Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-03-17
GARRE TT DAVIS.
Kansas In the Senate

the Report of the Committee on i'ffltorles' III
the Senate. discussing the constitutional power
of Congress with reference to Territories. and
reviewing the origin and progress Of the Kansas
difficulties he report, which occupies ten or
twelve columns, in the IIerald's fine print. Is said
to be from the pen Of Judge Douglas. We have
have had leisure to read only portion of it--hnt
that portion satisfies us TINT it is mnsterly doc
umeni. We will, il possible, publish the whole
oft
We give nbstrnci of H. rs well ms Of n mi
nority report submitted by Mr.. Collamer and the
proceedings that en4ucd in the Senate
II embraces history 81 African slavery in
this country, and enters nj some length into its
/ constitutional relations. He states that the in
+ stituiion existed in all the colonies; and of the
original thirteen Safes six have retained it. while
in seven it has been abolished. Since then.
eighteen new States have been admitted into the
Union. nine of which have chosen to come in
as free States and nine MS slave States. Every
new State desiring admission into the Union has
right 10 come in on terms Of equality with the
old States, regulating her domestic institutions
and internal concerns in her own way, subject
only to the Constitution.
The report refers to this principle as embodied
| in the Nebraska aud Kansas bill. and condemns
| The combinations entered into in certain sections
! of the country. to control the destiny Of the
g., future State OF Kansas quotes extracts from
pamphlet entitled "Orgnnizniion obirct md
! plan and operations of the Emigrant AID Socie-
! ty," akn, "A Description of Kansas for the In
! formation OF Emigronts." The report argues
| that no State has right 10 pass n law with re
gurd to any territory which it could not pass in
reference To amy other State, or any foreign gov
'rnment, aud proceeds to give detailed history
If the elections held in Kansas, at which the
Territorial legislature was chosen. 1t d MES that
the Illegal votes said Ia have been cast nulihed
the election, or thai the removal of the seat of
government rendered the action Of the Legisla
lure null and void
Next the report discusses the Topeka Convcn
ton and declares that the power 10 govern n ter
tory being vested in Congress. the people have
no right to nunul territorial laws by II action in
private capacity II proposes 10 carry gu, the
recommendations of the President in his special
message by the passage of nm act providing for
the election of deieeateshy the people to assem-
BILE IN convention and form State Constitution
preparatory TO admission into the Union on nm
equal footing with the original States. as soon
rs the population shall amount to 93.420 souls
And the committee will also move an amendment
to the general appropriation bill, nppropriating
such an amount may be found necess nry for
the purpose of maintning good order and enioro-
ing the execution of the laws in Kansas
MIR. Collamer then read his minority report,
which discusses the slavery question in II North
ern light, declaring that the system gives poti.
cal supremacy to n practical minority of the PEG.
pile Of the United States The friends of pence
and quiet had hoped the Compromise measure
had settled the agitation of the question of slu-
very. The passage Of the Kansas hill however
&c opened the agitation by repeating the Missou-
ri restrictions, and all the present troubles have
grown oGt OF that repeal, which gave II prospect
of Unlimited extension to the Institution of sln-
very, The North, very naturally, tried to de.
wise means TO avoid that result. 1t was the right
and duty of those who opposed slavery to use
all lawful means to prevent its extension into free
territory.
In regard to the Kansas elections the report
states that the people of the Territorywere over
aw ID and prevented by the armed invaders FROM
Missouri casting their votes, and that the Iegis
lature was constituted IN fraudulent manner
and Governor Reeder give them certificates
wshnnt full knowledge of these facts This
Legislature passed acts by which slavery was re.
cognaed ns existing and protected; and the free
State people were thus driven out or reduced to
submission. Finding that the Government had
become an engine of tyranny and opprcssion,the
people assembled peecrnbly ut Topeka, to take
measures preliminary to the admission of Kan
sas into the Union us n State. The proper course
now would be either To repeal the act of 1884
and organize Kansas anew, as n free Territory,
if Congress will not do that, let them declare
all the action of the spurious Legislature utter
ly imperative and void and provide new govern
ment for the Territory.
Mr. Douglas said there were facts in it which
could not be successfully denied violence, fraud
and treason shall be punished. The report of
the minority jus,iies foreign interference in Kan
| sas affairs while that of the majority condemn
| into he ta w ST ha TOD
Mr.. Seward said he was prepared to stand by
and defend the minority report-its statement of
facts and the conclusions at which it arrived. He
rendered his thanks and those of the friends OF
freedom throughout the free States aud the world
for the ability, dignity, moderation aud wisdom
with which Mr.. Colamcr has presented their view
it was quite necessary for Mr.. Douglas to tell
them that the laws shall be enforced 10y this ad-
| mnistration.
The two reports occupied more than two hours
| in reading.
Mr. Sumner said he had no desire to precipi.
tate discussion ON this important question be-
fore the reports were printed. Both ably treat
| ed the subject, but one calculated TO smotll-
err the true ISSUE while the other put the issue
in living light before the country. Let them go
published together. Error can go abroad snfe-
ly, while reason is left free to combat it, The
Emigrant Aid Society of Massachusetts had
done nothing which would in the least degree
Nlolate eilner the ietter OF sPiTlt oi Ine Constl
tuition or laws of the land. He denied the char
! ges contained in the majority report uutena.
Bile.
Mr.. Seward gave them notice that this admin.
istration has $50 days only left in which they
t will have the power of welding the military ant
: naval forces of the country.
y Mr.. Weller. When did you find that Quit
n Laughter.
d Mr. Seward, resuming said the people will h,
o consulted on the subject. In his idea there wa,
t; no necessity for silence If prudence and mod