The daily Butte record., 1858-02-01
Collector Washing tons sKansas-Ex Pc
diency "Shrfek.o

diency "shriek" for Kansas, addressed to
the Editor of the Mountain Democrat, but
published in the vigilante Globe Like
every other advocate of the Lecompton ex.
pediency side Of the question, Col. Washing.
ton abandons the Democratic platform, and
then announces that he would rejoice to
shear that some common ground had been
discovered upon which the great National
Democratic family might barmoniously
meet" There is a common ground Of Just
principles upon1which the National Demo-
racy have heretofore met. acted and tri-
umphed-and that is upon the ground of
popular sovereignty. The constituted au-
| thorities must adhere to that doctrine or
the National sentiment will overwhelm them
with shame and indignation. That National
sentiment cannot side with either of the
political parties in Kanzas, without becom-
ing fanatical and sectionalised, unprincipled
and unworthy Of public confidence. 1t must
be settled upon the inalienable right Of pop
ular sovereignty. with which all men are
created-including those in Kansas-and
then, if necessary. be sustained by the full
power Of the Federal government. The
abandonment Of this National Democratic
doctrine, after its acceptance by the nation.
is only equalled in the perfdy Of Charles, of
England, whose pledges secured desired
concessions from tho people, and were sys-
tematically violated. Charles lost his head
Let not tho Federal authorities bring des
truction upon themselves and the Democrat.
ic party by gross violation of what they
acknowledge to be "the vital principle Of
our free institutions" The nation has sig
nifed it's willingness to let the majority of
the people Of KaDzas determine for them
selves the character Of their institutions, in.
cluding that Of slavery. Does the Collector
Of the port imagine that the national senti-
ment will now forco the will of minority
upon that unhappy people. There is no Do.
mocracy in such sentiment. 1t should DO
advanced only by the Giddingses, Went.
worths and Abbey Kellys of the Black Re.
publicans. The National Democracy abide
the issue rs accepted.
Mr.. Washington argues that the peo-
pie of Kansas have elected delegates who
have framed a constitution, and that Con-
gress has no right to interfere-that the
National and State Democratic Conventions
had declared in favor of non-intervention-
and it is therefore the duty of Congress to
accept tho Lecompton constitution as pre-.
sented. Had the majority of the people of
Kansas declared in favor OF that constitution
that would be correct Democratic doctrine :;
but it is well known that they have not al
though Mr.. Washington affects to believe
the constitution reflects the will of the peo.
pie. The Black Republican fanatics long
ago exhausted this description of argument
in favor of the Topeka Constitution. We
regret to sec Mr. Washington driven to the
necessity of employing repudiated arguments
Of Black Republican fanatics, but it is the
certain fate of those who abandon the Demo-
cratic platform, or torture its doctrines to
legali.e the will of minority
Again, Mr.. Washington assumes that eve.
ry resident of Kansas had a chance to vote
for delegates to the convention. but having
neglected to do so, are entitled to no consid.
Grafton now. He quotes from the inaugural
address of Gov Walker to show that they
were timely warned of the possible conse-
quence of their refusal to vote But he does
not quote from the same authority. to show
that in nineteen of tho thirty -four counties
in Kansas. tho citizens were disfranchised
and could not vote, and by no fault of their
own--and that where they did send dele.
gates they were rejected by the Lecompton
convention. Gov. Walker tells us that the
Federal officials declined to take census,
and register the voters of these nineteen
counties. because they opposed their political
sentiments. and thus majority of the
people in Kansas were disfranchised Mr.
Washington says nothing of Gov. Walker
resignation. because rs National Democrat
he could not sustain these frauds upon
sovereign people. We consider the argu-
ment unworthy of Mr.. Washington and will
not further pursue the point.
Mr.. Washington closes his "shriek' with
o well rounded period of reverence for the
Constitution and the Union. We would ask
Mr., Washington to consider the following,
and then say, ifhe can, if the advocates of
the Lecompton constitution. are supported
by the organic law Of territory, and the U.
D. Constitution
The organic law Of the territory says that
the people shall be free to form their insti-
tutions .'subiect only 70 the Constitution Of