The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-04-29

and voting against it. We ind them meet
ing the assertions Of the settlers, not fairly
squarely upon their merits, but with techni-
calitics and special plcadings, with few to
PREJUDICE the case and stine inquiry. When
the assertion is made that the acting Legis-
lature Of the Territory was not its rightful
Legislature, the reply is, that the Presi-
dent has recognized IL rs such, and that estops
any qucstioning on our part. When the
charge is made that the members Of that Legis-
lature were elected BY fraud and violence,
these gentlemen shake the, paper certificates
of the Governor in our fncee, &c concluding
that branch Oft the inquiry and they hold UP
TO us volume Of territorial statutes, tho fruit
of thcii own usurpation, as evidence Of the en-
aciment Of valid and obligatory laws. Yes,
Mr.. Chairman, the residents Of that Territory
have their demands for substantial justice met
by cobweb sophistrics and technical objections
urged by the very men who profess to claim
this doctrine Of poprl soyrcignty rs the cor
ner-ston" of their political creed; and, not con-
tent with an effort TO close the door in their
faces, and to turn deaf ear to their COM
plaints, they go ono step further, and de-
|znounce their peacenblc efforts, as incipient
steps towards anarchy and revolution.
Now this may be genuine, unadulterated
Democracy in 1856, but will showthe com.
miLtee thst it differs widely from the article
that was recognized and indorsed rs Demo-
cracy in 1897. will go back scarcely n
score Of years, and show gentlemen that
Democratic Congress utterly secuted and re-
pudiated the position that gentlemen are
driven to here, in their desire to defeat the
free-Statc men of Kansas. Twill condemn
their votes ond their doctrines from the mouths
Of their own leaders and chanpions--men
who still enjoy their confidence, and, what is
more, expect to receive their votes.
In the year 1885, the people of the Terrific.
ry Of Michigan and adopted State constitu-
ted State oificcrs, United States Senators, n
Representative to the House, and put in mo-
tion the machinery Of State government
They did this without any previous net Of
Congress authorizing or justifying it, but after
repeated failures to obtain such an Gct. They
did it in accor lance with what they claimed to
be their rightsin default Of any such legislation
and they exercised the power as one that they
possessed, independent Of congressional or exec
utiye will AT the cnsGing session Of Congress
their application was presented Tor admission; !;
and the gentlemen who were selected to rep
resent thcm in congress claimed their rcspec-
tive scats; and I now call your attention to
the votes and Arguments, when this npplica-
ton was tefore the Twenty-fourth Congress,
as furnishing complete vindication Of the
free-State men Of Kansas, and as administer.
ing scathing rebukc to the mon who seek
to defeat and cmbarass.thein.
When tho application Of Michigan
was presented to the Senate Of the United
States, there woro Two objections raised
to tho approval Of her constitution, and
her admission into the Union. One was
that she included within her State boundaries
n large strip of territory that was claimed by
adjoining S;atcs, and the other related 10 the
alleged irregular and revolutionary character
Of the proceedings; and, in urging objcc-
tiona, Senator Hendricks remarked:
''But the people Of Michigan in presenting .!cir
Senate and iIo'se Of Representatives the leeisa
tive power existing there, showed hat they had
tranplci upon md violated the laws Of the United
states establishing Territorial government in Mich
igan. = .cse lawswcrc, or nuslt to he, in full force
there hnt. ny the character and position assumed
tEey had :, Up government antagonist to tlat Of
the United States. II, before they nnd put their
I
selves hero and ASKED admission into the Union
the mailer]f boundary cut of the qaestion--th,r re
would have been no difficulty in the case; and If
they w Isel NOW o. become a member Of the Union.
and nre content 10 como in at the right door, Il is
probable thy viii have no dificulty.'
But the select committee Of the Senate to
whom the matter was refeued--and which,
by The way, was Democratic in its compost
ton, with n southern Democrat (Felix Grun-
dy) for its chairman--reportcd bill provid-
ing for the admission Of Michigan into the
Union, with tho constitution then submitted,
and with only ono proviso attached TO it, viz:
that the citizens Of Michigan should assent
to change Of the boundaries. This was the
only modification Insisted upon; and this
Democratic committee expressly refused TO
recognize the objections urged on the score of
irregular and revolutionary proceedings.
!. When the bill came up fer consideration,
Mr.. Ewing proposed, rs substitute, a bill
which authorized the citizens Of the Terrific
ry to hold an election for delegates, meet in
convention, frame constitution, and send it
to Congress for approval; and he urged his
substitute upon the Senate as the only proper
and legitimate plan under the circumstances
Mr.. Ewing's plan was the same as that now
iVSOinHVifucu 10 US pl tlc EtecutlNc in inc
case Of Kansas; and let MS sec what favcr it
met from Democratic Senate.
In reply to Mr.. Ewing, Mr. Benton said:
'''rhe object OF the amendment offered by the Sem
atcr from Ohio tir. Ewing) 70 turn the people
o Michigan back 10 consider nothing ull they had
done. ao to rcque them To begin anew, under the
sanction { an act of Congress, with holding cleo
tions, meeting in convention. f,uming constitution
md ssn,iing it on to Congress. This (hc snid) was
the object, and what related TO the boundary
subordinate and incidental. which might he consid.
cred under the committees bill we'll under tho
proposed amendment. The great object was TO turn
the penre Of Michigan back, and make them c3m-
rncncc ~ regular manner, as it called in
trnlisincton to the Irregular, si.r.crly. and
luiionary manner of conducting themselves which
had been iTnpu;r. To them"
''Mr y. then entered intu M ample vindicaion Of
the rights Of the people ef Micpan aud Arkansas 10
meet IN convention With preliminary INV ON
Congress--adcpt constitu ions. md scnd them here
for examination. Conventions were original acts OF
thc people. They dep, ndcd upon inherent and Il :
alenabe rights. The people of any State may at
L.. At