Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-05

This important State psper was an1iousiy an'ic'pa
ted for some DAYS previous to ts appearance before
Congress and the public We laid it before our read
ers Yesterday and to-day, purpose to refer briefly
to its salient points.
Predicating that "grsat delusion seems to perVade
The public mind in relation to the condition OF parties
In Kansas" that "whsn we speak of the affairs OF
Kan.as, We are apt to refer merely to the exist
sncs Of two violent political parties in that Territory
divided the question of slavery just az We speak
of such parties in the States" the President &C.
csres, and then proceeds prove, concusve'y' tnat
instead Of two political parties, antagonist'c on tue
slavery Question there in the States kansas has
asen and is distracted by contentious between law
snd order psrty-a parry acknowledging and sup
porting the Constitution Of the United States on the
one side, and party of revolutionary faconists on
the other. To the rebsllious spirit Of these machina
tors against the Government, Mr.. Buchanan attri'
butes-snd We think reasonably aud truy-their re-
fusa to vote for delegates to the Constitutional Con
venton, and subsequently on the slavery question:
S!so, when it was submitted to the people.
In regard to the right Of the people, under the or
panic law of Congress, to form State Constitution
without any other enabling act, the message says It
il too clear, for argument" On this point, We think
even the ability and ingenuity Of Judge Douglas can
avail nothing aganst the stern fact, it stands out
plainly and boldly to the most obtuse understanding
not cloudeG by prejudice or blinded by excitement.
The President then ssys, ait is impossible that any
people could have proceeded with more regularity in
the formation Of Constitution than the people OF
Kansas have DONE" The "sense of the people" was
taken, authorised by the Territorial Legislature to
ascertain whether Convention, for the formation OF
State Constitution, was desired or not. The vote
WAS in favor Of Convention. The Territorial Legis
laure then passed aot for the election of delegates
to that Convention-every bona fde inhabitant OF
Kansas who was citizen OF the United States above
;he age of twsntyone, and had resided in the Terri
tory the three msnths previous being entitled to vote.
Every effort was made to induce the people to 70
to the polls.s They were warned that the election
would be held valid, and binding upon those who
did not a. we'll as those who did vote. The
Topeka rebels the free soil revoluticnists, refused
to take part in the election of delegates to the
Convention. And here we would ask, Of every can
did man, have they any reason or any right to com.
plain of the result of election in which they con-
tumaciousy declined to participated Upon the same
principle any defeated candidate for Office might de.
mand another election, by simply alleging that has
friends did not 90 to the polls. The President takes
the ground that although the whole Constitution
not submitted to the people, the question of slave
~ slavery was and that in that question alons'
the gist of the controversy and difficulty was in
volved. He says when he instructed Governor
Walker in general terms, In favor Of submitting the
Constitution to the people, he had no object in view
except the allabsorbing slavery question:; that he
then believed and still believes, 'thst under the or
ganic act, the Kansas Convention were bound tosub
nit this simporant question of slavery TO the peo-
1le" The readers of the Enquirer will here At once
eecognzs the identity of the Presidents position aud
that taken by ourselves Immediately upon the ad
iournment of the Lecompton Convention, and still
steadily maintained by u.s. We have commended, and
~e yet contend. that the principle OF popular sove
reignty a. understood and affirmed by the Nebraska
act Aas been enforced by the submission of the slave
~ question to the people of Kansss. 1t was With re-
ference to the institution Of slavery alone that the Ne
brasks bill was originated and adopted
But when the questioned slavery referred to the
people on the of alst December. the free State men
went against them.
The President rejoices, however, that "a vice and
better spirit prevailed among large majory Of these
people on the FIRST Monday of January and that they
did on that day, vote under the Lseompton Constitu.
ton for Governor and other State oiiicers, mem
Der OF Congress- and for members of the Legislature.
He adds I'VE may now reasonably hope that the re
evolutionary Topeka organisation will be speedily
End fnally abandoned, and this will 20 far towards
the final settlement Of the unhappy differences in
Kansas"
The message urges the acceptance Of the hecomp.
tun Constitutes on the ground that the Immediate
admission OF Kansas will carry out the principle OF
mon Intervention by Congress, with slavery in The
States or territories that it will "localizs the ques
ton and oonhne il to the people, whom it imuiedi
asly concerns and Danish it from the halls Of Con.
sres,." He says, domestic peace will Do the happy
Of its admission and that Gus errtory,
which has hitherto bsen torn by discussions, will ra-
pdy increase in population aud wealth. and speedily
realize the blessings and the comforts which follow
In The train Of agricultural aud mechanical industry
The people will then bs sovereign, and can regulate
their own affairs in their own way. II majority
Of them desire to abolish domestic slavery within the
STATS, there 10 no other possible mode by which this
can be effected so speedily az by prompt admission"
80. =" = "Kansas is ut this moment as much slave
STATE as Georgia or South Carolina" TIE President
anp.ehsnds fearful renewal Of agitation, in the
event Of the rejection of the Lscompton Consttu-
ton. He says, also, when ksnsas is admitted he
will bs enabled to Withdraw the United States troops
thence and employ them ION other branches of the
service, where they are much needed" The ms.
sage concludes with the following fervent and pa.
triotie language:
81 have thus performed my duty on this important
uuestiop under a deep senee OF responsibility to Gud
and my country. My public life will terminate within
a brief period; and have other object Of earthly
ambition than TO leave my country in peaceful aud
prosperous condition. and TO live in the affections and
respect OF my countrymen. The dark and oIniDons
clouds which now appear to be impending over the
Union, consci-n,iousy believe may he dissipat. d
With honor 10 every portion Of II, by tho admission
OF Kansas during the present session OF Congress
whereas she shuHld bertected. greatly fear Theses
,nads will become darker and more luminous than
any which has ever yet threatened the Constitution
aud the Union"
We eubmit to our country readers Of this
clear, comprehensive and conclusive state paper tbs
whole OF which We trust they WILL nevertheless care
fully read The message denotes eaudor and resolu
,ior elevated Craftsmanship. and an undertaking dc
<oioa to the best interests of the whole country.
REVOLUTIONARY RELICS.
We have seen In the State Library several interest
,ns recs which are properly described in the follow.
ing letter:
20 Hi, Ereelieaey Henry A. VIE, Governor Of Vir
ginid:
yer, three relcs of the American Revolution, which,
many years have had at this place. The sight.
snd Handling of them may be Interesting, perhaps,
TO yoursef and to thousands Of others, who may a.