The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-29
In CONGRESS- OF THE U. STATES
THURSDAY, AUGUST %, 1856.
SENATE
AFFAIRS IN KANSAS

Mr. CRITTENDEN asked and obtained leave to intro
duce bill to alter and amend the act of Congress entitled
"An act TO organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kan
sas approved the 30th Of May 1854 which read
twice and considered in committee of the whole. In
ntroducng this BILL Mr. c. said that he would avail him
self of this opportunity to make few remarks explana-
tory Of the various provisions of the BILL and fur
Their remarks upon the general subject During the last
session the Senate passed bill for the admission of
State which not acceptable to the House and
not acted upon there II the provisions of that bill
unsatisfactory to them, they might have made such
of the Senate but they have neglected and have
ken notice of the bill The consequence that this
session is appro close, and nothing has been
done. This nee lt pert OF the House did not how
ever relieve the ~.r' n Il responsibility. The Senate
ought not TO al w.1n making ADEQUATE pro-
vision this Jrl u the bill which be intro
duced he had nseri such scheme he thought might
do good IL it did entirely accomplish the whole
object which all have view. The BILL in the first place
proposes to transfer from the legislative assembly of Kan
TIE whole legislative power which was conferred
upon it, TO be exercised by the governor and judges
of that Territory. The laws which they enact TO
be transmitted by The secretary of the Territory to the
President Of the United States in order that they
may be laid before Congress for approval disap-
prevail This exactly according TO the ancient
form Of territorial in their first stage This
the government of Louisiana of Illinois, of Indiana
OF Ohio, of Michigan; and IL worked well everywhere.
There disturbance Of the public peace but this
form OF government satisfactory to the people sim
pie community like that which constitutes the population
Of Territory does not require great deal Of legislation
its wants few and its legislation should be simple
The body thus ntruSed with power have motive
TO abuse IL they subject TO the perpetual supervision
of this government So far the experiment has been
made the whole machinery has moved successfully and
in harmony lie therefore proposed to try the expert
men again Congress seemed to have forgotten passed
by the fathers Of the republic and they were
reapng the fruits Of their action He desired when
he could always walk upon the and tried
tread most safely when pursue that course Super
dntguds Uids a safe maxim act upon The present
condition OF affairs in Kansas seemed TO him. demanded
such change Of government he proposed 1t had been
tried again and again and all knew how perplexing il
to frame such system bring about any thing
like fair election in Kansas. Thus far a summons to
election in that Territory nothing but Of
people who heated and irrated against each other
to renewed controversy and strife and IL might be TO
boodshed and murder. In the present Of excitement
there 1t would be utterly impossible have fair and
free expression OF the will OF the people He therefore
wished avoid these difficulties and proposed 70 place the
power in the hands Of the governor and Judges tempo
ray eKpodontn contemplation of the speedy admission of
Kansas State circumstances and her condi
ton would permit Congress do lie hoped this view Of
the would meet the appreciation Of the majority of
the Senate The FIRST section Of the bill transferred the
hory from the legislature 10 the governor ard udges
The second section directed the of the Territory
transmit the President Of the United States whatever
lave might be passed by this authority in order that they
might be laid before Congress for revision repeal
think proper The third section the the bill
OF the from California the 18th section Of the
Kansas bill The fourth section provided that s prosecu
tons indictments for treason other offences Of
merely a political character now depending in any
of The courts Of Kansas shall cease and be dismissed
and all and every person who may at the passage Of
this act DO imprisoned held In custody under such
charges shall be forthwith discharged He said that be
that this provision did not meet the approba
ton Of majority Of the Senate but he would In few
words explain the motives which had induced him pre-
it, Treason against the government OF Kansas was
simply absurdty; there could be such thing ac-
cording TO commonaw notions, treason against that
Territory People might AZ well talk about treason against
county in State. Treason was crime which could
only be committed, according to all definitions of it,
against sovereignty and the Territory of Kansas
ali tta
ordnae the sovereignty was in the people Of the United
States and treason could only be committed against the
United States This provision had reference to indictments
for political offences merely and all those for robbery
murder &C. TO be proceeded with at present With
out concluding his remarks he gave way allow Mr.
BlYARD TO introduce bill
Mr.. BAYARD asked and obtained the unanimous con-
sent Of the Senate introduce bin to fix the times Tor
holding in the State Of Delaware the election Of repre-
sentative in the Congress Of the United States which
read three times and passed.
Mr. HUNTER then reported from the committee Of con-
ference on the appropriation BILL that they had been
unable TO agree and he prospect Of any agree
ment unless the Senate would consent TO admit obnoxious