned, more
trihiug and ins gnicant than has ever
stirred the elements of great people in'o
commotion. To he people Of Kansas the
only practical difference between their
admission or rejection, depends simply
upon the fact whether they can themselves
more speedily change the present Constitu-
ton. if it does not accord with the will of
the majority, or frame second Cons'itu-
ton to be submitted to Congress hereafter.
Even if this were a question of mere expe
dicncy, and not of right, the small difference
Of time, one way or the other, is no Of the
least Importance when cuntrasted with the
evils which must necessarily result to the
whole country from the renewal of the
slavery agitat IN In considering this
question, it should never be forgotten that
in proportion to its insiguiic4nce, let the
decision be villa. it may, so far may affect
the few thousands i,hlbitants of Kansas,
who have, from the beginning, resisted the
Constitution and the laws, for this very
reason of the rejection of the Constitution
wi ! be so much more keenly felt by the
people of fourteen States of the Union
where slavery is recognized under the
Constitution of the United Sites. Agein,
the speedy admission of Kansas into the
Union, would rest re peace and quiet to
the Territory have engrossed au undue
proporti N Of the public attention, have
sadly affected the friendly relations to the
people of the t.tes with each o'her, and
alarmed the fears of patriots for the safety
of the Union. Kansas once admitted. the
excitement beco ucs loc allied and will soou
die away for want of outside aliment then
every difficulty would be settled at the
ballot box. Besides-and this is he
trihing consideratior--we shall then be
enabled to withdraw the troops from Kan.
sas aud employ them in service where they
are much needed. They have been kept
there on the earnest Importantly of Gov.
ernor Walker to maintain the existence Of
the Territorial Government and secure the
execution of the laws. He considered al
, least two thousand troops under the com
= mand of Gen, Harvey necessary, Acting
t upon his reliable information, | b vo beer
t Obliged, in some degree, to interfere witt
the expedition to Utah in order to keeI
, down the rebellion in Kansas, which ha,
, involved very heavy expense to th,
| Government. Kansas once adm ted, it i;
t believed there will no longer be any occa
sion there for the troops of the Unitet
States.
, | have thus performed my duty on this
, important question, under a deep sense
vi my responsibility 10 Nou ana 10 my
country. Ny public life will terminal,
9 within brief PERIOD and have no othe
= object of earthly ambition than to leav,
G my country in peaceful, prosperous
q condition, and live in the affections ant
respect of my countrymen.
1 The dark and ominous clouds now
S impending over the Union, | conscienti
, ously believe will be disspated with
honor to every portion of it, by the
: admission of Kansas during the present
session of Congress, whereas if it SHOULD
= be rejected, greatly fear that these
1 clouds will become darker and more
5 ominous than any that have never ye
t threatened the Constitution and tn,
!. Union.
: JAMES BUCHANAN.
!. Briarcreek oSt Office.