The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-04-11


enee longer protects' But in the face Of these facts
and with full knowledge of them the senator from Yer
mont tells that the freeStas Kansas did
not contemplate rebellion resistance the authority Of
this government but all dependent upon the accept
ance and ratification by Congress" How does he attempt
to sustain his proposition? Fret by ignoring and exe-
ding the proceedings of the Big Springs convention upon
the ground that II was out OF the line OF the history OF the
feeSate movement Secondly by ignoring and suppress
ing the entire proceedings of the convention which formed
Tue constitution at Topeka, without assigning any
for this latter omission Were not the proceedings of the
convention which formed the constitution within the line
OF the history OF that instrument and the purposes OF its
makefsf But the proceedings Of the constitutional con-
nenton as we'll the territorial convention at Big
Springs must all be excluded in order excupate those
who controlled the whole movement from being justly sub
cled to the consequences of organized resistance to the
laws of the Territory and defiance the authority of the
federal government and its proper tribunals The
Tor nom Vermont will listen 10 other evidencewill
receive which Is not to be found in the Lawrence
meeting the l4th OF August and the convention at To-
peka the 18th Of September 1t is true that the Law
renee meeting the first 10 propose convention at To-
peka The preamble TO the resolution assigned
that "he people of Kansas have been since its settle
ment and are, without any aw-making power" The
second step In the series of was the adoption of
resolution by the Big Springs convention approving of
the call by the Lawrence meeting for the reason that 1t
repudated the acts OF the socaed Kansas legislative as
senbly by this resolution the movement became gene
raj and extended all the Territory. The Lawrence
meeting small aiair-a local town-meetipg-
while the Big Springs convention composed OF dele
gates from every county in the Territory Thus 1t will be
that the movement, which had its first demonstration
in town meeting Lawrence the plan Of treating the
legislative assembly which Congress had established
in the Territory as nuity became general and coexen-
sve with the limits Of the Territory by of the Big
Springs convention Nth the distinct understanding thai IN
The Congress should reject their application for aniS-
sion tey apould "resa bloody tsSu II also appears
from the proceedings that they far anticipated the
event. certain happen that Congress would reject
their applications that they determined then to prepare for
,hebloody issue BY recommending theirfends through
the Territory Sin tie time 10 organize and discip
line oolunier companies and the procurement and repara
ton of arms
now submit the question to the Senate whether the
proceedings Of the convention at Big Sprngsa which the
ultimate purposes of the whole movement distinctly
declared In the event Congress should reject their appca
tionn which provision is made for organizing and dis
cipning military companies in every county OF the Ter
rltory and for procuring aud munitions of war in
anticipation OF that probable eventare far outside OF
the line of the true history of the eeSiate movement
that it is irrelevant and improper TO bring them before the
Senate illustrative of the real objects and ultimate de-
signs Of thosc who originated and controlled them
sdered 1t respectful to the Senate and consistent with
fair and impartial exposition Of the subject to present all
the material facts calculated to shed light Upon its true
character and ultimate Objects than to withhold and keep
out OF view the large portion Of them The senator from
Vermont thought otherwise and prepared the minority
port accordingly. Let the Senate decide between But
have been much surprised at the assigned by
the senator from Vermont for excluding the proceedings
OF the Big Springs convention have been at the fact
itself The that the convetoh at Big Springs,
although representing every county in the Territory was
convention; composed OF
feeSate party and hence its proceedings ought 10 be
considered fair expression OF the opinions OF the whole
people of Kansas Was the meeting at Lawrence on
the 18th of August party meeting in the sense
True they called II peoples meeting" But there
any people there except ee.State men Were any Others
invited expected Was not the convention at Topeka
sense Was il not composed avowedly and exclusively
of free-Staie men with much certainty as the Big
Springs convention Did il not assemble in pursuance o
the call made at Lawrence and endorsed Big Springs
and n wei lnOw q
out the objects disclosed in the proceedings Of both OF
those meetings conventions How, then, you sep
arate them and call the party meeting and the
others peoples meetings. when they composed Of the
persons and assembled for the urthesnce OF the
same common object, although they may at times have
passed under different names Was not the convention
which assembled at Topeka the fourth Tuesday OF DC
ober and formed the constitution also party convention
in the sense Was not the whole movement in OF
s parts from its incipent steps at Lawrence the lAt
OF August to the organization Of adogu legislature and the
Inauguration Of mock governor at Topeka the 4h
March, party movement II, then, the senator from
Vermont is right in excluding the proceedings OF the
Big Springs convention upon The ground that IL
party convention and hence disqualified from parcpa
ting in the formation of constitution and State govern
men he reject and suppress the whole rement fol
the reason But the senator from Vermont was no
with excluding the proceedings of the Big Springs
convention In order to exculpate bis eeso friends II
Kansas from the crime Of medatng rebellion and Treason
against the United States. He enabled 10 brush thos
proceedings Of his way upon the assumption that they
the acts and dongs Of party and not OF the who
people, consequently, not Wlthn llne OF INT
history of this freeStae movement But still there remains
directly in his path, and staring him in the face the pro
ceeding OF the convention which formed the constitution
with which be proposes bring Kansas into the Union
State The proceedings Of that constitutional convention
equally fatal to the position be has assumed for eKcupa
ting the authors OF these revolutionary movements Copou
extracts Of these proceedings are set the majority
port and referred the other day in my speech fo
the purpose Of showing that the constitution formed
expressly with the view Of putting the State government
In Immediate operation n conflict with the territorial gov
ernmen without waiting for the action Of Congress
their application for admission The question distinct
ly made upon resolution Of instruction TO the commit
tees and after full debate decided in the affirmative
and the constitution formed accordingly 10 the de
bate Mr. Deahay who has since been elected 10 represent
the State In Congress- opposed the proposition upor
the ground that II did constitute act OF rebellion" Or
the other hand the friends of the proposition defended
revolutionary right sanctioned by the example Of
fathers in the Declaration Of Independence and declared
that they would await hour for the action Of Con
gress In view Of these facts IL not prudent in b,
senator from Vermont TO maintain ominous silence In
respect to theprocoedugs Of the constitutional convention
He could not have produced these facts either in his
or bis speech without aunihang every proposition which
he assumed the basis Of his defence Of his reeso friends
in Kansas lie could have referred TO these facts with
out betrayng consciousness that they had resolved
rebellion against the authority Of the United States lie
could not make heeKcuse n the of the Big Springs
convention that the proceedings Of the convention which
formed the constitution outside of the line of the his
tory Of that instrument and hence furnished evidence
OF the intentions OF its makers. lie could avail himsel
Of none OF these modes Of escape and consequently the
was no ether left open him except pass ove
The proceedings of the constitutional convention In silence
and then draw conclusions directly the of those
which he would have been driven had he presented bt
whole history Of the movement Who can fail TO admire
the prudence which dictated this ominous silence
INN as IN ~ 4