The daily union., 1856-04-10
I'm CONGRESS OF THE o. STATES
Thirty-Fourth CongreEs-First session.
SENATE.
MONDAY, APRIL I, 1856.
LEGIsLATuRE on KANSAS.


Mr. CASS have Just had placed in my hands a me-
mora from the persons composing the sefstyled egsla-
ture OF Kansas and have been requested 10 present il
the Senate move It's reference the Committee on Ter
ritories.
Mr.. BUTLER What is the paper
the selEsyled Legislature OF Kansas
/ Mr.. SEWARD. Which Of them
MIR. CASS. said the seIf-styled one
Mr. SEWARD Which,
Mr. CASS The senator understands which of them just
as well as DO knew that the information neces-
sary for him should give IL but know that il is
Mr.. SEWARD. / desire 10 know from my honorable
friend from Michigan whether the petition which he pre-
sens IS Peou which purpors 70 from the terri
toa legislature Of Kansas organized under the act of
Congress am led 70 infer from the manner in which
be describes the memorial or whether il is petition from
the provisional legislature Of the State of Kansas.
Mr.. CASS. viii answer the honorable senator if he
will say that be does know but If he win not say
that shall not give him any other answer than have
Mr.. SEWARD. Very well. | am not going to make
any CONCESSIONS
Mr.. CASS the reference Of the petition TO the
Committee on Territories.
The motion agreed 10.
Mr.. CASS. also move that the petition be printed.
The PRESIDENT That order will be made unless there
be objection
Mr. ADAMS If the petition is to be printed under the
rules petition from State legislature shall object
TO it.
Mr. BUTLER Has the subject Of printing The petition
goue beyond the control Of the Senate?
The PRESIDENT. II has not Objection being made,
4
Mr.. BUTLER shall object decidedly to the printing
OF this memorial by order Of the Senate 1t neither has
dignity from the from which ii springs has il
anything associated with it which gives it right to be
printed by order of this body the ground upon which
petitions resolutions OF State legislatures printed
Tho senator from Michigan, with proper nodesty and
think with very proper sarcasm has already given it
character which cannot entie il confidence and
specL As senator from State cannot recognise the
from which this of the States Of this
coniederacy a member of the dypolitic cannot
bn prfp fba md
that ether IN its source It's character If has anything
Of the dignity which should entue il 10 that considera-
ton
Mr. SEWARD win not interfere with the honorable
senator from Michigan in vindicating the motion which he
has made will leave that 10 him. TO whom il properly
belongs ] mi ysef with appealing the Senate
give the and the motion print the pet-
ton Of the provisional legislature Of Kansas.
Mr.. CASS The honorable senator from South Carolina
is under misaPreheuson did not the term 4self
styled Legislature IN order TO be sarcastic 10 throw any
sur thpse persons there assembled together merely
used il descriptive term, intimate which Of the two
bodies assuming be the legislature Of Kansas the
legislature presenting this petition have doubt my
self that the territorial legislature under the law Is the e-
gal legislature Of KanSes have a shadow Of doubt
about thai; bui here Is body OF men assuming TO pre-
pare for the exercise OF powers which 10 affect that
country ultimately sent there by The people said the
sBestyied legislature' with indicate who they
were Thatis the reason for the term which used and
al the reason
Now Dir President with respect to the printing Of this
document desire that il shall be printed because ii Is
document Affecting important portion OF country
desire 70 read Il bave not done so yet do not know
a word Of a. have been told what the application was
and think is sufficiently important be printed by The
Senate il is not account Of peculiar dignity
Deced with Il that wish il to be printed but desire to
the representation which these people make of their
condition. think thAt Is the right Of every in
this Union petition either branch Of Congress on any
subject within their jurisdiction II his petition be word
"a ia aud proper language think l. is the duty
Of every representative either in the Senate in the
House Of Representatives present such petition That
il 70 Of
/ OF representatives.
Here il a petition which has been sent to me have
present I'd Il desire that il shall be printed in order
that the Senate and the country may know what 1t is
what il ass for specifically though have general idea
from tbe lcts which have been stated me- That ali
NV object aud the Senate will pardon me for saving that
think unfortunate 10 raise such issue such
question We had better not touch the point Of the right
Of petition II is only soennly guaranteed in the con-
sution but Il Is a right which the American people do
not wish 10 have touched Let preserve IL in its nteg
ry II marked out for II is great deal better
and ssier the other sde-even 10 receive pe-
tons which may be doubtful rather than reject those
which clearly ought 10 be received. II 10 tbs
this subrct Of magnitude enough justify the reception
Of lhe petition and Of magnitude enough 70 have 1t print
1 Cd and spread before The country.
1 Mr. BAYARD. Mr. President do not purpose 70 en-
ter into any discussion this question beyond stating The
grounds on which shall vote against the printing Of the
petition The petition its face purpor0 20 be the pe
uuon the senators and representatives Of the general
sembly of the State OF kRnshs know such State n
the federal Union. ! viii not by any Of mine coun
hcl ana rtbellfon- ~
more less Characeri-e and explain you please
pc other be attached 10 IT, Standing here unde
The soemni 3! OATH 10 DO my duty under the fedora
constitution cannot and win VOTE not whh
Il relates Whist part of the country II comes from
FOR the printing Of petition Of persons representing them
selves acting Ia that capacity, because am bound e
lake judicial knowledge Of the fact that there Euct
member Of tins cunfederRcy shall therefore vote agains
this notion without reference to the right Of petition
which think there II great deal importance al
tachsd than there ought 10 be- do not think there
danger Ruy fear that there will Se hearing
fused aDy portion Of the citizens q the United State
before CGbgrrss They always be heard. The ques
ton Of printing Is distinct think are srtnJ
In defiance Of Judicial ledge Of the
authorize to be printed representation purporting 4
come from the representatives and senators Of Stat
which has erisenos under the federal constitution AMI
laws
Mr. BUTLER Mr. President wish the true issue il
relation 70 this matter 10 le distinctly stated here and
Ierstood by the public generally treat questions Of tb
Kind frankly and hope Airly Certainly my respect fo
The senator from Michigan would iEduc> 10 treat tht
proposition with kindness far a. his name be con
siderc1 associated with Il Dot sir We have bad pcon
om clefgym Of the northern States bave had pcti
,iops here from large bodies Of menmerosnte
tons and associated for usefol purPose-whch hsv
never een printed by the authority Of The Commit
tee on Printing Here is petition coming from self
constituted, arrogant and usurpng body, and are
print a. In other words 20 print the petition Of
body styling themselves members and ssnato.s OF tn
legislature Of the State uf EGnsasa when know tber
no such State Are to countenAboe this sdfinyest
meut of sovereignty in opposition 10 the legayOrCAn
ized constituted territorial government thereY Are
20 the expense Of Publishing petitions brought from
them before this hodv and make the proceedings Of tn
Senate vehicle for Publishing the country the petition
right anywhere? n they have founded right anywhere
! Il Z IN arrogant trespaas and usurpaion.