Mariposa Democrat., 1858-01-28
THE KANSAS QUESTION.

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Whatever may have influenced the admins
tration in its course with regard to the Consti-
tuition framed by the Eecompton Convention,
in Kansas, there has not been placed before
the people, at least so far as we have seen,
any satisfactory reason for that course, nor
can its warmest friends find, in the published
Federal documents bearing upon the subject,
position favorable for defence 1t can scarce
ly be supposed that the President, grown aged
in the transaction of public affairs, could have
been under the impression that, in submitting
the slavery clause alone of their Constitution
to the people of Kansas, he was perform
ing his whole duty, because, in his Message,
he says: al trust, however, the example set
by the last Congress, requiring that the Con-
stitution of Minnesota should be subject to the
approval and ratification of the people Of the
proposed State, may be followed on all future
occasions" 1t was thus fully shown that it
was necessary and proper, under democratic
institutions, to submit the entire constitution
of State to the people of that State for their
ratification or rejection, else why the recon-
mendation to that effect' That other Ter
rtories were admitted without their respective
Constitutions having been submitted to the
people themselves cannot serve as a shield in
this instance, for the later precedent Of Mime
sofa would show the inconsistency Of such an
argument, even if the broad principles Of De-
mocracy did not suggest it.
Aside from the question of slavery, there
were in that Constitution several matters of
great moment to the people to whom it was
to become a law, and upon which every citizen
felt he had right to express his sanction or
disapproval.
Had the administration followed the course
which it recommends to Congress, regardless
OF the tenor Of the Constitution itself touching
its being submitted to the people, then the un-
happy differences caused by its unfortunate
error of omission might have been avoided,
and the Democratic party saved the mortilica-
tion of seeing the present confusion in its
ranks. This recommendation, it is true was
made in anticipation Of clause, favorable to it,
being inserted in the Constitution, as appears
by Walkers Instructions but looking at the
matter from strictly democratic point of
view, and with due regard to the pure prin-
ciples of popular sovereignty, the omission of
such a clause should have been no obstruction
to course, so evidently proper, being perse-
vered in by the administration.
Politicians arc all agog as to the probable
result Of the present condition of things in the
Democratic party, touching the difference of
opinion between portion Of it and the admin
istration. The opponents of the party, who
have heretofore trembled and dispersed before
its all-conquerng march, would now fain H.
lustrate the fable Of the ass and the dying
lion bat we would suggest that the lion is not
yet in dying condition, and that notwith-
standing at present the political horizon of the
party is temporarily clouded on the Kansas
question, yet the party itself is too firmly
united to be materially affected by this pass
ing squall The contemplate plaudits of the
opposition press, and the dirty efforts of the
scum politicians of the black republican and
other schools TO create dissention and division
in the Democratic party, in consequence of
the existing difference of opinion, are looked
upon with disgust, and are scorned by the
more honest of their own political faith. Por-
tons Of the press, miscalled Democratic, are
shouting "wolfl wolff" and are sounding an
alarm intended for rallying cry, when, it
plainly appears, if danger to the party is to be
apprehended, they are more to be feared than
any other influence; for, wearing the garb of
honesty, they the more easily deceive, by cry
ing "dangerl" when there is none. Let
what viii happen-let newspapers that seek
the disunon Of the Democratic party harp
and shriek--let political enemies plot and con-
nive to make capital out of the Kansas ques-
ton to rend our ranks-the Administration
may be weakened, but the party, the great
DEMocRArrc party will stand united and indis-
soluble. gslt40u rr