The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-29


q Stair at in;o the Union Yes of an
organic ls~. the very highest community Of men
ea perform Letters referring 10 Other letters scrap
OF newspaper DetaLes Toi ID, Part D. 2S3l
II was Mr. Calhoun, however, who pressed the
opposition with the most persevering intensity In
has sight the admission of Michigan, under the
circumstances, would be the most monstrous
proceeding under our Constitution that can be
conceived, the most repugnant to Its principles
aud dangerous in its consequences" ~ Coma De
bates, Vol b. P- 2l0F There is not" he exclaim-
ed ." one particle of official evidence before us.
We have nothing but the private letters of indi-
vlduals, who do not know even the numbers that
voted on either occasion. They know nothing
OF the qualifications of voters nor how their votes
were received, nor by whom countedD-( I5id)
And he proceeded to characterize the popular
Convention as "not only party caucus, for party
purpose, but a criminal meeting-a meeting 10
suosert the authority of the State and to assume
its sovereignty adding that the actors in that
meeting might be indicted, tried and punished -
and he expressed establishment that a self-cre-
ated meeting, convened for a criminal object had
dared to present to this Government an act of
theirs, and TO expect that We to receive this
irregular and criminal act a fulfmeut of the
condition which we had presented for the admis-
sion of the State ~ Ibid. p. 299) No stronger
words have been employed against Kansas
But the single question On which all the pro-
ceedings then hinged, and which is as pertinent
In the case of Kansas as in the case of Michigan,
was thus put by Mr.. NORRIS, of Ohio ibid, p.
2l5)-" Val Congress recognise raid constitu-
fioHat and obligatory, achout the color of lac OF
Michigan 10 sustain a. act done by the People Of that
State ia hear primary assemblies, and acknowledge
that act as obligatory the constituted authorizes
and Legislature Of the State?" This question: thus
distinctly presented, was answered in debate by
able Senators, among whom were Mr.. BENTON
and Mr.. KING. But there person, who
has inea duaH iir md
has left many memorials of an industrious career
in the Senate and in diplomatic life JAMES
BUCHANAN, who rendered himself conspicuous by
the ability and ardor with which, against all
assaults, he upheld the cause Of the popular Con-
venton. which was so strongly denounced and
the entire conformity of its proceedings with the
genius of American Institutions. His speeches
on that occasion contain an unanswerable argu-
ment, at all points, mHtato nOmine, for the imme-
date admission of Kansas under her present
Constitution; nor is there anything by which
he is distinguished that will rebound so
truly TO his fame-if he only continues true to
them. But the question emphatically an
swered in the Senate by the final vote on the pas
sage of the Bill, where we find % yeas to only 0
nays. In the House of Representatives, after de-
bate, the question answered in the same
way, by vote OF l4S yeas To So nays and
among the yeas is again the name of FRANKLIN
PIERCE, Representative from New Hampshire
Thus, in that day, by such triumphant votes
did the cause of Kansas prevail in the name of
Michigan. popular Convention-called abso-
mtely without authority, and containing dele
gates from a portion only OF the population
called, too in opposition to constituted authori-
ties, and in derogation Of another Convention
assembled under the forms of law-stigmatzed
as a Caucus and a criminal meeting, whose au-
thors were liable TO indictment trial. and punish
ment-was, after ample debate recognised by
x-aa1 anAN hold
place il the Union, and her Senators sit on this
floor, by virtue of that act Sir, If Michigan is
legitimate, Kansas cannot be illcgitimate. You
bastaIdize Michigan when you refuse to recognise
Kansas.
