The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-03
KANSAS IN THE HOUSE.

into the Union, with its Topeka Constitution.
1t was taken up last week, and advocated with
much ability by Mr.. Grow, of Pennsylvania,
but opposed by Mr.. Dunn, of Indiana, and Mr..
Haven, of New York, and the Southern mem
bers.
Mr.. Haven insisted on the propriety of de-
laying action till the report of the Kansas Com
mittee had been laid before the House. For
one, he was unwilling to act upon unauthenti-
Gated or insufficient information. If there had
been such fraud and violence in the election in
Kansas as had been charged, then the Legisla-
ture there was an illegtimate body, and its en-
actments ought to be abrogated but, if every
thing had been done in legal manner, no
matter how bad the laws were, still it was not
acts of the people of Kansas. The Commits
sioners had been appointed to investigate this
matter, and he must wait for their report.
Mr. Ravens reasoning would have been logi-
cal, had the proposition before the House been,
ia abrogate the Territorial enactments, or eject
Mr.. Whitfield from his seat. But his remarks
were not at all pertinent to the bill under con-
sideration, proposing to admit Kansas with its
Free State Constitution. The House is in pos
session of all the information it requires for
intelligent action on this bill. 1t knows that
the Missouri Compromise was repealed, to al
low Slavery to be extended into Kansas that
from its repeal has sprung up dangerous con-
ilict in that Territory, enlisting the passions of
all sections OF the Union, and requiring the in
terposition of the military power of the FEEDER
al Government, to prevent utter anarchy. Of
all this it has complete, authentic information,
and it knows from official documents, publish
ed by authority, that armed bodies of men
have been arrayed in deadly strife against each
other, and that nothing but the pressure of Uni
ted States troops at this very moment prevents
bloody collision between them. 1t knows
that if Kansas were State, these troops might
be Withdrawn, the interposition of the Federal
Executive dispensed with, because the State
Government would be sufficient to the protec.
ton of ITSELF Its instant admission, therefore,
as State, is measure of peace and order: it
would put stop to the dangerous conflict, es-
tablish the reign of law, and secure the rights
of self-government to the People of Kansas.
The question does not depend On the report of
| the Kansas Committee-every man can decide
it for himself in the light of the information he
already possesses. Even the friends of the Ad-
ministration assume this much, for they have
already brought forward, in both branches, a
proposition to enable the People of Kansas to
form a State Government instantly; without
awaiting the report of the Kansas Committee,
or the growth of population to the point desig-
mated in the bill of Mr. Douglas, introduced
some months since-thus confessing that, even
in their judgment, the true remedy for the evils
of Kansas is its immediate organization as a
State. Why not go one step further, and agree
to its immediate admission with the Constitu-
ton already formed?
We should give more credit to Mr.. Haven,
were his reasoning more logical.
Mr.. Dunn, of Indiana, moved that the bill be
ommitted to the Commute of the Whole on
the state of the Union-a motion which, if sue
cessful, would, in all probability, put it beyond
the reach Of our friends for the present session.
Mr.. Dunn must be aware of this, and of course,
is an opponent of the admission of Kansas with
its present Free State Constitution Mr.. Dunn,
as an independent man, has perfect right to
his own opinions, and no one has right to
denounce him for expressing or attempting to
carry them out. That he desires to have
Kansas free, do not doubt, but we can.
not help seeing that his course on this mat.
ter weakens the friends of free Kansas, and
strengthens the friends of the Administration.
The admission of Kansas with its Topeka
Constitution, would secure the end which Mr..
Dunn aims at, by moving restoration of the
Missouri Compromise, which he must know is
unattainable. 1t would really be the equiva-
lent of that measure: why then should Mr..
Dunn labor, or even be willing to defeat it ? 1t
may not be in his opinion so expedient as some
other measure, but so long as it violates no right,
but secures certain PREPARATION for right vio-
lated, why should not Mr.. Dunn, as a friend of
Freedom, yield the point of policy, and coop
crate with the only body of men in the House
with which he can effectually cooperate?
Mr.. Grow, to keep the matter before the
House, moved to recommit the bill to the Com.
mittee on Territories.
Mr.. Stephens, last Saturday, moved to amend
the motion to commit by adding thereto in.
structions to report in lieu of the original bill
an amendment he desired to offer, understood
to be the proposition of Mr.. Toombs, comment
ed on in another column.)
And Mr.. Dunn moved to amend this by in
structing the Committee of the Whole to re-
port section, restoring the Missouri Compro.
mise.
An animated discussion took place, in which
Messrs. Stephens of Georgia, Campbell of Ohio,
Morrill, of Vermont Evans of Texas, and Dunn
OF Indiana, took part, and then Mr.. Grow de.
manded the previous question, which, after va
rious motions to adjourn, lay on the table, &C.,
was seconded. The main question was then
ordered, and the House adjourned.
Last Monday, the subject again coming up,
Mr.. McMullin, of Virginia, moved to reconsider
the vote ordering the main question; but, on
motion of Mr.. Giddings, the House by vote
of SO to 80 laid the motion on the table
After a speech from Mr.. Grow, closing the
debate, the question was taken first on the
amendment of Mr.. Dunn, to restore the Mis-
souri, Compromise, moved to be added to the
amendment of Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, pro.
posing to instruct the Committee of the Whole
TO report, in place of the bill of Mr. Grow, the
proposition identical with that introduced by
Mr. Toombs in the senate.) The motion OF
Mr.. Dunn was agreed to-yeas 100, nays lG2.
The question next was, on the motion of Mr..
Stephens as amended, and it was lost-yeas 2,
nays 2l9-the yeas being given by Mr.. Dunn