The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-09
KANSAS IN THE SENATE,

The session Of the Senate yesterday mainly
sumed the report of the Committee Territories upon
the House bill for the admission of Kansas State with
the Topeka constitution Mr. Douglas the chairman re-
ported amendment to the bill striking out all after the
enac,ing clause and substituting for the House bill the
same passed by the Senate on Thursday last
Both of these bills will be found in full in paper
The merits of the two propositions debated by Mess
Douglas and Pearce in favor of the paccaon of
the Senate and by Messrs Collamer and Hale in favor
the Topeka bill from the House The speeches were short
courteous and pertinent to the issue They models
of senatorial dignity and admirable specimens of condcn-
sation in debate free from sectional passion and exhibit
ing but little the habua tendency personal vitu-
peraton which dsgares the discussions on this question
If the people of the whole country could have been
present they would have heard the issue sufficiently dis
cused to form an intelligent and satisfactory judgment
on the question which for two years has convulsed the
country What that Judgment would have been we have
no more doubt than have to the capacity Of the peo
pie to comprehend the difference between right and
wrong-between justice and injushoe-between fairness
and unairness Passion and Misrepresentation may
porary obscure the public mind and hold it in suspense
as TO the comparative merits of the two propositions but
Just so sure as "truth is mighty and will prevail
will be the popular verdict in favor Of the Senate
The enumeration Of the characteristics of the bills
and the statement of the objections to the Topeka consu
ton by Messr Douglas and Pearce, truthful and
lucid that there scarcely effort by Messrs Colamer
and Hale to defend IT, The most they could do to
contend that whilst the Senate bill fair and just its
face there were circumstances outside Of the bill itself
which induced them TO oppose it They did not deny
that the Topeka constitution made by only frac-
ton OF one OF the political parties in Kansas; that
Il was made without the forms or the sanctions Of
law; that Il was adopted means Of resistance
10 the constituted authorities Of the Territory that
large portion Of the Inhabitants refraned from par
cpatng in It's formation because they regarded it
act Of rebeop that the delegates made 1t elected
in such manner that no knew whether they legal
voters whether they were Inhabitants whether they
sttuted majority or minority of the people whether
the elections were fair or fraudulent Nor was IT, could
it be- denied that the admission Of Kansas with such
constitution would be the adoption and recognition of
open act Of revolution and the imposition upon the people
Of the Territory Of a fundamental law in which large
portion Of them had had voice. and which, by its
terms could not be altered for nine years.
Yet the House Of Representatives has passed the bill
recognising such constitution, and dozen senators
have concurred with them in giving to II their
ton Is IL wonderful that the foundations Of social
order and civil government threatened with disruption
when so dangerous precedent is established by such high
official aubority7 II this endorsement Of the Topeka
olutionary measure does not awaken the conservative
sense of the country 10 an appreciation of the dangers
which institutions, we may well begin to de-
spar Of the republic But passion and deuson have had
their day and this last browning exhibition OF their mad
ness will prove the beginning of the ebb in the tide ofpop
uar opinion Happily the measure Of justice and fairness
and peace which the Senate has second time adopted by
so overwhelming majority furnishes to all who wish to
see sectional strife quieted raying point around which
the conservative sentiment Of the country gather and
combine and crystalline Let the two bills 90 FORTH side
by side and of the result before the great popular tribunal
90 IN 70 M mispivinps