Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-02


form, on which he was placed and proudly
elected by the Democratic party. hold every
Democrat who was at that Convention, OF who
was represented there-every aspirant to the
hOnors which it had to bestow and every DEM
ocrat who sustained it's nominee, to that touch
stone of party loyalty, and demand to know if
that platform required any other than the sla-
very question to be submitted to the people?
Ii 1t did not, James Buchanan was not bound
to go beyond it; and that Democrat who now
requires him to do 50, interpolates the platform,
desecrates the proud record, and himself stands
q hereto and deserter to the true recorded faith
of the party. The submission of any other
question than the slavery one was not provided
for, and was left to be determined by the au-
thOrities of Kansas in their own way, as was
done In all the other States, with or without the
submission of the Constitution, after it was
formed, to the people for ratification, just as
they might please. 1t is thus that the Presi-
dents recommendations square precisely with
the words and requirements Of our platform of
principles.
But gentlemen, the President recommended
tions IL my humble opinion, may be placed on
much higher grounds, challenging the COM
plants OF all corners and goers disposed to
abandon the Democratic party and to go over
to It's Black Republican enemies. The plat
form recognizes the right Of the people of the
Territories to form Constitutions with or with
out slavery. 1t was never intended to be in
eontradistinction to the right Of any Kansas
Constitution TO adopt Constitution without
referring 1t to popular ratification, but right
III cOntradistinctiOn TO that claimed by Con-
gress to dispose of that subject The two great
parties divided on the issue The Black Re-
publicans claimed it for Congress, the Demo-
cratic patty claimed 1t for the people of Kan
sas. The parties had fought repeated battles
on the issue. The Democrats met at Cincin-
NATL in preparation for u contest on it, more
fearful and doubtful than any which had pre-
ceded it. They again solemnly reafirmed that
She right to have slavery or not was in the peo-
pie OF the Territories and not in Congress and
on that issue they fought and conquel ed One
ct the best fruits OF that victory has been that
the people OF Kansas have gone on in their own
way, at their own to legislate for themselves.
to call their own Convention, to frame their
own Constitution, and now to present them-
selves for admission into the Union, in exact
and perfect conformity with the Constitution
Of the United States, and the assurances given
by the Democratic party in Convention as
sembled. When Kansas SO presents herself,
the President in his message announces
her approach, he details the story of her
trials and conflicts in thus getting ready for
admission, and recommends to Congress
favorable action upon her application. Is it
for this that he is now to be denounced lie
and the Democratic party in Congress have
secured TO the people of Kansas the enjoyment
and exercise OF the great right Of self.sovern-
lnent in its broadcast sense. They have stood
by them through all the horrors of rebellion
and civil war, and brought them safely to The
doors of Congress, knocking for admission into
the great family of American States. who now
threatens TO refuse her admission. That very
Black Republican party which always denied
this right to the people Of kansas to settle the
slavery question for themselves, but maintain
ed that Congress alone should exercise it, they
now revive the claim on the part OF Congress
to set aside the decision of the people Of Kan
sas-abrogate their action both in form and
substance, and to transfer to Congress the high
and dangerous powers which threaten at no
distant day to shake the Union to its centre
The old issue is revived-the issue that was
fought on the Wi!mot prOviso. On the passage
OF the compromise measures-the issue that
was fought In the last Presidential contest on
the Cincinnati platform. In this renewed con-
test over this all-absOrbing subject, sincerely
hope that no Democrat that stood with us and
by Us in the Cincinnati Convention, flashing
defiance in the face of the enemy, will now be
found ranged under the banners Of that enemy,
falthless TO Democracy-faithless to its plat
fJrm-and faithless to that iliustrious leader
whose days and nights have been devoted with
an assiduity almost threatening to destroy him.
to the Inaintainance of the great principle Of
popular rights in Kansas and everywhere else
throughout the Union
And for what Is this old issue to he revived
and this dangerous question te be kept open
Tor further and continued agitation Not for
the benefit of the people Of Kansas, that is i'm
possible, for they could have settled il at any
election recently held, by simply gving to the
polls and depositing their ballots It is r
vived for the benefit Of the Black Republican
party In Kansas and out Of it, in order to put
down the Democratic patty Of the Union That
party will make dreadful struggle, in Con-
gress and out of 1t, in order to carry the Presi-
dental election of 1860. In the meantime,
while fanatics and demagoSues are playing
with this fire brand for their own advance
ment, look to the condition of tho hundreds
aud thousands of good and true men, who are
living in Kansas and needing the protection
which an organized and stable government
alone can give. They are living away in the
exposed to the ravages of marau-
ders and murderers, who roam in gangs over
the Territory, destroying and plundering the
or shooting down its inhabitants.
The Convention OF Kansas seem to have only
this state and condition of affairs,
and to have determined to give to the well dis
posed and peaceable families Of Kansas, the
protection Of stable government, during that
indefinite period, throughout which the slavery
agitation might be kept up both in and out of the
Territory. If such we're the motive, | cannot
but approve and applaud, whilst invoke the
aid OF every true Democrat-of every one who
stood with US on the passage of the Kansas and
Nebraska act-who stood with him on the Gin
cinnati platform-of every one who desires to
see the preservation of the Constitution and
our glorious Union, to stand by the President
In admitting Kansas into the Union with or
without slavery, as the people shall have de-
fermined by their votes on the 2lst day Of the
present month. When she is admitted the
President can recall his army, and put an end
to that spectacle, as painful to him as to any
one else, Of having to see an armed s0Idiery
called out to preserve the peace. and to exc
cute the laws of any portion Of this country
When admitted, she can conduct her own al
fairs in her own way, without disturbing the
peaceful and friendly relations Of. other por-
tons of the Union. The occasion is an inyi-
ting one, and the temptation is strong to 20
further and deeper into this great subject bat
must not forget the impropriety Of doing 50,
and therefore conclude with the confident ex-
pectation that your meeting will give unani-
nous endorsement to one OF the best and most
orthodox Messages sent to the American Con
gress.