Again, say, do you require precedent?
give it to you. But will not stake this cause
ANY precedent. plant il firmly on the fun
damental principle of American Institutions, as
embodied in the Declaration of Independence
by which Government is recognised as deriving
its just powers only from The consent Of The gor-
erned, who may alter abolish it when it be-
comes destructive of their rights. In the debate
the Nebraska Bill, at the overthrow of the
Prohibition of Slavery, the Declaration of hide
pendence was denounced as 81 self-evident lie"
II is only by a similar audacty that the funda-
mental principle, which sustains the proceed
ings in Kansas, can be assailed. Nay, more
you must disown the Declaration of Independ-
ence, and adopt the Circular of the Holy ALI
ance which declares that I" useful and necessary
changes in legislation and in the administration
Of States ought oaiy 70 e5pdnafe from ie free lc
and the iatef5enf and archaeological conriction Of
those whona God has rendered responsible for you-
err" Face to face, | put the principle of the
Declaration of independence and the principle
of the Holy Alliance, and bid them grapple
1.-THE one places the remedy in the hands which
feel the disorder the other places the remedy in
the hands which cause the disorder" and when
Il s,,ll .b. I
a sententious phrase from the Debates in the
Virginia Convention on the adoption of the Fed
eral Constitution.-(3 EViofs Debates, l07--Nr.
COrbin.) And now these two principles, embod-
led in the rival propositions of the Senator from
New York and the Senator from Illinois, must
grapple on this floor.
Statesmen and judges, publicists and authors,
with names of authority in American history,
espouse and vindcate the American principle
Hand in hand, they now stand around Kansas,
and feel this new State lean on them for support.
Of these ] content myself with adducing two
only, both from slaveholding Virginia, in days
when Human Rights not without support
In that State. Listen TO the language of St.
George Tucker, the distinguished commentator
upon Blackstone, uttered from the bench in a
judicial opinion:
The POWER of convenng the legal Assemblies or the
ordinary constitutional Legislature soly ia fhe
Ezsoss'ce They could neither lie chosen without wriis
issued by Is authority assemble, when chosen,
under the authority The Conventions on CON
trary were chosen and assembled eIher
ndsiIons Congress. from
bv ne DISCRETION aud ef The psopls They
were held even whilst legal Assembly existed Witness
the Convention held Richmond March. I175 after
which period the legal al Assembly
vened ia Williamsburg, by the Governor Lord Dunmore.
if Constitutional dspendencs on The British Cor
dsned sata lhs SUCCEEDING 1lay
The Convention then, the Ordinary Legislature
OF Virginia IL was the body of the people. mpeled
semble from of danger. consulting
.ommoa good ana ar,me in ali ih,ngs Tor The
safey'-tl Virginia Cases 20 a. kan1Po HaTki'asl
Listen also to the language of James Madison
"Thai in sl great changes OF established government,
forms ought 10 way substance; that a rigd aiher
such 10 the forms would nominal and
hugaory The iranscenden and right people
10 abolish alter their Government To them shall
te-m most kelly effect their safety and happiness
fs zeal adhsrtng ordinary forms y-here
sesa .soPf cbo ciShsd indulge ssdr MASKS
Isev ea1Itty hs substance ooraded f0r( The
FsderaiiN, No. i0l
Proceedings thus sustained, am unwilling to
call revolutionary, although this term has the
sanction of the Senator from New York. They
are founded unquestionable American
right declared with Independence confirmed by
the blood of the fathers, and expounded by pa
triots, which cannot be impeached without i'm
pairing the liberties of all On this head the
language of Mr.. Buchanan, in reply to Mr.. Cal
houn, is explicit
Docs tue s-Ilaior MIR CaIhoanl conend then taai IL
in OF the SAFES OF this Union the Governments be
organized utterly destroy fae right of equal repre-
seaaIio tere mode OF obtaining redress BY an
act OF the IL .slsiare authorizing Convention, or by
open rebellion Must the people step nj from OPP
son. absolute revolution, Is there middle
cannot agree with the Senator. l say that the whole
history Of Government establishes The principle that
The people sovereign aud thai majority of them
alter change their fnndsme nis pleasure Idag
fhaf mas etfheT yebi0a Teroaf'0a. IL essential
aud recognised principle in aH forms Of goreraDe,if -
tConeyess. Dit, Vol IL D. 3I3 2Im Cong. "a seSsiol
Surely sir If eyer there was occasion for the