The Kansas Election

The Kansas Election.

The telegraph announces that the declared intention of Governor WALKER and Secretary STANTON to reject the returns of the votes from Oxford, in Johnson County, and thus defeat the fraud which was there attempted, has “created an intense excitement among the Pro-Slavery men” in Kansas. Such an excitement can only injure those who are unfortunate enough to experience it. It will not be shared beyond the limits of their own bosoms. We do not believe that even the most violent champions of Slavery at the South will venture to complain of the action of the Governor and Secretary in this instance. It is perhaps natural that the authors of the intended fraud should feel greatly chagrined at its defeat: –but those on whose behalf and for whose benefit they professed to be acting will scarcely assume the responsibility of the proceeding by any open sympathy with their complaints.
We are sincerely rejoiced at this prompt action on the part of the Governor, not merely on account of its effect upon the political character of the Territory, but because it vindicates the confidence we have expressed in his purpose to secure for the inhabitants a full and free expression of their will at the ballot-box. It is true, as his opponents say, that he has simply done his duty, and that the case was so plain that he could not have acted otherwise without dishonor; –but it is also true that they predicted in advance that he would not do his duty, simple as it was, –and denounced those who professed any degree of reliance upon his self-respect. The event certainly disappointed, though we trust it will no displease, –that zealous and noisy portion of the advocates of Freedom for Kansas, who have insisted from the outset that Governor WALKER was in the active service of the Border Ruffians, and that none but fools and traitors would expect anything like fair-play or justice at his hands.
The rejection of these fraudulent votes secures the peace of Kansas, removes it as a disturbing element from the field of national politics and commits the Government of the Territory to the control of its inhabitants. The alleged excitement of the Pro-Slavery men will be short-lived, and is not in the slightest danger of spreading. The people of the South have too much sense, and too much self-respect, to think for a moment of resting their cause upon so barefaced and bungling an attempt at fraud as this Oxford election return; and they will very speedily acquiesce in what they have no power to prevent, and no right to regret. The people of Kansas will be permitted, we are confident, hereafter to take care of their own affairs.
The telegraph blindly announces that a protest has been made by the inhabitants of Lecompton against the reassembling of the Constitutional Convention. By what class of the people, in what interest or upon what grounds this protest is prepared, we are not informed. We presume, however, that it is a Free-State movement; if not, the Free-State men would do well to join and aid it to the extent of their ability. The result of the recent election affords a very good and substantial reason why that Convention should not reassemble. It proves conclusively that the Convention does not represent the People of Kansas, and has no right to pretend to act on their behalf or speak in their name. It renders it certain, moreover, that any Constitution which it may frame would be rejected by the people, if submitted to them, or rejected by Congress if taken thither; –and even if the State should be admitted under it, it would instantly be repudiated by the newly-elected Legislature which meets in January. No possible good, therefore, could result from the reassembling of the Convention; and we should be glad to see both parties unite in protesting against it as needless.