The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-02

agency IN producing and from the eaamies OF which
they entitled TO be exempted by their fidelity TO the
constitution and laws of the land Besides if the reasons
assigned for refusing obedience the laws Of Kansas
well founded the objections would apply with much
greater force 70 obeyng the laws OF Nebraska u the as
sumption that some n0nresdents participated in the cleo
ons and TO that extent affected the legislation OF Kansas
be sufficient justification for resisting all the laws enact
ed by the legislature the fact that Of the Inhabitants
OF Kansas had any voice 10 making the laws of Nebraska
which 1t Is proposed to extend them by act Of
Congress without their consent, would furnish much
plausible pretext for resisting the laws of Nebraska
IL it be said that of the enactmens OF tho Kansas
Legislature obnoxious that portion OF the inhabitants
who resist the constituted authorities In the execution OF
the laws OF that Territory, what have that
the same persons would not find fault with of the
actmens OF the Nebraska legislature and assign the
double reason for refusing obedience TO them first that
they had no voice in making them and second that they
opposed to them and would obey any law they
do not like? For the stated your committee
not recommend the proposition TO annex Kansas 10 Ne
braska rs measure calculated ito restore order and peace
in Kansng.' ..
The proposition in the order in which they were re-
ierred TO your committee is the Bill supplementary
act to organize the Territories Of Nebraska and Kansas
introduced by the senator from Delaware, Mr. Clayton
This bill embraces leading doas The reorganize
the legislature of the Territory and the other TO admit Kan
sas into the Union equal footing with the original
States in compliance with the principles and provisions
the act whenever should be asceraned
by census that the Territory contained federal popula
ton OF ninetythree thousand four hundred and twenty in
habtants So much OF the bill relates the admission
the Committee on Territories on the 18th Of March last
and hence may be assumed possess all tho advantages
which may be fairly claimed for that proposition and lia
BILE to whatever objections may be justly urged against it.
That portion Of the bill which provides for the reorganza
ton ofehe legislature contains wise and excellent
provisions especially those intended to guard the elective
franchise against fraud and violence and insure fee
and fair expression of the popular voice through the ballot
box while others liable serious and fatal objections
in consequence of their repugnance to tho at principle
iubodied in the kansasNebrasEa act and affirmed III the
preamble although not sustained by all The provisions Of
| the bill under consideration s. ~ e. .s...s
The in order is "a bill supplementary TO an act
organize the Territories Of Nebraska and Kansas and TO
provide for the faithful execution the said in the Ter
rtoy OF Kansas according the true intent and meaning
thereof introduced by the senator from Missouri, Mr.
Geyer This bill makes provision for the admission of
Kansas into the Cnion and has for its main object efficient
provisions for preserving the sancty of the balobox and
to throw such safeguards around the elective franchise
would efectually protect it from fraud violence inimida
lon any other improper influence which ould prevent
fair expression of the popular will in all elections in the
Territory Most OF the provisions of this bill admirably
adapted the objects in view and should 1t be determined
to pass law for the admission of Kansas into the Union
your committee would not hesitate to adopt most of them
with notifications the best solution of the exist
ing difficulties in Kansas.
The two remaining propositions referred to your COM
ittee relate 10 the same subectatter and although en-
tirely different in their character, will be considered to-
gether. They are, first amendment in the form OF
substitute proposed by the senator from New York, Mr.
Seward TO the bill reported by the Committee Terri
tories the 18th of March last and the other amend
ment in the form Of substitute for the bill opossa
en cf the senator from New York. which he proposes
substitute for the entire bill provides for the immediate
admission of Kansas into the Union, without making any
provision for the ormetion OF constitution, the esab
ishent of State government 1t may be the intention
of the author of this proposition TO recognise and put In
operation paper framed at Topeka in October last and
called "a constitution of the State of Kansas portion of
which has been presented the Senate and referred to this
committee, although the boundaries and territory de-
scrbed ard embraced within the provisions OF said
pretended constitution are widely different from those
described and provided for III The proposition Of the
from New York. For instance, while the State
which the senator from New York proposes 70 ADMIT s
described IN his proposition to be bounded the west ny
the l03d meridian of longitude that provided for Ii the
Topeka constitution extends several hundred miles beyond
that meridian and joins the Territory of Cah and mean
1ers the summit of the Rocky mountains for its western
boundary, and thus embracing Territory larger than the
combined of several Of the New England States which
is not contained within the limits of the State proposed 10
bt admitted by the amendment Of the from New
York. The fact that the amendment Of that senator does
not refer to the Topeka constitution to any other
constitution, TO any supposed State government
in Kansas taken In cbnnexion with this vast dscrep-
ancy in the boundaries and territory proposed to be
baced within the limits of the proposed State, would
thorze the presumption that he proposes to ignore and
ect the Topeka constitution and State government at the
time that be subyers the territorial government
established BY Congress- and thus leave the inhabitants
without any government law protection of any
kind free to defend their rights and settle all mntters in
dispute by the arbtrament Of the sword Such in the
opinion Of your committee would be the fnir intepreta-
tiou and inevitable effect of the proposition Of the senator
from New York II il should unfortunately become the law
OF the land IT. the other hand he should revise and
reconstruct his proposition In such to recog
Mise and egalize the Topeka constitution and State gov
ernment IL becomes important TO inquire into the legal
ity regularity and fairness Of the proceedings with the
of ascerainng whether IL the work OF the whole
body Of the people Of Kansas the act OF political
party, Of faction, being small minority of the
inhabitants whose chief grievance consisted in the fact
that they coud not control the maiority. r a. =,
IL not pretended that any of the proceedings which
suited in the formation of the Topeka consultation were
had in pursuance of law The preliminary meetings the
calling Of the convention the appointment Of deegata the
assembling OF the convention the formation OF the cons
tution the voting its ratification the election Of ocer
under teach and every step in the whole movement was
not only without the authority OF law but part Of a
scheme openly and boldly avowed in their meetings and
conventions having for its object the subyerson Of the
government established by authority Of Congress ia said
Territory They refused to recognise The dy OF the
laws Of The Territory the authority Of the oceFs ap
pointed TO carry them into effect Hence there was no
law prescribing the Qualifications Of voters, or eHclu
ding illegal votes or prohibiting any person from yo
places he chose the day law providing Tor
the appointment Of judges of ections prcscb Dg
the usual oaih officer to administer the oath aud NO
law to punish It's violation. In short there resu
larity legality, security for far ss safeguards
against fraud 10 any OF their procredups Besides the
Whole movement was the work Of political party and
not the action OF the great body Of the people ire
4 spectve Of party. Their meetings were party meet
ings their conventions were party conventions, their
the cooperation OF every who FELT Il his duty to yield
obedience to the laws and constituted Authorities OF the
Territory under The organic act Hence u was strictly
partisan movefnenta movement of the law resisting party
in opposition the lswabidng party. II not qes
ton between those who approved and those who dsep