The Georgia Democratic State Convention and the Kansas Policy of the Administration

    Source citation
    “The Georgia Democratic State Convention and the Kansas Policy of the Administration
    &c.,” New York Daily Times, 2 July 1857, p. 4.
    Author (from)
    U.N.O.
    Newspaper: Publication
    New York Times
    Newspaper: Headline
    “The Georgia Democratic State Convention and the Kansas Policy of the Administration"
    Newspaper: Page(s)
    4
    Type
    Newspaper
    Date Certainty
    Exact
    Transcriber
    Meghan Fralinger
    Transcription date
    Transcriber's Comments
    Items unable to fit in tag field "Georgia Convention", "Topeka, Kansas", Supreme Court, Georgia, Mississippi,
    The following text is presented here in complete form, as it originally appeared in print.  Spelling and typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.  
    Correspondence of the New York Daily Times.

    WASHINGTON, Monday, June 20, 1857.

    It is to be deeply regretted for the sake of the harmony and welfare of the country, that the Georgia Democratic State Convention, led by blind fanaticism has denounced the policy of Governor WALKER, in Kansas. It is to be more regretted, because emanating from a body of men in solemn council, it has the appearance of being the cool, dispassionate, and sound judgment of those men; while, in fact, the very resolutions show that it was the hasty emanation and thoughtless ebullition of violent party faction. The resolutions, being contradictory in them, solves, render their effect entirely nugatory. While they denounce Governor WALKER’s policy they endorse President Buchanan, and the Cincinnati platform! A little calm reflection will show how paradoxical is the action of the Georgia Convention. They must first consider the position of Governor WALKER with the Administration , and the circumstances under which he was induced to accept of the Governorship of Kansas.

    In the late speech of Governor WALKER, at Topeka he said:

    “I desire to read you a few extracts from my Inaugural Address just published in this Territory, together with my instructions from the President of the United States, pointing out the mode in which the Chief Magistrate of the Union just elected to that high position by the whole American people, as well as his Cabinet, and the humble individual who now addresses you, believe these questions can be peacefully settled; and settled, not by a party whether for or against Slavery, but by the whole people of the Territory of Kansas, who, as it is their sovereign right, by the great principle which lies at the foundation of all our institutions, shall determine, by an actual majority of the votes of all her people, what shall be their own Constitution, and their own social institutions.

    On this subject I desire, I repeat, to read to you an extract from my Inaugural Address to the people of the Territory of Kansas, together with the views of the President of the United States.

    Indeed, I cannot doubt that the Convention- I mean the Convention which is about to meet in September next- after having framed a State Constitution will submit it for the ratification or rejection by a majority of the then actual bona fide resident settlers of Kansas.

    With these views, well known to the President and Cabinet, and approved by them, I accepted the appointment of Governor of Kansas. My instructions from the President, through the Secretary of State, under date of the 30th if March last, sustain ‘the regular Legislature of the Territory’ in ‘assembling a Convention to form a Constitution,’ and they express the opinion of the President, that ‘when such a Constitution shall be submitted to the people of the Territory, they must be protected in the exercise of their right of voting for or against that instrument; and the fair expression of the popular will must not be interrupted by fraud or violence.”

    With what consistency can the Georgia Convention thus denounce Gov. WALKER’s policy, and endorse the Administration? The policy and doctrine of Gov. WALKER is but the policy and opinion of President BUCHANAN and his Cabinet, and he is bound by his oath to carry out the instructions which he has received. It is in vain to escape this position, and the Georgia Convention, as well as those Southern journals, who have heaped the vilest vituperation on Gov. WALKER’s course, denounce in the same breath President BUCHANAN and his Administration.

    When such men as Gov. AIKEN, of South Carolina, are found sacrificing their domestic quiet and affluence merely for the sake of the love country and its permanent peace and welfare, going on a pilgrimage to Kansas, and sustaining with all his efforts the policy of Gov. WALKER and the Administration, what a rebuke does his conduct not read to these Hotspurs of the South who are doing all in their power to break down the Administration.

    If Governor WALKER shall fail in his mission, the President and the country will have to thank the Georgia Democratic wing of the party, and its adherents, for keeping alive the bloody feud, and preventing the restoration of peace and harmony. For by the resolution denouncing Governor WALKER they also denounce the Kansa-Nebraska bill, its favorite author, Senator DOUGLASS, and virtually the Cincinnati platform itself. But late advices received here from Kansas (notwithstanding the adverse report of some letter-writers) state that the most flattering indicatious warrant the opinion that a permanent peace will be established on the basis of the principles of the sovereignty of the people, and the unqualified right of the majority to determine the character of the institutions under which they are to live.

    Secretary COBB, , of Georgia, and Secretary THOMPSON, of Mississippi, have expressed their unqualified disapprobation of the Georgia Convention resolution denouncing Governor WALKER. Mr. BUCHANAN views it, also, as directly reflecting on him and his Administration.

    Chief Justice TANEY, of the Supreme Court of the United States, has received a letter from a deaf mute denouncing his decision in the Dred Scott case. This beats the Georgia Convention.

    Senator SLIDELL and Hon. EMILE LASIERE, have arrived here from Louisiana.

    Tremendous heavy rains fell here yesterday and today.

    The letter of General WALKER was not written with the expectations of
    receiving a reply from the President, but simply for the purpose of laying his grievances before the Executive.

    U.N.O.
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