Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1859-02-19
D5mCcrstio Consistency g.

During the last session Of Congress,
when the Democrats found it impracti-
cable TO force the Lecompton Constitu-
ton upon the people of Kansas, it wss
urged by the defenders of the English
Bill, il e1tenuation Of q certain clause
in that notorious measure, that no new
State should be admitted until it's pop
ulation was equal to the usual represen-
tstive ratio. We were told by Demo
cratic orators, aud Democratic news
papers, that Congress should entertain
no apple from territory for ad-
mission. until it's population had been
ascsrtained BY duly authorized cen
aus to be equal to that required Of the
State for each Representative in Con
gress.
This was put forward as the true
Democratic doctrine in regard to the
admission Of new States; and was in
fact incorporated in the platform Of the
party. The rival factions Of Douglas
and anti-Douglas united upon this point
and the Little Giant advocated its sd-
option during the progress Of the Sena-
torial campaign in Illinois. This was
the ground upon which the exclusion of
Kansas was justified, although those
who proclaimed it had already voted
for her reception as State-with q
bogus pro slavery constitution. But
Lecompton having been killed, Kansas
must be kept out Of the Union, and this
was very convenient principle to
adopt for that purpose. It has served
the object for which it was adopted,
and IS now quietly laid aside for the
present. Oregon, with population
not nearly equal to that of Kansas, is
rapping st the door for admission; and
presently the great democratic Con
stltutisnal Principle" becomes inoper-
alive, and our Democratic conte1npo
rarles, with consistency in eminent
keeping with their form er course on the
Kansas question, demand the s:i1nmedi-
ate admission of this second Stste of
the Pacific,' Notwithstanding that the
constitution, which it proposed to ad-
opt, is directly antagonistic, in many Of
lts features, to the Federal Constitu-
ton
The Washington Union urges the
Immediate action of Congress proyid-
ing for the admission of that Territory
as State, and why thi. measure should
be delayed, seems to the Union sescarce-
ly susceptible Of satisfactory explana-
nation" Now why should not this
constitutional prohibition, apply with
equal force in the case of Oregon, as in
that-of Kansas? What CONSISTENCY OF
justice is there in opposing the adInis-
sion Of one State on the ground that it's /
population is not equal to q certain
number, and urging the admission of
another with less population ? Why, |
We ask, this partially OF the Denocra-
ey In the application of its principles :?
The reason In this case is quite evi-
dent, and this apparent inconsistency
very readily explained. The admission
Of Oregon would increase the fast dim
lnlshlng power Of the slavery propag-
amidst; in the Senate, two sinlon-p
Democrats having already received !
their certificates ofelection to that body. |
On the other hand, Kansas is ssBlack
Republican" to the core, and is anx-
iously waiting an opportunity to retail
late for the wrongs she has suffered at
the hands Of the Democracy, and she
will ere long, face them with two Dem
ocratic votes in the Senate .Ofcomrse
they desire to put off the day of reck-
oning as long as possible, and if in the
mean time, they can augment their
strength by any means, our Democrat
ic brethren will not hesitate to lay
aside their constitutional Principle"
for The time being. This would be en-
tirely consistent with modern Demo
cratic notions Nj lSe-t;-eI ~-#