The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-09-13
FREMONT AND FREEDOM
National Republican Nominations.
FOR PRESIDENT,
JOHN G. FREMONT,
FOR VICE PRESIDENT,
WILLIAM L. DAYTON,
or NEW JERSEY.
FOR DISTRICT ELECTOR,
JOHN PORTER, of Quechee.
FOR ELECTORS At LARGE,
WI. e. BRADLEY, OF WEs1MINsrEE;
LAWRENCE BRAINERD, oy sr. ALnAxs
THE SENATE'S OPINION OF THE
KANSAS LAWS.

From the fact that the Senate voted, 20 to
lin favor of giving the President the means
to enforce the Draconian code promulgated
by a body Of Missourians calling themselves
The Legislature Of Kansas, it may be inferred
that the Senate defended, in that proportion.
the provisions Of that code. But the record
of debate shows quite the contrary. Not a
single senator attempted to defend the Kan
sas laws. On the 9th uit., Senator Weller
declared in his place in the Senate. that some
Of the Kansas laws "vio'afe not Only the or
ganic law. but the Constitution Of the United
States"-tl.at ''they are OPPRESSIVE and as
ArROCIOus and INFAMOUS as any laws
which ever found their way upon the statute
book Of any free people IN ANY AGE OF
THE WORLD"
Senator Bell, Of Tennessee, said: "IIad
been conscientiously opposed to slavery, and
settled in Kansas with a view to better nv
condition., ard had witnessed the outrages
sail to have been committed by the people
Of Missouri on the right of the free state in
habit ants, aud had felt my nerk CALLED bv
the yoke Of usurped government, and had
lest all hope Of relief from any quarter; if
resistance to such oppression was treason. so
help me God, ! would have been traitor"
| Senator Bayard, Of Delaware, said, "while
he opposed the proviso, he felt free to admi,
that some Of the laws Of Kansas shocked the
moral sense Of the community, a. being sub
ysrsive Of al natural rights and such he va:
ready, by a declaration Of rights, to declar.
null"
Senator Mason, Of Virginia, the leading
Buchanicr in the Senate, did not attempt t.
defend the kansas laws, but he expressly sait
tina, he would not vote for the repeal, unit
at least the House Of Representatives, "shoul,
be reduced to submission and forced to desist
from the stand they had taken.in regard t.
The Arm, BILL "Wha'ever might be thos,
laws" he said, "he would be unwilling t
take any step until after the Army bill ha'
been passed; after that event he would jon
cordially with those desiring to make whole
some and proper changes"
| Senator Brown, Of Mississippi, in the sam
, debate. speaking Of the Kansas laws, said
, "Some Of them we're thought unjust ant
| might be considered outrageous to the mind
Of some senator's, but was that any reasol
why Congress should interpose to proven
Their execution? The people who max
their own laws ought to be the best Judge
Of what was needed and after Congress ba
delegated that right. it ought not to step i
and overthrow them"
a Senator Butler, Of South Carolina, VII
| participated in The debate, did not attempt :
defend the laws Of Kansas, but was oppose
: to any interference with them by Congress.
j. The courts" he said, "were the proper tr
! bunals to settle such matters"
:, How. then, can we reconcile these opinion
= of the Southern members that those laws wer
. unnatural. unconstitutional, stro.ious, an
unjust, with their recorded vote giving tn
y President power to use the Federal army j
enforcing them upon the people Of Kansas
II they believed What they said, that the Law
!, we're atrocious, Why not demand their r.
o peal? Why not rebuke the authors? VII
! not cease prosecuting the people owe
" whom those laws claim to have jurisdiction
. Why not defend them against tyrsnnical o
is fcisIs acting under authority derived fro'
It Vie pretended laws?
}. But if, on the contrary, the Senate demand
:. ed the enforcement OF the Kansas laws, VII
il defeEd them against the charges Of their OF
: Ponents? Why join With them in brandin
them IS "unjust, suoversive Of all nature
rights" and opposed to the moral sense o
the community" and still say they must b
repealed. and agree that they ('he admins
;, tra,ion senators) would sit till March mex
: if need were, to secure the passage of th
Army bill, without the proviso?
Clearly the re VAS hypocrisy somewber'
" What is the explanation Only this: in th
enforcement of the Draconian code OF Kansa
|, odious as it is, and is by them acknowledge
9 to be, the ro-sIsvery democracy see the onl
j. way to ensure the final triumph Of slavery j
: the Territory Of Kansas. These laws wer
; designed to prevent migration ,hitber fro1
, the Free States, and to establish . rigoror
authority ever the political dsstny Il ii