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

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bues OF oonspirueythat its aim 10 subvert by yo-
enee and fraud the government which Congress had es-
tablIshed IN the Territory instead OF peaceaby assembling
TO petition for the redress OF grievances
The senator says also that there is evidence nj all that
this secret military legion which he tries to dicule had
any connexion with the State movement Whatever that
they were not the same men. .0.
Mr. CoLLAMER. / said that did not know whether
| they not. .#.. -..s#. RI .E.... >
Mr. DOUGLAS | will tell YOU how TO ascertain IT, In
the charter Of the legion appointing persons form
lodges You find the OF %" K Goodn grand quar-
termaser in the Big Springs convention you find the
same j. H. Goodin. And again you find his name in
the proceedings Of the convention at Topeka with
many other names which figure conspicuousy and alter.
natey 10 the secret army and in the public meetings and
conventions
Hence the senator cond have known, if he had taken
the pains 10 have Investigated the matter that the
military organization and the public meetings and
venops to whlch have had occasion to refer often,
were managed and controlled by the body of for
the accomplishment OF a common object / submit
the question to the Judgment of the Senate whether
have not fully sustained the position that
i'm Kansas revolutionary in their character having
for their object the snbverson Of the territorial govern
ment established by Congress by resort to force and vo
lence in the event that peaceabe should fail
comph their objecs2 The senator from Vermont attempts
to break the force OF my argument and at the same time
excuse himself for Withholding the most important portion
OF the evidence by Tetorng that have not set ont
the proceedings of those meetings and conventions in full
in the majority report He does not complain that have
not given fair abstract Of the proceedings of EACH but
the allegation is that have not incorporated into it all the
speeches. resolutions procamatons addresses and unim
pOrtant details Whch would have made vast mass
less and confused matter and swollen the report to such
extent that would have been circulated much less
read made fair abstract of each case, and incorpo-
rated into the report much necessary to convey
to the Senate and country distinct idea of the real charac
ter and nature OF the transaction With the view he
refers to the fact that did not set Out the whole volume of
laws enacted by the Kansas legislature and which have
been ordered TO be printed with the other papers trans
mited TO the Senate by the President These laws alone
constitute volume large the one hold in my hand,
Iholding up volume of the United States Statutes at
Large containing than thousand pages For what
purpose would be have incorporate those laws in the
report The report expressly states that the COMMITTEES did
deem it any part OF their duty to examine those laws in
detail for the that they local Statutes confined
in their operation to the Territory of Kansas which the
legislature of the Territory might alter or repeal at pleas
ure OF that large volume of laws affecting almost every
relation and interest in life have heard but two COM
pained of being either unjust oppressive Is ii not
curious fact that of the disturbances violence which
have occurred In Kansas have arisen under either OF these
lawsthe election law and the slavery lawalthough these
constantly referred to furnishing excuses for resist
ing other laws with which they have connexion? Ii a
is arrested for murder and is rescued from the officer
by armed mob the excuse is that the legislature passed
odious law upon the subject of slavery II awless
person is arrested for burning his neghbor house. and is
rescued from the officer the Justification is found in the fact
that the egsate enacted election law which the riot
ers did like Whenever free-solcr member of
the secret military organization is arrested for breach OF
the peace crime against laws which held TO be
cssary and proper in all civilized countries and is rescued
from the officer the excuse Is that the election law
and slavery law odous and oppressiyei repeat the
question: B 1t not remarkable fact that while these two
laws made the for resisting all the laws n the
Territory has arisen under either of the stat
utes complained of-no has been charged with a
violation of eherno prosecution has been Instituted
under either Of them The s that they not
understood in the Territory 10 bear the construction
which be eesoers here desire to place them in order
TO render them odous for party purposes The senator
from Vermont complains that in the majority report
have inserted extract from the address of lawand-
order convention held at Leavenworth in November last
and composed Of Of all parties "wgs and democrats
ee-Stae aud proslayey men, who were in favor OF
suppessng violence and maintaining the supremacy OF the
laws That meeting presided over by the governor
assisted by majority of the Judges Of the supreme court
Of the Territory, aRd the United States district attorney
and marshal participated 10 the proceedings thought
more consistent with fairness aud mpsray to give the
construction placed those laws by those whose duty ],
is TO expound and execute them than adopt the
strucon which is sought 10 be put them here for par
tsan purposes Is 1t not fair 10 presume that the judges
governor district attorney aud marshal will expound and
execute them in the in which they explained
them on that occasion What is the objection TO having
them expounded and executed in that mode None that
conceive Of except that 1t depriyes the anuNebrasks
party OF the opportunity OF making political capital for the
/ presidential election The construction put on those
laws by those whose official duty II Is to consrue them
authoratvey deprves them Of nearly all their objection
able features Why allow that construction TO prevail
l and thus render them harmless n not useful
Il Mr.. COLLAMER ] have given no construction
l stated the laws themselves.
/ Mr. DOUGLAS. ! understand what the senator hai
done He stated part Of each of those laws and omit
ted the residue lie has placed construction upon the part
stated by him directly the reverse of that given by thu
constituted AutDorlnes lerrllofNi
of reasoning arrives At the conclusion that they ntol
eraby oppressysi If his construction Of them make
them so very Objectionable why not take the exposition
given by the judges and governor Let this be DONE anc
the people Of the Territory will be relieved from all appre
tensions IT, indeed they entertained any, that thos
laws would be executed in way that would be injurious
TO their interests obnoxious TO their feelings or vioauT
| of their rights.
i But will not pursue that point further. There Ia an
other which deem more important think have saic
enough TO show that this movement In Kansas Is revo
uonary proceeding TO overthrow the territorial govern
uent in defiance OF the authority OF Congress. The sena
4 tor from Vermont has sought to find precedents in thu
cases OF Tennessee Arkansas other new State
under whose example he hopes to shelter his reesoi
j friends in kansa lie says that these States and SOM
others formed thor constitutions without the previous as
sent OF Congress and received into the Union not
witbstanding that objection That Is all very true Blu
no one Of those be cited with any proprety as
precedent usying palliatug the revolutionary pro
caedngs In Kansas Each Of those Is reviewed in th
a rity report and the facts clearly stated, which show
that epey instance the proceedings had ga si obs
deaee and subordRaoR 10 he ezisng territorial goveTnp
| and conditioned upon he decision Of Congress.
i wish to be distinctly understood upon this point Ten
ncssee Arkansas Michigan Florida and California formed
their constitutions and took the preparatory steps to seel
admission into the Union, without having first obtainet
the OF Congress to do OF these all but Cafor
MIA duly organized under territorial governments cs
tabished by Congress and California had government
d faco, which recognised by The government OF IN
United States and administered under its sanction and di
rection In each of these the movement for stat
made under the direction Of the existing ter
ritorial government and in subordnation to its authority
repeat therefore, that there instance in the who'll
history Of our country which be tortured into prece
dent with the Appearances of fairness to Justify the at
tempt in Kansas TO set up State government IN confc