Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-05-02
OF 1Iajlp Spp.
FRIDAY, NAY 2, 1856.
The Admiration Of Kauzaa.

The more the precedents established in the ad-
mission of other States are examined, the more
clearly appears the duty of the present Congress,
in regard to Kanzas. The attemptto Justify the
refusal to admitsK anzas into the Union at once,
as State, with the Constitution she has already
framed, is as contrary to reason and justice. as
the attempts to force slavery upon her by invasion
and violence are outrageous. The following
opinion, given by Gen. Jackson's Attorney Gen.
eral, in the case of the admission of Arkansas,
covers the whole ground, and proves that the lit
tie technical objections raised by the border ruff
fan adherents of the Pierce administration, are
utterly futile. 1t seems by the wording as if the
extract below had express reference to the pre-
sent Kanzas case. At any rate, it completely
sustans the action of the free State men
GAS the mower of Congress over the whole
subject is plenary and unlimited, they may accept
any constitution, however framed, which in their
Judgment meets the sense of the people to be af-
fected by it. If, therefore, the citizens of Arkan-
sas think proper to accompany their petition by
written constitution, formed and agreed on by
their primary assemblies, or by a convention If
delegates, chosen by such assemblies, perceive
no legal objection to their power to do so, nor to
any measure that may be taken to collect the
sense Of the people in respect to it, provided al
ways tnaL SOCl measures De commenced anu pros
ecuted in peaceable manner, and in entire sub
serviency to the power Of Congress, to adopt, re-
iect or disregard them at pleasure"
Sothought the legal head OF the Cabinet of one
Andrew jackson, in 1885, whereas, we have, in
1856, one Franklin Pierce, with Caleb Cushing, a
renegade whig, as his Attorney General, who de-
nounce all such action as is sustained in the
above expressed opinion, TREAsoNABLE,"
and to be put down by the strong arm of the Gen
eral Government.
While many others have turned traitors to
their professed faith. it is refreshing to bear
in mind, that that true democratic statesman,
Benz F. Butler, of N. Y, who, as Attorney Gen
eral under Gen. Jackson's administration, pro
nounced and sustained it's policy in the case of
Arkansas, is now equally strenuous in favor of
the application of the same policy in the case of
Kanzas. Would that the Pierces, Buchanans,
Touceys, &c., had kept on in the same steady
track
But additional, and still stronger precedents in
favor of the immediate admission of Kanzas
with her present State Constitution, are found in
the case of Michigan, which applied for admission
in manner equally as irregular as does Kan
zas now.
But, how did Congress treat that application
tbs we'll stated in the following sketch of the
speech of Hon. Henry Waldron of Mich in the
House, April s. Mr.. Waldron is an old Jackson
Democrat, who left the administration on the
Nebraska question. He shows from the records
that Slas Wright, Buchanan, Pierce, VIM. R.
King, &c., all stood side by side in advocacy of
the same policy now sought to be carried out by
the advocates of the immediate admission of Kan
zas:
ain 1856, Michigan had outgrown her ter.
ritoral swaddling clothes, and was ripe for trans
formation into State. But she had an unset.
tied boundary dispute with Ohio, involving
strip of land on which the city of Toledo has
since grown up; there had been serious collisions
Of jurisdiction, threatening others still more Sc
rous; and Congress resolved not to admit Mich
igan unless she would consent to quit claim this
disputed territory. On this condition being made
known, new Constitutional Convention was
held, under the auspices of the Territorial gov
eminent, which Convention decided not to accept
So the question seemed to be at rest.
But not So movement was directly set on
foot by voluntary popular agitation, outside OF
and in defiance OF the Territorial authorities, for
another Convention, which accordingly
chosen and held, though none but the friends of
the movement recognized it in any way, and two
of the most populous counties were not at all
represented This volunteer, spontaneous Con-
yention resolved to accept admission on the terms
exacied by Congress and rejected by the regular
Convention; and sent on the requisite documents
to Gen. jackson, then President. Gen. Jackson
sent the proceedings and decisions of both Con.
ventions to Congress, without indicating any
preference on his own part. They came first be
fore the House, where the following proceedings
were had
HOUSE,, JAN IL, l836.-Memorial of the Legis
lature of the State of Michigan presented. Mr..
Hannegan of Ind, moved that if be rejected
Motion defeated Franklin Pierce voting in the
majority. Mr.. Hannegan then moved that it be
received 'as the voluntary act of private indiyid
uals.' This was adopted, but Franklin Pierce
voted in the negative. On the question as to
which OF the two Conventions should be recog-
nized as representing the People of Michigan, the
Democratic House decided in favor of the irregu-
ular or spontaneous Convention Franklin Pierce
voted IN the majority.
When the question came in due course before
the Senate, democratic it was referred to Judi
ciary Committee, whereof Felix Grundy of Ten
was chairman. This Committee sent out
circulars to Michigan, to ascertain Uhich of the
rival Conventions most truly represented the peo
pleof that State, and whichshad received Imost of
the peoples votes. After awaiting and receiving
answers TO these circulars, the Committee report
cd that the spontaneous Convention entitled to
be accredited rather than the regular and that
Michigan should be admitted on its notion
This motion prevailed Yeas, Sas Wright,
Benton, Buchanan, William R. King, &c. Nays
only TO-.
The subject thereupon went to the House,
where the action of the Senate was affirmed and
the admission Of the State completed; Yeas l48 I;
Nays So; Franklin Fierce and Isaac Toucey with
the Yeas.
So Michigan came into the Union, on the appli
cation of volunteer, antregular Convention,
just like that Of Free Kanzas and voted for Van
Buren, for President in 1885,