The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-06-17
CONGR Il 8 8.
letter y

inc absent Mr.. Stuart was elected Presl-
dent pro. TEN. On motion OF Mr.. Adams
the bill to amend the naturalization law
was made the order of the day for Saturday
next. Mr.. Trumbull introduced a bill to
restore order and peace in Kansas, pro-
posing to bring it under the territorial gov
eminent of Nebraska. Mr.. Trumbull ex
planned that the only object of the bill was
to extend the territorial government of Ne
braska over Kansas, and abolish the pres
ent government of the latter territory, and
the laws made by their Legislature. He
thought the proposition was worthy OF some
consideration, as there was state OF things
now existing in Kansas which all good men
must deplore. He did not care about hav-
ing the bill referred, as that would withdraw
it from the consideration of the Senate
Mr.. Douglas hoped it would be referred to
the committee on territories, who would re-
port on it at an early day. 1t involved
some grave questions; but he was glad to
see that the opponents of the Nebraska bill
were beginning to acknowledge the princi-
pie of that bill. The laws of Nebraska were
made by the people of Nebraska, and the
laws of Kansas by the people of Kansas
but the proposition now was to abolish the
laws made by the people of Kensas for their
own government, and to place them under
the laws of Nebraska, which they have had
no voice in making. Mr.. Trumbull said
rloJc &ba
pie of the Nebraska bill he did not believe
there was any principle at all in it. 1t was
understood in one way at the North, and in
another at the South. But he would admit
that this bill was not such proposition as
he should prefer. He regarded the repeal
of the Missouri Compromise as the cause
of all the mischief; and he would be glad
to restore things to their former position.
But this was a temporary expedient, not in
tended to carry out his own wishes fully.
He meant to occupy conservative ground
upon this question, and was willing to yield
something, fm he was sorry to see strife in
Kansas, and was anxious that some meas
ure should be Immediately adopted to res
tore peace to that unhappy Territory. Mr..
Douglas said he was as anxious as his col
league to have peace and quietness restor-
ed in Kansas. He was willing to yield
something also but he would yield what
some of the people of Kansas refused to
yield, and that was implicit obedience to
the laws of the land. If every body would
do this there would be no. difficulty in Kan
sas, or my where else. But, if instead of
to the law, they were to be placed under
the laws of another territory, the effect
would be to extend strife and turmoil to Ne
braska also. He was unwilling to infict up
upon Nebraska the curses of the mob
violence that existed in Kansas. The peo-
pie of Nebraska have obeyed the law, and
they have peace; in Kansas the law had
been trampled under foot, and there was
strife. Abolitionists and the Emigrant Aid
Societies had not interfered in Nebraska to
prevent the terms and meaning of law of
Congress; and the very fact that both ter
ritories were created under one law, and
that in one there was peace and quietness,
while in the other there was strife and con-
troversy, shows that the fault is not in the
law. The fault was in foreign interference.
Strife and violence were the fruits of that
interference in Kansas; but there had been
non-interference in Nebraska, and peace
and harmony had been the natural conse-
quence. If his colleague thought the Ne
bruska bill was understood differently in the
North and the South, he had better read the
proceedings of the Democratic National
Convention. He would find that the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party were pro-
claimed North, South East and West eve
rywhere alike-proclaimed by the unani-
nous vote of every State in the Union
Massachusetts, and South Carolina under
stood the Nebraska bill alike; Illinois and
Louisiana, Ohio and Virginia, understood it
alike. All true Democrats. had no trouble
in constituting it; and nobody had any trou-
BILE except those who were opposed to it,
and who were determined not to be satisf-
ed with it. The principles of that bill were
embodied in the compromise of 1850; and
they were confirmed by the election of Pre-
sident Pierce il 1852. Mr.. Trumbull re-
piled that the thing was covered up by the
Cincinnati Convention, very much as it was
in the Nebraska bill. The language was
ambiguous. and each section understood it
to suit his own views. Mr.. Douglas further
replied and the bill was referred to the COM
mittee on territories. Mr.. Foote addressed
the Senate on the subject of the Navy Board,
combining his argument to the point that
the President had no power to dismiss any
commissioned officer of the army or navy,
except in his executive capacity, to carry
into effect the laws of Congress and the
sentences of our courts martial. The Sen
ate then adjourned.
In the House, by the reading of the journ-
al of Saturday it appeared that Mr.. Ed
wards had given notice of his intention to
a hill for ramOYinp the scat of