The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-10

planned his proposition, and predicted that If the
bill now pending should become law, the ap-
| plication of Kansas for admission as a State in
: to the Union, next session, would produce an
! excitement greatly exceeding the fury and vio-
! lence of 1920.
| Mr.. Hale said, one objection he had to the
bill was, that he was not willing to intrust its
execution to the present Executive, in whom
he had not the slightest confidence. If the Sen
stor from Kentucky had such high opinion of
compromises they will come with healing
on their wings to the whole nation-if such is
his belief as to what compromises will do, why,
was 1t not the first dictate of patriotism, pru.
dence, and justice, to see what the effect will be
of restoring the great Compromise of 1920? He
believed, with Mr.. Crittenden, that these were
perilous times
Mr.. Toombs believed that Mr.. Seward and his
coadjutors wanted grievances of discord and
nothing but revolution to obtain power.
Mr.. Bigler, (Dem.,) of Pennsylvania, could
scarcely imagine that Mr.. Wilson's amendment
was to be pressed on the consideration of the
for existing evils. He believed that one of the
reasons for offering it was to place those who
vote against it in the attitude of sanctionng all
laws which exist in Kansas.
Mr.. Wilson would say to Mr. Crittenden, that
if this bill should pass, it will not meet the OBJ
ject gentlemen profess to have in view. He
believed that the bill intended to crown the la
bors of the last six months, and make Kansas
slave State. The Senator from New York was
rudely assailed, because he declared his opposi-
ton to compromise on the question of Slavery,
in which the North had always been defrauded
and cheated. Freemen from the North have
been driven out of that Territory-hsve been
ordered out by you.
Mr.. Crittenden. Not me.
Mr.. Wilson. will say the masters of Kansas,
and the masters of this Administration-the
border ruffians of Missouri, the men who con-
quered the Territory-and the men who govern
at the other end of the avenue. if they do not
| govern here. He defended the Free State move
ment in regard to Kansas. He said, among
| other things: withdraw Governor Shannon, and
send there an honest, sober, and competent man,
| to execute the laws. What he told the Senate
| on the 18th of January last had come to pass.
| Governor Shannon has made civil war, and been
wandering up and down the Territory, telling
women if he could find their husbands, he would
| cut their damned hearts out. He defended him
self and his coadjut from the charge of Mr..
Toombs, that they were traitors, enemies to lib
erty, and hostile to the institutions of the com
mon country He then descanted on the prin.
ciples and fair prospects of the Republican
party.
| In answer to the eulogium of Mr.. Toombs on
President Pierce, he said that he Pierce stood
| before the Cincinnati Convention with the
blood of the murdered people of Kansas dripping
from his hands but after doing Slavery's work,
he was flung, like a worthless thing, away.
He did not want any more of that mans control
in Kansas, as the pending bill proposed.
Mr.. Clayton maintained that the Missouri
| Compromise was an unconstitutional provision
originally and quoted the authority of Madison,
not heretofore presented to the Senate.
| Mr. Trumbull, (Rep.,) of ILL.,, said that many
| features of the bill met his appreciation 1t
contained, an assumption of power, that Con-
| gress had the right to govern the Territories,
and repudiated squatter sovereignty. In con-
| demning the affairs of Kansas, he said there
was no such thing as constructive treason, and
| yet the leaders of the Free State party are in
prison under this trumped-up charge. The of.
| fcers there are acting out the designs of the
men who invaded the Territory. He then gave
his objections to the BILL saying lift should pass
| it would not give peace to Kansas.
He hoped his tongue might cleave to the
roof of his mouth, and his right hand forget Its
cunning, if he ever voted for the admission into
the Union of State upon which Slavery had
| been forced by fraud and violence. Never, so
| help him God and he did not believe the peo-
! done, to give peace exclude Slavery from Kan
sas while Territory, and give the people a fair
election; and if they establish Slavery, their ad-
mission as a State might be assented to; and
| then abolish all odious and Infamous laws.
1t was now midnight.
Mr.. Bell, of Tennessee, said every gentleman
who had looked into the question must know
that this agitation will continue to 90 on until
finally settled by the admission of Kansas as a
State into the Union. The bill pending meets
the case too promptly. The time is too short
for its execution. During the turbulence of the
Presidential election, the measure was not likely
| to give satisfaction to the country. He did not
believe that any measure could be adopted that
| would give entire satisfaction. He preferred
Mr.. Clayton's bill, leaving out the Federal ratio
of representation. Abolish and abrogate the
unjust and obnoxious laws, and let the people
90 on under the provisions of that bill to estab-
lish State Government, and, meanwhile, elect
a new Legislative Assembly.
At half past twelve o'clock, Mr.. Crittenden
moved for an adjournment, but Mr.. Douglas
and others on his side of the question, who had
been RECALLING in private rooms, came in, and
voted down the motion, by ayes 3, noes 22, and
then retired.
About two dozen persons are in the galleries,
| some of them asleep.
A few Of the Senators are snoozing in the
| lobby on sofas, and others in their chairs.
In the mean time, Mr.. Bell discussed the ad-
mission of States into the Union in connection
with the Slavery question.
Mr. johnson said it was late hour, and the
same might have been said two hours ago.
| Laughter. If they could have a moment of
silence amidst this profound signing and deep
breathing, laughter, he trusted the Senate
| would come to a vote.
Mr.. Seward said, generally session lasted
three or four hours, bat the present session had
already occupied fourteen. He would say to
Mr.. Crittenden, he was not against all compro-
| misses, but against compromise involving
moral right, political justice, or high political
expediency. BY no act of his should any man
be held or kept in slavery. On this he could
| not compromise.
Mr. Seward is still speaking.
The prospects are that the session will con.
tinae tall daylight, as the majority evidently
determined to vote on the bill before adjourn
| ment.
| Mr. Seward advocated his bill for the admis
sion of Kansas with the Topeka Constitution.
| Mr.. Reid replied to Mr.. Stewards remarks
relative to Slavery, saying that, when major.
| ity of the people of the North become prepared
| to enforce the doctrine declared by Mr.. Seward,
this Union cannot last one hour longer.
Half past 8, A. M-Severai amendments Of
comparative unimportance were adopted, and
others rejected.
Ar, Geyer, (National,) of Missouri, offered
an amendment, that no law shall be made Oh
have force or effect which shall require test
oath or an oath to support any act Of Congress
or other legislative act, as a qualification fol-
any civil Office or public trust, or for any EN-
pieyment or profession, or to serve as a juror
or vote at an election, or which shall impose