Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-01-08
WHAT IS To BE THE END?

high official, are furnished by the course
Of Buchanan, on the Kansas question 1t
is we'll known that he Instructed Gov.
Walker to have the entire Constitution
submitted to the people of the Territory,
and that Walker labored faithfully to
carry cut the instruction. The Conven-
ton disregarded the instructions of the
President, and only submitted the slavery
clause of the Constitution, and in open
violation Of the doctrine of popular
sovereignty. Thereupon, Buchanan chang
ed rear to front and, in his message, de-
clared that the Convention had done pre-
cisely right, because popular sovereignty
was restricted, in its applications to the
single question of slavery. Under this
new phase of the Executive mind, Walker
is forced TO resign rather than be dismissed,
though the only charge against him is
strict obedience to the orders of the
President.
Meantime, Stanton, Secretary of State,
convened the Legislature in obedience to
apopular call, and that body ordered a
vote upon the whole Constitution instead
OF upon the single slavery clause. The
President, indignant at this exercise of
power by the acting Governor, promptly
dismissed him, upon the ground that he
had no authority for converting the Legis-
iaturc. Now, we learn, Buchanan has
again changed his mind, and recognizes
the legality of the act Of the Legislature,
submitting the whole Constitution on the
9Th Of January. Here are three changes
OF opinion, in about as many months, on
the same subject. He was, first, for
popular sovereignty, in its broadcast sense
then of opinion that the broad doctrine
covered only the case of slavery and now
ne is for popular sovereignty up to the hub.
lie argued in his Message, that the Con-
vention was right in submitting only the
slavery clause; now, he as fully endorses
the right of the called Legislature to sub
NIT the whole Constitution, and on day
subsequent to that fixed by the Conven
ton He rcpudiated Walker for obeying
his instructions, and has himself come
y back to Walkers position. He dismissed
Stanton for Governing the Legislature, and
now endrses the action of that Legislature.
a sound intellect, honestly directed, was
never guilty of such egregious folly-folly
that amounts to crime when measured bv
its bearings upon the peace and prosperity
of the country.
But what is the effect of this shameless
dishonesty of the Executive upon his
party, and how is order to be brought out
OF this chaos of contradictory opinions ?
The democratic party, North, with the
exception of those who have their hands
in the public crib, side with Douglass and
Walker against the acceptance of Con-
stitution adopted in opposition to the
Nebraska Kansas bill and the party
South, uphold the President, because he
is the President-his knavery, or imbecili-
ty, being no bar to that display of loyalty
to party which is the first article in the
democratic confession of faith-a device
OF knaves to make slaves of fools. Thus
the two wings of the party stand at present.
And how is the question to be settled p
The N. Y, Herald, locofoco authority, saws
the plan of settlement is arranged, and
only involves the sacrafce, on the part of
the southern wing, of that which it never
posscssed--honesty and consistency. The
plan is for Congress to accept the Gossti-
tuition, with the slavery clause, withtAe
proviso that it be referred back to the'peoRif
. of the Territory Can anything bels1te
simple beautiful and efficient than this
made of adjustment? The reception of
the Constitution, by Congress, will satisfy
! every fool in the South, that the Admin
istration is pro-slavery,. whilst every loco
foco knave, North as well as South, knows
that n re-submission of the Constitution
will be death to the cause of slavery in
Kansas. Thus both wings of the party
are to have pretcxtf0r apparent harmony
though the south'rnO demogogues must
writhe under the consciousness that they
have aided in excluding slavery from Kan
sas, qtteyit had been endorsed by an act
of Congress-.
Notwithstanding the indications, in ~
quarters, that this is really to be the course
Of action on this question and notwith-
standing our low estimate of locofoeo
wisdom, honesty and patriotism, We find
5it difficult to believe that the southern
nanhars Of the PARTY can be guilty Of