The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-03-19

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the President In enforcing the Law. viii vote 10 sustain
| law and order any and everywhere.
4 Mr.. WRIGHT. thank the gentleman ior the oorree-
ton. 2 0 h'
Mr. DUNN. But / win never vote to sustain what is
revolution said then aud repeAt that IL appears
that all legislative power by OF what had taken
place there had gone out OF the Territory Of Kansas be-
fore the passage Of these socsed laws of Kansas II that
he co. then what IL called laws not They
than the edcts of unlicensed they wholly
void and will, with that understanding sanction
their enforcement to any extent much lesa grave On
! issue the shedding Of blood.
Mr.. WRIGHT continued;
But sir if the condition Of affairs In the Territory Is
such has been set forth In the report of the majority
ask the Executive has done all that be done TO
bring the disorders 70 close2 He has issued his proeia
nation warning ell parties that be will preserve order
and calling upon all good toassst him in tanning
the peace Of the country lie has officially informed Con-
gress that
Circumstances hav. occurred disturb the Of
produce hors condition Of things which renders It incu
bent 70 call your attention u the subject and urgently
aon grave sIgoncies Il the appear 70 require
read from the message Of the President Here sir we
have official and reliable Information Of the kind which the
COMMITTEES desire but not satisfied with this they desire
to send for persons and papers TO prove what al
ready informed Off and for what purpose, sir have
already alluded briefly to the time Il will require to
plete this investigation ii the recommendation Of the
mttce be adopted; and seriously suspect that there is
question Of time connected with this whole affair which
lies At its very foundation Agitation sir agitation Of this
question Of slavery Is what gentlemen desire presiden
al contest is coming and it may be that
gentlemen and some party to be benefited by this
nual and useless agitation Of question which threatens
the very existence OF free institutions. Keep up the
agitation never let II be settled and benefit to yonr party
may accrue.
sage Of the President Of the United taes and for this
he has been made the OF special abuse by gentle
men both in this House and in tho other end Of the Capitol
His course has been denounced act Of great pubc
ndecency and such terms sycophants and doughces
have been applied unsparingly ask II the President
aas aG, dons ns s Sa1 Less The
faithfully executed Congress at the last session. organ
lied the Territory Of Kansas Congress certainly had that
power The legislative powers in the Territory in
trusted to council and house Of representatives duly
elected and empowered to enact all the local laws which
they might deem necessary and proper for the Territory
The President found those laws by the legislature
and submit it to the minds Of all candid and honest
if his duty under the constitution ID to see that they
faithfully executed without any inquiry whether
the laws good bad proper or improper? II seems
70 roe sir that this is proposition which cannot be de-
Sir contend that in this affair the President has done
bis duty and every citizen ought to unite with him in
preserving the and quiet of the country and do
not think It secords with the high responsibilities Of Amer
dent In his patriotic efforts to execute the laws Of the
land. III aa
now come directly to the questions raised by the major
y report If understand the report correctly one rea
for adopting the aud extraordinary proceeding
is that may be brought here to prove that the
General WHITFIELD elected delegate this House
null and void because many Of II not ALL the members of
that Legislature wsre elected BY Illegal voters And pre-
sue sir that If the resolution is adopted and persons
papers enough found establish these facts the
mittee contemplate declaring by this Housea single
ordinate branch of the law passed
by the Kansas Legislature 10 void and of no effect Not
only 10 Gen. WHlTFIYLDs election to be declared nuy
but sir all the contracts for property all the convsyances
OF land and all the marriages. are to be pronounced void
and OF effect II to that gentlemen ought
pause and consider aturey before they upon SO
poriant work this h
shall express no opinion now as to the power Of Con-
gres with the Executive sanction to set aside the laws of
Territory but deny most emVhatcAlly that this House
alonea single of coordinate branchcshas any such
power To ooncede this power az applied 10 this case
would be to grant to this House the power go behind
the acts Of State Legislature and decide upon the validity
Of the elections and of each member in other
words IL would be to give this House not only the right
TO judge Of the qualifications and election returns of its
own members but also to judge Of the qualifications and
election returns Of the members Of the legislatures of every
State and Territory in the Union VIII any representa-
tive here claim such power for this House viii any
member say that this House has the right Judge Of the
qualifications and election returns OF the members of the
legislature Of my State whose constitution declares in
plain language that the two branches Of It's sgsa
turc shall be the sole judges OF these matters2 Yet STR
monsrous this proposition may seem, and unauthorized
II may appear the committee seeking to establish
precedent from which it is readily deducsdhus invading
Of the great reserved rights Of the States and Of the
people I'll understood the argument Of the honorable
gentleman from Delaware, [Mr CuLLKMl and that Of the
honorable member from Alabama mr. WALKER on this
point concur with them fully In the opinions they ex-
pressed, that ths House. In sitting Ia judgment the
election returns and qualifications OF its meubers sits "a
court and that the testimony sought by the committee Is
incompetent TO prove that which they are aiming At
Again sir by what kind of witnesses and papers arc
the laws Of kansas 10 be set aside The validity Of
law s TO be determined by courts Of competent ursdic
ton, and not by the oaths Of Witnesses Like record
you only set aside law enacted by legislative body
before tribunal Instituted for that purpose and not then
by the osths Of Witnesses But sir the committee insist
that grant them the 10 send for persons and
papers prove that the law under which Cen WmrpIup
elected is null and void Or perhaps sir this inves
CATION desired for the purpose Of satisfying the doubts
of the honorable gentleman from Pcnnsylvana mir Hoy
who, when he was presented with copy the acts
of the territorial legislature Of ksnsas was not willing
to believe that II was a bona fAs copy Of those laws
unless the honorable gentleman fom Georgia MR. srr-
pgsssl would swearit Now, air am great admirer OF
cautious think that trait In mans character
Is more useful or commendabe than caution but
judging from this single act should presume that the
honorable gentleman from Pennsylv would make
fine subject for tbs Investigation OF phrenoogs Mt least
so fnr the bump OF caution Is concerned repeat sir
then II Is probably for the purpose of satisfying the doubts
of that member Of the committee that persons arc 10 10
brought thousands OF miles To that there Ia such
country Kansas, and that there legislative asseu-
bly, iu that county, and that the beck which the honoa
ble gentleman from Georgia bad was actually n copy OF
the acts and doines Of that body. -.
Another furnished by the majority Of the COM
mitee in their report why the House should adopt
That notwithstanding Congress by the organic ac fixed
Territory and in Tho same forbade legislature TO es
eciss power inconsistent with the provision of ssd
yet the legislature in Scgsrd Of said congressional prob
bon assumed to change the temporary seat OF