The Kansas Question

I am able to give you the information that Secretary Stanton has recalled his resignation. He alleges that in consequence of the pressure of the newspaper attacks upon himself as well as Walker he is determined to abide the action of the Administration hoping against hope for a vindication in that quarter.

I also have the authority, in the statement of a gentleman immediately connected with Gov. Walker to charge that, notwithstanding the impression he had created with Southern men that he would sustain the Convention, he was at particular pains, on the eve of his leaving the Territory, to advise the Free-Soilers not to vote upon the issue submitted to them. I repeat, that I have the most direct and positive authority for charging upon Gov. Walker this inflammatory counsel and this audacious interference with the free agency and free decision of the people.

The Kansas question has assumed a phase of the last importance. Those unfortunate politicians in the South who have committed themselves to the support of Governor Walker, and to sustaining his proposition that the Constitution should be submitted to the people, will find themselves in a very unpleasant predicament, now that it is determined that the Constitution shall not be submitted, and the A Walker and administration has resolved to sustain the action of the Convention in this respect. Their ingenuity will be sorely taxed to clear themselves of the dilemma in which they are placed, wherein they must choose either to abandon Walker and solidify themselves, or must try the vexatious alternative of maintaining an opposition not only to Democratic doctrine and precedent, but to the clearly defined position which the Administration has now taken with regard to the Convention and its acts. The Southern sympathizers with Governor Walker must either wholly abandon their position, or, if resolved upon consistency, they must adhere to him in opposition to the action of the Convention, and risk a rupture with the Administration and the Constitutional party of the South. It is a trying predicament surely; but it might have been foreseen. When such over-anxious politicians as Gov. Wise and the Editor of the Enquirer committed themselves to sustaining Gov. Walker in his absurd propositions of a Kansas policy, they might have foreseen the probability of such a combination carrying them by easy stages over to the enemy, or, at least, to a decided position of hostility towards the Administration and the Constitutional Democracy of the South. They assumed a risk which has resulted unfavorably, and placed them in a dilemma from which it is hoped that they may recover themselves with honor, although they cannot without disaster, in publicly abandoning their unworthy favorite.

Gen. Lane, and other leading politicians from the Pacific side, express the opinion that the Slavery provision in the Oregon Constitution will be voted down by a small majority. It is not improbable, however, that the Legislature may act with reference to a future introduction of Slavery into the State. By the way, Gen. Lane has expressed himself as a zealous advocate of the propriety and constitutionality of the action of the Kansas Convention, and condemns the policy and acts of Gov. Walker in very decided terms.



We believe we may announce today, without fear of being contradicted tomorrow, that Gov. Walker has triumphed, at last, in his Free-Soil scheme in Kansas- that the Slavery clause in the Constitution will be, after all, submitted to the people for ratification or rejection, and to the whole people, too, without regard to place of nativity or time of residence!

Now, as it is conceded by all, we believe, that such a vote must result in favor of the abolitionists, the country is at length placed in a position to do full justice to the services which James Buchanan and Robert J. Walker, with the aid of the National Democratic Party machinery, have been rendering to the South! Now Southern Democrats may open their eyes and see for themselves the beautiful work that has been accomplished for them by that great patriot and wonderful friend of Southern rights- James Buchanan.