Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-03-26
Reports in the Senate on Kansas Affairs.

The report of Mr. Douglas, from the SEN
ate Committee on Territories, made on Wed
nesday, embraces history of African slavery
in this country, entering into its constitutional
relations. The institution existed in all the
colonies of the original States. Six have re-
tanned it, while in the other States it has been
abolished. Since then eighteen new States
have been admitted into the Union, nine Of
which have chosen to come in free, and nine
as slave States. Every new State desiring
admission has right to be received on terms
of equality with the old States, regulating
her domestic institutions and internal con-
Germs her own way, subject only to the proyi-
sions of the Federal Constitution. The re-
ports refer tc this principle as embodied in
the Kansas bill. and condemns the combina-
tions entered into in the eastern section of
the country to control the destiny of the fu-
ture State of Kansas. The report qnotes
from pamphlet onsitloa 90 O-sA nisa.ien, OBJ
jects and plan of operations of the Enigrant
Aid Society, and description of Kansas, for
information of emigrants," and argues that
no State has q right to pass law relative to
any territory which could not pass with ref
erance to any State OF any foreign govern
ment. 1t gives a detailed history of the cleo
tons held in Kansas, at which the Terrific
rial Legislature was chosen, and denies that
lify the selection or the removal of the seat
OF government rendered the action of the
Legislature null and void. The report dis
cusses the Topeka Convention. declaring that
the power to govern the Territory being vest
ed in Congress, the people have no right to
annul the Territorial laws by action in their
primary capacity 1t proposes to carry out
the recommendations of the President in
special message, by the passage of an act
providing for the election OF Delegates by
the people to assemble in Convention and
form State Convention, preparatory to ad~
mission into the Uuion on an equal footing
with the original States, as soon as her pop
ulation shall amount to %, ,42O inhabitants.
The committee will also move an amendment
to the general appropriation bill, voting such
monies as may be found necessary for the
purposes of maintaining good order and en-
forcing the executive laws in Kansas.
Mr. Collamer read minority report, which
discusses the slavery question in northern
view, declaring that the system gives political
supremacy to principal minority of the peo-
pie of the United States The friends of
peace and quiet had hoped that the comprom-
Use measures had settled the agitation of the
slavery question. The passage of the Kan
sas-Nebraska bill, however, re-opened it in
consequence of the repeal of the Missouri
restriction, from which emanated the present
troubles, and which repeal gave prospect of
the unlimited extension of the institution Of
slavery. The north naturally tried to devise
measures to avoid that result. 1t was the
right and the duty of all who opposed slavery.
to use all legal means 10 prevent its extension
| into free territory. The report states that
the people of the territory were overawed
and prevented by armed invaders from Mis-
souri,. from casting their votes; thus the Lee
/ gislature was constituted in fraudulent man
ner. and Gov. Reeder gave the members
certificates without a full knowledge of these
facts. The Legislature passed acts by which
] slavery wac recognised as existing and pro-