Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-06-20
XXXIv CoNGREss-FIRsT SESSION.

resolution would be postponed for a few days,
as not half the Senator's seats were filled.
Mr. Clayton said l. If it was important that
what was proposed should be done at all, it
was important it should be done at once. lie
anticipated benefit from the resolution, and
hoped it would be adopted. The
sending Of Gen. Scott to Kansas must have
the effect Of calming the public mind.
Mr.. Brown opposed taking up the rcsolu-
ton, believing that interference by the
Senate IN the matter would be calculated to
increase the alarm. lie did not believe there
was such II state Of affairs in Kansas as to
call FOR such an extraordinary proceeding.
lie was not willing to assume any part Of the
functions Of the Executive, but would leave
the subject to the President.
Mr.. Bell, Of Tennessee, would ask the
Senator from Mississippi t%lirown), who had
SAID there were no such serious proceedings
in Kansas as would justify this course,
whether he did or did not credit tho accounts
daily received from both sides, relative to ex-
listing difficulties, riots and bloodslcd' In
view OF these things, no Senator can doubt
they demand immediate consideration.
MIR. Brown replied that, to II very limited
extent, he credited the tclegraphic accounts
relative to the disturbances ia Kansas. lie
believed the greater part Of them were manu-
iacturcl Tor the occasion. 1t had been SO
heretofore, and was very likely to be 50 now.
lie was not prepared to cast ccnsure uuon
the President but the adoption Of the reso-
luton would be understood by the country as
an expression Of the Senate that the President
bad not performed his duty as he ought to
have done.
Mr.. Iouccy knew OF no power in the Sc
nate to act IN the manner proposed, any more
than would be possessed by an equal number
OF citizens assembled in any portion OF the
country. If Gen. Scott should be sent to
Kansas, what would lac do there We live
under IL government of law, and if the law
power call out II posse coHutatuS to en-
force the law, was it supposed that Gen.
Scott was to act in subordination to the shcr-
i'll, as one OF the posse II that was the OBJ
.ject, he did not approve Of it. because it was
calling upon the highest officer in the army
to go there and perform the very subordinate
duty Of aiding the sheriff to make arrests,
and bring criminals before the Courts Of JUS
ticc; but unless that was the o iect, it
could only he that an appeal was to be taken
from the Courts Of Justice to the military
power. if ii case Of that kind should arise.
under the Constitution and laws Of Congress,
there were ample provisions but the militia
ny power codld only be employed in case Of
actual Instruction or rebellion, and when
there was combined resistance to law. But
how many insurgents were now in arms
against the government lie did not believe
it would come to that. Let tbcro he ohcIi-
cncc to law, and all difficulty would cease.
Mr.. Mallory was opposed to taking up the
resolution, and should vote against it in any
form. 1t implied an Indictment on the course
of the President, and an Indictment on the
taru r,raos na,r tL L" - iIn .td" y ~ ~ r r'i'
a m, lLo1LI o,a,, i,, = t'YIo', j. t0n =
r.. .Ttn, IN .gN ~ r'J'o' -
aI, v~J and tborn v,nnij ho ~ JiGonTt. ~
rost ~ a,;,t IN Eanla w ~ U''"'0''S III
Nv =, tondnn r..n,
~ tho o,ta,itinn urIi,i Lai i ~ 81 ? isuu
oilv m,r lit.stnj =, tla ra. .'I i, "'IIAlLvt ~
~, Itr ~ ""i
in tbn nt,na.t Iin,li.itm r. ""9 i'Po9'n
means Lv,vbich h an,r.Ir 49,, iitI lia1st, n,n.
,ro,a, i; -, H. E,n."r ' W
i,rossnd al onI.I 1 'h'S'. rFoni',y oe S"P-
M harm Lut ,ui,,bt rnsnIt J., an,I r. ,.,,
oosv Crr ,,cntIomn1 TO son ,t H., ~ all ,r,"nII
obryy the nws tLrr, wonIi hn nv vanilla Ln,
tho nnint v,s tLa+ IN on,.a,nann, e. e.,
r%roiltv of human noturo tLor, xaro oIw,y.
'ar,a m,,L 49,. -; .t;ti; "C'1 -
to the law. Tbe REMEDY WAS ys'' not "Jr"unt(
~ tLo d;so,so IC III IA 3, law tLa ,n, '
tbero wnnIJ he mo- ncad - rnnr. i,Iros
sberiTs ar ;,ils nut II ,yos voll tnnvn ,I.rc
were those who diI mat admit thnso Inv
were of such character ps IN demand tlnt
obedience. II was r,ntrnJed thnv wnr,
rrnudulentlv made. and ther.f,ra iuy,liJ
Hero VAS the nr,ur;nt, ar ,r,rn,,hiu, H.,
subject in "a calm aud Temperate mnnn~r, s,
that their difficulties might be settled in til,
best manner.
Mr.. Mason believed everything had beer
done which the occasion called for, and which
propricty would allow, t. briug the uuior,
turntc state OF things in Kansas to a tcrmin-
alton, and in this he was happy to find h,
had the concurrent opinion OF the Senator
from Kentucky. The resolution propose,
senatorial Intervention to control the dIscre.
ton Of the Executive, relative to affairs il
Kansas.
Mr.. Crittenden contcndcd that thu SENATE
has the power to make requests Of the Pres.
ideut.
Mr.. Seward said-about the 10Th year Of the
Republic, aud after Il career Of conquest and
dominion, such as happened to Rome, France.
Great Briti,n and other Enuir,s we have
reached a crisis Of new forms Of difficulties,
requiring Il new responsibilitv-that of civil
war.
After alludinr to the state Of tbiurs IN Kan
sas, he said -
If YOU rive the rirhts of American citizens
full and ample, as are enioved in the organ
lied States, to the citizens of Kansas. Won
NAV expect peace. TRANQUILITY and prosner.
itv in the Territory lint If ON the other
hand. Won saw To Them thew shall suhmit
to tyranny and usurpotion and he disfrnnchis-
ed. and Subjected bv rorce In obev laws which
are unjust and tvrannical. laws funded in
usurpation. then Won have reached the time
when YOU will moi see peace and harmony
throughout the Republic, To settle tLis
question under the forms Of the Constitution,
has been nv earnest hone and to soothe
and ouiet the public mind. and arrest the in
crcasinr dangers of civil war. is the simnIe
object of this resolution. will rive NIX vote
to take it up.
Mr.. Reid said irthc neorlo IF NInss,chu-
setts and other States winuId cease ogitoting
this question. the diGculties in kans,s wouLi
soon be settled The S,uth s,id ;ts ,nstitu-
tons have been misrerr.santc1 mill tLe