The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-15


by the hands Of those calling themselves freesate men
Then Dow, ree-State man, was killed by Coleman but
the quarrel between them about land claim. Ii
was private and personal matter. Coleman Immediately
gave himself 10 the legal authorities claiming TO have
acted In efdeence Whether he did not do know
and viii not pretend 10 say but friend Of Dow of the
name OF Brnnson, having made threats Of ayengng bis
death, was arrested under peacewarrant, and while In
the hands OF an officer rescued by party of free
State men Warrants taken out for these and they
took shelter IN Lawrence, where they put themselves
defiance of the civil authorities The posse was called
out to aid in the arrest and this led first to the siege OF
Lawrence and then to the capiulaton Of December last
cides had been committed In the Territory but in all from
the organization Of the Territory up the attempted as
sassnatior Of Sheriff Jones' think not exceeding half
dozen In what part Of the United States sir in the same
length OF time with the population they have in Kan
sas have there been fewer murders deaths by violence
How many killed in the riots last year in Cincinnati
How many in Louisville Kentucky #a #'"l' t.e-s
Ivenure to say, to-day, that with all this clamor about
civil In Kansas lives have not been lost there
since the organization OF the Territory than have been in
several of the large city elections Of the United States with
in the last twelve months. II is not my wish to make
light of these things but to take calm and dispassonae
view Of them strong and general tendency disregard
law and order is of the most laenabe evils of the
day. II is confined to Kansas but il is and felt
everywhere; and object and that of all good men,
should be to check it rather than excite it.
Then, sir 10 the election in Kansas and the laws
passed by their legislature. One word upon this point
~ first election held there for delegate to Congress
in November s54 That there were illegal votes on both
b,-.
:, one that Notwithstanding tno orts Of the emigrant
aid companies to prevent it General Wbi,nss. ad mucs
the larger nuberef the lcsa votes OF the Tefrltory
duly elected In March afterwards greater efforts wef6
made carry the legislature. The result was the com
mission certificate Of election by Governor Reeder ha
sefto large majority Of beth branches of that body
They were therefore, legally constituted legislative
body There may have been Illegal voting both sides,
there is doubtless in all our elections But upon the
we-settled and fixed principles which all repre-
sentative institutions rest and wihouta maEtcaarce of
q LAM
closed QUESTION The laws therefore of that legislature
must be observed and obcyed until repealed modified
by legislative power or set aside by the courts az void
Aud upon the character of these laws wish to make but
passing remark. The gentleman from Indiana Mr. Coll
PAX pointed out quite number Of them the other day.
which he said were very bad ones. Well sir am not
going TO discuss their respective merits Perhaps of
them bad 1t would be extraordinary code if it
otherwise kow the advocates Of the present gov
ernmcnt in the Territorythe awandotter party there
do not themselves approve OF all OF them will read what
they say on the subject; Il. r... a
"The law the protection of slave property has also
been much misunderstood The right pass such law is
sage which he says "A territorial legislature may uns
doubtedly act upon the question limited and partial
slavery IN the Teroy and in an absolute or madaed
FORM with all the force and effect other legislative act
IN s ss sss to
prevent free discussion Of the subject Of slavery It's
%sad Be on poe Gis 70 @ s
be discussed here freely as In any State in this Unidn
without infringing any Of the provisions Of the law To
this Territory is made penal but, beyond this there
% e the Of h sssg y
not wish 70 be understood approving of all The laws passed
sy the on 'hs % contrary We would md ,,s. ,h that
condemned by public opinion here and which will no doubt
be repealed modified a. the meeting Of the next sgsa
legislatures. The remedy for such evils to be found in pub
lie opinion, to which, later, in like
ours, all laws must conform" \. M.. (, y
Mr. CoLFAX. What is the date of that2 -..f. s.e
Mr. STEPHENS. Last November. Now, sir have
examined this whole code Of laws, and whole
few exceptions out say that State in the Union has
got better There in IL do not approve
there in all codes have that do not
approve. will not 90 TO the gentlemans State 20
any other gentlemans State lind laws that do not
approve We have plenty OF them In my State
And the gentleman ought feel highly blessed ifhe has
many in Georgia do not approve There is In par
cular which fought in the legislature and opposed be-
fore the courts with all the power that had IL
law making II penal to bear concealed deadly weapons
am individually opposed to bearing such weapons,
bear weapons any sort but believed that
the constitutional right Of every American citizen to bear
IL he chooses and Just such arms and In just such way
as he chooses. thought that II the birth
right OF every Georgian TO do it. ] defeated in
our legislature. was defeated before courts. The
question mp TO the highest judicial tribunal Ia
Stats-the supreme oourt-whch sustained the law. In
that decision all had acqulesce Sir the people in all the
States have to obey the laws pronounced and expoundd
monarchy Is that the s government Of laws subject
to be changed by the peoples the other is government
dependent upon the caprice whim and arbitrary will Of
And when the people Of republic array them
selves against their laws the first step into anarchy and
then comes monarchy The speech OF the gentleman from
Indiana Is sufficiently answered by the address Of his
party adopted at Pitsburg though those who issued ii
seemed not be conscious OF the effect Of the admission
That address, after specifying the same Objectionable laws
ir the Kansas code which he has, says; IS. ..4..s..
That these despotc acts even II they had been passed
by duly elected by the people Of the Territory
wond have BEEN null and void inssmuch they plainly
In violation Of the federal constitution - too clear for argu
nent Congress itself expressly forbidden By the const
tuition Of the United States make laws abrdgng the
freedom OF speech and Of the pres and II absurd 10
pose that territorial legisaure, deriving all i power
om Congress, should not be subject TO the restro
tons." .ataet#r -eH .s#FE E..s 81. ass# .
The latter Is q very clear proposition 10 my mind
Neither Congress territorial legsature pass any
aw abrdgiug the freedom Of speech or OF the press This
h indeed, clear for argument endorse that part Of
the Pttsburg platform. But not single disturbances in
the Territory has grown out OF either OF these laws
planed Of despotc Bat IL there hadf these laws be
so clearly unconstitutional and inanifstly volave OF
the freedom Of speech and Of the press why should not
any party aggrevsd refer The question to the judicial t
bnas7 If the case Ia so clear why 20 TO the courts
There are federal courts In the Territory and appeal
can be taken 10 the same high tribunal that all OF ia
such matters have 70 appeal 70 in the last rcsorhe su-
prcme Court Of the United States
Mr. CAMPBELL, OF Ohio, linterrupting) rise 10 pro-
pound question Il Is entirely agreeable to the gentle
man from Georgia and not otherwise
Mr. STEPHENS. Perfectly agreeable; but hope the
gentleman will not take much Of my time.
Mr. CAMPBELL. was similarly responded 70 a
former OCCASION and shall take warning and occupy but
moment OF the gentlemans time Why did not you, and
those who sought TO disturb the timehonored compro-
mise Of fathers OF 1920 II they regarded the eighth