Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-03-28
KANSAS IN THE SENATE.
Senator Collamer's Report.

Senator Collamer's Report.
In Senate, March u, Mr.. CoLLAMyR.
from the Minority of the Committee on Ter
rltorles. to whom was referred the Pres-
dents Message on Affairs in Kansas, made
the following
REPORT:
Thirteen Of the present prosperous States
Of this Union passed through a period Of
apprenticeship or pupilage Of Territorial
training under the guardianship Of Congress,
preparatory 10 assuming their proud rank Of
manhood as sovereign and independant
states. This period Of their pupiIage was,
IN every case, period Of the good offices Of
parent and child, IN the kind relationship
sustained between the National and Terri
torial Governments, and may be remember
ed with feelings Of gratitude and pride. We
have fallen on different times. A Territory
Of our Government Is convulsed with vio-
lence and dscord, and the whole family Of
our nation is In state of excitement and
anxiety. The National Executive power is
put In motion, the army in requistion, and
Congress Is invoked for interference. In
this case, as IN all others of difficulty, II be-
comes necessary TO inquire what II the true
cause Of existing trouble IN order to apply
efficient cure. II is but temporary palliatlon
to deal with the external and more obvious
manifestations and developments, while the
real prevailing cause lies unattended to- and
uncouected and unredressed. II is said
that organized opposition to law exists in
Kansas. That, It existing, may probably be
suppressed by the President, by the aid Of
the army and SO, too, may inyasions by
armed bodies from Missouri, if the Execu-
tive be sincere in It's efforts but when this
"a a
the results will continue with renewed and
increased developments OF danger. Let us
| then look fairly aud undisgusedly into the
subject IA It's true character and history
Wherein does this Kansas Territory differ
from all our other territories, which have
been 50 peacefully and successfully carried
through, and been developed into the man
hood of Independent States Can that diff
ference account for existing troubles ? Can
that Inference as a cause of trouble be re-
moeed
/ The first and great point Of difference be
tween the Territorial Government of Kansas
aud that of the thirteen Territorial Govern-
ments before mentioned, onslsts IN the sub
ject of Slavery, the undoubted cause of pres
ent trouble. The action of Congress in re-
ation to those Territories was conducted on
uniform and prudent principle, to wit: to
settle, by clear provision, the law IN relation
/ to the subject OF Slavery to be operative in
the Territory while II remained such, not
| leaving 1t in any of those cases to be sub
iect of controversy within the same, while
IN the plastic grlstle OF It's youth. This was
done by Congress IN the exercise OF the
same power which moulded the form of their
organic laws and appointed their executive
and judiciary, and, at the same time, their
] lautalattua aiIa IL tho nrayti.
ed IN the Constitution in these words "Con-
gress shall have power to dispose Of and
make all needful rules and regulations re-
spectng the territory or other property be-
longing TO the United States" Settling the
subject Of Slavery, while the country re-
NAMED Territory, was higher exercise OF
power in Congress, than the regulation Of
the functions of the Territorial Government,
aud actually appointing its principal func-
uOnanes. THIS practice commenced with
this National Government, and was contnu-
ed with uninterrupted uniformity for more
than siriy years. This practical cotempo-
raneOus construction of the constitutional
polcer of this Government, is too clear to
leave room for doubt or opportunity for skep-
tcism. The peace, prosperity and success
which attended this course, and the results
which have ensued, in the formation and ad-
lllsaiun VI hlt Auilttn tolhltb AltItiIOhlf uIb
most conclusive and satisfactory evidence,
also of the wisdom and prudence with
which this potper was exercised. Deluded
must be that people who in the pursuit of
plausible theories, become deaf TO lessons
aud blind to the results OF their own expert
ence. Let US next inquire by what rule Of
uniformity Congress was governed in the
exercise Of this power Of determining the
condition of each Territory as to Slavery,
while remaining Territory, as manifested
In those thirteen Instances. An eXamina-
ton of our history will show that this was
not done, from time TO time, by agltations
and local or party triumphs IN Congress. The
rule pursued was uniformly clear, and who
ever may have lost by it, peace and prosper
ity have been gained. That rule was this
Where Slavery was actually existing in
, country, to any considerable or general ex.
tent, II was Though somewhat modified as to
further impouations, in some Instances, as IN
Mississippi and other TerrItories) suffered to
remain. The fact that it had been taken and
existed there, was taken as an indication of
its adaptation and local utility. When Sla-
very did not in fact exist, to any appreciable
extent, the same was by Congress expressly
prohibited So that, in either case, the coun-
try settled up without difficulty or doubt as
instance was this difficult and disturbing
] subject LETT to the people who had and who
might settle in the Territory, to be thus an
everlasting bone Of contention, 50 long as
the Territorial Government should continue.
II was even regarded, too, as subject IN
which the whole country mad ap interest,
aud, therefore, improper for local legislation.
And though, whenever the people Of
Territory came to form their own organic
law as an independant State, they would e-
ther before or after their admission us a
State torn and mold their institutions, as a
sovereign State in their own way, yet it
must be expected, ahd has always proved
true, that the State has taken the character
her pupilage has prepared her for, as well IN
respect TO Slavery as IN other respects
tlnnce six of the thirteen States are Free
States because Slavery was prohibited in
them by Congress while Territories to wit,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin,
and Iowa. Seven of the thirteen are slave
holding States because Slavery was allowed
IN them by Congress while they were Ter
ritoues-to wit, Tennessee, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, and
Missouri.
Ga the 9Th Of March, A. d., 1920, was
passed by Congress the act preparatory to
the admission OF the State Of Missouri into
the Union. Much controversy aud discus
sion arose on the question, whether prohl-
bitiun Of Slavery within said State should
be Inserted and II resulted in this, that said
State should be admitted without such pro-
hlbition, but that Slavery should foreper be
prohibited IN the rest OF that country ceded
[ TO us by France, lying north 80 deg. and 80
min. north latitude; and this contract was
known as the Missouri Compromise. Un-
DER this arrangement Missouri was admitted
as a slavehodng State, the same having
been slayeholding Territory. Arkansas,
south of the line, was formed into Terrific
~, and slavery allowed therein, and ailer-
4 a. .l.a.1tt tt...