The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-03-20
Reports upon Kansas Matters I'm the
senate.


senate.
WAsHINoToN, March II,
Mr.. Douglass, from the Committee on Ter
ritories, made report or Kansas matters,
and proceeded to read it. The report argues
that no State has right to pass law rela-
tive to any Territory, which it could not pass
with reference to any State or any foreign
government, and gives n detailed history of
the elections held in Kansas, at which the
territorial legislature was chosen denies
that the illegal votes said to have been cast,
nullify the election, or that the removal of
the seat Of government renders the action Of
the Legislature void. 1t proposes to carry
out the recommendations of the President in
his special message, by the passage Of an act
providing for tie election Of delegates by the
people to assemble in convention. and form "A
State constitution, preparatory to admission
into the Union on an equal footing with the
original States, as soon as the population
shall amount to 93,42l inhabitants. The
Committee will also move an amendment to
the General Appropriation bill, voting such
an amount as may be found necessary for the
purpose of maintaining good order, and en-
forcing the executive laws in Kansas.
Mr.. Collamer read minority report, which
discusses the slavery question in the northern
view-declaring that the system gives polit
zeal supremacy 10 practical minority of the
people, of the United States. The report
states that the people Of the territory were
overawed and prevented from casting their
votes by armed invaders from Missouri
Thus the legislature was constituted in Il
fraudulent manner, and Gov. Reeder gave
members certificates without full knowledge
of these facts. This legislature passed acts
by which slavery was recognized and protect
ed as an existing institution. The free State
people were either driven out or reduced TO
submission. Finding the government had
become the engine of tyranny and oppression,
the people assembled peacefully at Topekato
take measures preliminary 20 the admission
of Kansas into the Union as a State. The
proper course now would be, either to repeal
the act Of 1854, and organize Kansas anew
as a free territory, or, if Congress will not
DO that, let them declare all the acts of this
spurious legislature utterly imperative and
void and provide new government for that
territory.
The reading of the report occupied more
than three hours.
Mr.. Sumner had no desire TO precipitate
discussion on this important question before
the reports are printed. Both ably treated
the subject, but one was calculated to smoth.
er the true issue, while the other placed the
ISSUE in living light before the country. Let
them be published together. Error can 90
abroad safely, while reason is left free 10
combat it. The Emigrant Aid Society Of
had done nothing which would
in the least degree, violate either the letter
or the spirit of the constitution or the laws
Of the land. He denied the charges enter
tanned in the majority report, and declared
them untenable.
Mr.. Douglass said that there were facts in
Il which could not be successfully denied
Mr.. Seward was prepared TO stand by and
defend the minority report, its statements Of
facts, and the conclusions at which it arrives
he rendered his thanks and the thanks of the
friends Of freedom throughout the free States
and the world, for the ability, dignity, mod
Grafton and wisdom with which Mr.. Cola
mer has presented their views. 1t was quite
for Mr.. Douglass TO tell them
that the laws shall be enforced bv this ad
Mr.. Seward gave notice that
the administration have but three hundred
and fifty days left in which they will have the
power to WELD the military and naval force
Of the country.
Mr.. Weller-When did you find that out
Laughter
Mr.. Seward The people will be consulted
on that subject, and his belief was that there
was no necessity for violence, but that pru-
dence and moderation will attain u settle
ment of the question without disturbing the
peace OF the country or endangering the Tn
ion. He proposed to keep cool, and meet the
question on its merits. lie trusted soon to
admit Kansas State, there being already
1000 people in that territory.
On motion of Mr.. Douglass the reports were
ordered printed. Adjourned.