Oroville daily Butte record., 1858-01-05
The Kansas Question asdethe Democratic
Party.

Ehrtys
The Kansas question more than any other
political subject, now occupies the attention
Of the American people, and especially Of
the Democratic party which administers the
government of this nation. The principles
of popular sovereignty" announced in the
:" Kansas. Nebraska Bill" and afterwards in
the Cincinnati Platform, have passed yet,
unscathei through the fiery ordeal of Kan
sas. Just in themselves, founded upon the
natural rights of man, We kRew them to be
sound in theory, but we're told that they
could not be successfully reduced to prac'
tice,-that they too greatly enlarged the
liberties of the pioneers and founders of new
States, and general anarchy and licentous-
ness would be the certain result of their
operation. But the Democratic party, con
fiding in the intelligence and honesty of the
popular will, restricted Congress. and gave
up the power to the people Of the territories
to whom of right it belonged, to mould their.
own domestic institutions according to their
own free choice. This act was in keeping
with the admirable system of political
science originated and carried out by the
Democratic party: which calm, hopeful, and
self f-possessed, under the responsibility of
preserving the liberties of the Republic,
whose destinies were committed to its custo-
dy by the revolutionary fathers, has, with
prodigious sagacity and energy for the last
sixty years, been working out the vast prob
lens of self government at first adopted by
it, until it now stands amidst the unrivalled
splendor of its own political creations and
the monuments Of its wisdom
The Kansas embroglio has nJw settled
down to the simple proposition-s shall the
whole of the Lecompton Constitution be sub
mitted to the vote of the people, or only
that part which relates to slavery? The
President in his message argues with dis.
tinguished ability, the general proposition
that the whole Constitution should &c sub
mitted to the people for adoption before
Congress should pass upon it, but in this
case of Kansas, he takes the ground it were
the better policy to take Constitution with
part submission, believing that it not thu,
admitted "she may be involved for years in
domestic discord, and possibly in civil wa' ~
While Gov. Walker, Senator Douglass, and
other distinguished statetmen hold entirely
opposite opinions. insisting that the doctrine
Platform princip iples-the. pledges of the De-
mocratic party throughout the North during
the late Presidential canvass-and the peace
of Kansas require the submission of the
whole of the Constitution to the vote of all
the bona fide electors Of that territory. Gov.
Walker utters the firm conviction from per-
sonal knowledge of affairs in Kansas, that
any other policy than his would light at once
the flames of civil war all over shat terri
tory, and possibly throughout the Union
Col Forney goes so far in his paper as to in
innate that, unless the whole Of their Con.
stitution be submitted to the free adoption
Of the people cf Kansas, they should hold
the government under it a an usurpdtiOR
and its officers tyrants, and should expe
every tyrant from the soil, or die like free.
men in defence of their unsurrendercd
rights.
The principle of popular sovereignty
has thus assumed a magnitude in the simple
question Of the admission of Kansas, in the
settlement of which the Democratic party
cannot possibly shrink from its Obligations
or responsibility Of its determination For
one, | am in favor of no time serving policy,
let US "take the buh by the hornsi let the
principle of popular sovereignty" in all its
| length, breadth, and height be forever set
tied | agree with the President that
Constitutional Convention does not neces.
sariv represent the sentiments of the peo-
pie and that "no other authentic and sat-
isfactory mode exists Of ascertaining the
will Of majority of the people of any State
or territory [upon all 9uestions1
except by leaving it toa direct vote" But
cannot come to the conclusion that Con.
gress, in the case of K0nsas, may tell that
people, "You are not at liberty to vote upon
your Constitution we (Congress) hold that
your Constitution suits you in all other re.
spects, and shall force that Constitution up
on you in all its provisions, excepting the
question Of the further extension of slavery
in your midst You shall vote upon that
alone" Such would be the virtual language
Of the course of legislation by Congress in
adopting the Lecompton Constitution The
people in Kansas may deem the pr DIVISIONS
in that Constitution, preserving the right
of holding perpetual property in slaves now
existing in that territOry"-or the question
of barking institutions the extension
of Sta indebtedness,-and exclusive privi-
leces, and menopolies, with many other
points, as important as that of whether any
more slaves shall be brought into the pro-
pcsed new State. This position is matter
of principle it involves some Of the most
sacred rights; the discussion OF the doctrines
Of the :, Kansas Nebraska Bin has set forth
IN colors Of living light the inaliesable rights
of man.-aud under it he stands up in all
the dignity and responsibility Of afreeman
In tke formation Of a Con stitution is de