The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-01-08

IL Is well UNDERSTOOD ~ washington
that the President has yielded6lnsslf al.
most exclusively to the influence Of men
entertaining Interior designs Of which he
is unsuspicious, and which he Indoubted.
" would reject with adherence Il they
were clearly presented to him. The aim
Of the men allude to Is dissolution Of
the Union and the erection on its ruin.
OF pure slaveholding republic. 1t is in
the hope Of bringing about this resul,
through civil war originating in Kansas,
that the scheme Of forcing the Lecomp.
ton Constitution on that territory is SO
warmly pressed, and not from any expec.
tation that Kansas can be peacefully made
slave State. That expectation was re.
llnquished long ago.
The position taken by Messrs. Walker
Douglas, Broadhead, Stuart, Forney and
other Northern democrats whose fidelity
to the South and to the pro-slavery poll.
cy OF the democratic party had never
been questioned, has greatly perplexed
and embarrassed the President. 1t is an
obstacle upon the occurrence Of which he
had in no degree counted. He impute.
it 10 selfish motives on the part Of those
gentlemen-to the necessity they are un.
der Of securing themselves at home, or to
the desire Of revenge for real or fancied
sights. He seems to overlook its obvious
significance as an indication that the
democratic party in this matter Of the
Lecompton Constitution has gone step
too far in subserviency to the slavehold.
ing Interest," step so long, or at least
so abrupt, that the rank and file in the
free States who have any independence
Of thought or action left, will not follow
Nothing could have induced such men as
Forney, Douglas and Walker to separate
themselves from the democratic party,
but profound conviction that the party
had taken the road to ruin. Personal
motives ofthe kind imputed by Mr.. Bu'
chanan, have undoubtedly assisted in the
separation, but the maine motive is assur
edly the same as that which impels rats
to quit sinking ship.
The best understanding and tie mos,
cordial good feeling subsists here betw zen
Mr.. Douglas and the republican members
OF Congress. They fully appreciate and
approve his position, knowing well tina,
having gone so far he must needs go on
He cannot rctrace his steps, and the at
tempt to do so would only ensure his pc
litical destruction,
The intatuation Of the President on til,
subject OF Kansas does not infect all o
the democratic leaders here, nor even al
OF the Southern democrats. Some Of the
more prudent and moderate ones, who dc
not share in the sinister and treasonabl,
designs of the frc.eateas are serious
alarmed at the aspect OF affairs. Trey
had hoped that tie Consti; ution without
slavery would prevail at the recent cleo
ton in Kansas, an expectation, indeed
which was shared by the administration
ITSELF which dispatched agents to the ter
ntory charged to persuade the pro-slave
nv men to vote for the Constitution with
out slavery, OF to abstain from voting al
together. In case the Constitution with
ont slavery had been sent here, supported
by majority Of the votes cast, is was thu
intention OF Mr.. Stephens Of Georgia tc
have introduced a bill into the Hous,
sending back tho whole affair to the pco
pie OF Kansas for ratification or rejection
The return of the Constitution will
slavery was quite unexpected, ana ma.s
rally deranges these projects of cvadins
the issue. As tho matter now stands, !
can hardly be expected that the South
ern democrats will consent to rclinquisl
the fruits Of the apparent triumph il
Kansas by consenting TO any fresh refer
encc to the people.