The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-04-12
iD.r.,.., Reply to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of the
D0"S Latter. ~
WASHINGTON, March 20.

Mr.. Douglas took the floor in reply to Mr.
Trumbull and said he regarded his colleagues
opening the debate the other day as viola
ton of that parliamentary courtesy which
gives the chairman Of committee that priv
ilege.
Among other points in the report Of the
minority on Kansas affairs he referred to the
charge that tue Legislature Of Kansas was
spurious body, elected by fraudulent and IL
legal votes, and that the people of Kansas
were invaded and conquered by armed Mis-
sourians. Mr.. Douglas said it was admitted
that there was illegal voting in seven of the
districts. and that in those districts Mr.. Rec
der denied the members certificates for that
reason: but i'm the other fifteen districts,
there was no protest and no proofs OF illegal
voting. Then admitting, for the sake OF ar
gument, the allegation to be true as to seven
districts, there was clear majority OF the
Legislature legally elected. Hence their acts
were binding. The majority report shows
the fact that after the Legislature assembled
at Pawnee, and organized, a resolution was
adopted by which every person whomsoever
was authorized to contest the right of any
member holding a seat, on giving notice to
the sitting member This was more than
three months after the INVASION. If the peo-
pie were so much intimidated as it has been
said, it is supposed they would have recov-
cred from their fright in the course of three
months; but in that time no man was found
who desired to contest the seats of any OF
the fifteen members. and it was universally
admitted that the fact that Gov. Reeder had
given them certificates was conclusive regar-
ding the legality of the election. Mr.. Doug
las charged the minority with suppressine
evidence in order to make out a case. The
minority report declared the Topeka Conven-
ton iustifiabie on the ground that under a
clause of the Constitution people might as
semble peaceably for redress of grievances
Mr.. Douglas characterized the Topeka Con
Iyention an act of rebellion. If it should re-
suit in bloodshed, the crime would be higl
treason-and the traitors ought to be hanged
Mr.. Trumbull, replying, said he had learn
ed most of his Democracy from Mr.. Douglas
and little thought at the time that he was
cherishing the Black Republicanism witt
~l,vl, Mr.. ID. charged him, he .(Ir. Irum
bully was sitting at the peoples gate, ane
would not bow down and worship his col
league; and if, on the scaffold erected by
Mr. Douglas for him, there be another found
hanging, it would not be his (Mr. T.'s) fault
As to the absurd proposition of his colleague
only to say that the people had recently sane
toned him Mr.. THANKFULLY first by electins
him their Representative, then Senator
That certainly is a modest proposition. Lei
the Senator himself resign, and if, after go
ing back to his constituents, he should be
reelected, Mr.. Trumbull would stand OIL
equal terms. The people of Illinois would
stand upon the Democratic platform erected
by the aid of Mr.. Douglas and others in 1850
Thepropostion to resign reminded Mr.. Tr, M
bull of the unsuccessful client in Court, who
having lost his cause was ready and asked
for a new trial. Mr. Trumbull maintained
that the Kansas Legislature was fraudulent
Ily elected, and said: My colleague speaks
of hanging traitors, and think they may be
found without going to Kansas. If the peo-
pile there committed errors, was it not in
consequence of falling into my colleagues
lead? Has it not been proclaimed in the ma
jority report that the people shall settle their
affairs in their own way If they have CON-
mitted error no one has been more instru-
mental in bringing it about than my col
league. After rel lying to other points adj
vanced by Mr.. Douglas, Mr.. Trumbull, in al
fusion to personal contentious between men,
bers, said: When questions are before this
body threatening civil war and disunion
questions on the issue of which the peace
and happiness Of thirty millions of people
are at stake, and the cause Of republicanism
throughout the world involved, into what in
significance do these petty squabbles sink ?
AS member Of the Senate, l hope S all
never again be drawn into them