Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-01

|
sdent's Message in connection with this Kansas al
fair. 1t often urged that although the nuery ques'
lion has been referred by the Convention to the peope
OF Kansas, and although the President has takenevs
~ precsution to secure fair vote upon it, yet because
| the UhoLe Constitution has not been submitted, the
President ought not to have recommended her admis,
son into the Union. In thus ask, has hs dlsregarded
the Cincinnati Platform, on which he was placed and
proudly elected by the Democratic party hold
| every Democrat who was at that Conyentlon-or who
was Represented thsreevery asprant to the honors
which it had TO bestow and every Democrat VINO sus
tanned is nominee to that touchstone OF party loyalty
and demand to know If that platform required any
other than the slavery question to be submitted to the
people7 If tldidinot James Buchanan was not bound
to 20 beyond it, and that Democrat who no" requires
him TO do 60, nerpolates the PLATFORM desecrates the
proud record and himself stands hereto and desert
ar TO the true recorded faith of the party. The sub
mission of any other question than the slavery one
was not provided for. and left to be deter nneo
BY the authorities of Kansas 10 their own way az W a.
done in all the other States with or without the sub
mission of the Constitution after was formed to the
people for ratification, just ss they mighf please.
| is thus that the Presidents recommendations square
precisely with the words and requirements OF our plat
form of principles
But gentlemen, the Presidents recommendations
in my humble opinion, may be placed on mucn hign
ar grounds challenging the complaints OF oil comer'
and coers disposed to abandon the Democratic party
| and 20 over to its Black Republican enemies. The
platform recognizes the right OF the people OF INT
| Territories to form Constitutions, with or without
slavery. 1t was never intended to be in CONTRACTS
tinction to the right of any Kansas Constitution tt
adopt Constitution without referring It to popular
ratification. but right 10 contradstlncton TO ina
claimed by Congress 10 dispose Of that subject. I'M
two great parties divided on the issue. Ihe Black Ne
pubicans claimed it for Congress. the Democratic
party claimed it for the people OF Kansas Inc par
ties had fought repeated battles on the issue. ins
Democrats met at Cincinnati, in preparation tor
contest on it, more fearful and doubtful than any
which had preceded it. They again soemnly re
affirmed that the right to hHve slavery or not was II
the people of the Territories and not 10 Congress, ant
on that issue they fought and cong uered. One
the best fruits of that victory has been that the PEG
| pie of Kansas have gone on in their own way,
their own time to legslae for Themselves TO call the
| own Convention, to frame their own Consti uton
and now TO present themselves for admission into thu
Union, in exact and perfec, conformity with the Con
sttuton of the United States and the assurances
given by the Democratic party in Convention assem-
bled. When Kansas so presents herself, the Pr-sl
dent 10 his message announces her approach, he de
tails the story Of her trials and ncts in thus gettns
ready for Admission, and recommends to Congress
favorable action upon her Application Is II Tor th
| that he is now to be denounced lie and the Demo
cratic party in Congress have secured to the people
Kansas the enjoyment and exercise of the great RICH
of self government in its broadcast seuse They have
stood by them through all the horrors of rebellion
and civil war, and brought them safely to the door
of Congress, knocking for admission into the gres
family of American States who now threatens TO re
fuse her admission. That very Black Republican
party which always denied this right to the people
Kansas to settle the slavery question for themselves
but maintained that Congress alone should eIercis,
it, they now revive ths claim on the part OF Congress
10 set aside the decision Of the people Of Kansas
abrogate their action both in form and substance,
to transfer to Congress the high and dangerous pow
era which threaten at no distant day to shake tn