Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-07-12
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1856.
CONGRESS AND KANSAS!

We have already announced the loss of the bill,
by one vote, Of admitting Kansas into the Union
with her free Constitution, and the efforts of
Douglas to push bill through the Senate in
support Of his views. AS soon as the fact be-
came known that the bill for the admission of
Kansas had been rejected, the Slave Democracy
of Washington fired cannon, paraded the streets,
and expressed their cxutation in various other
ways. In the meantime Douglas was working
in the Senate to get his bill through, and finally
succeeded.
On tue first of Jnly, the question came up for
a reconsideration Of the Kansas bill, when great
disorder followed, Mr.. Florence, of Pennsylva-
mia, persisting in talking out of order in hopes
to prevent the reception Of the report of the
Kansas Investigating Committee; which report,
however, was at last received amid the impreca-
tons of the pro-savery members. Some twenty
appeals were taken from the Speaker, but only
one pressed to vote. The reading of the report,
which is very voluminOus, was going on when the
House adjourned. 1t is thought, that when the
question comes up again, the reconsderatio on
will be carried, and that Kansas with her free
Constitution will yet take her place with the
other States of the Union but in this we have
no faith. The only remedy is complete revo lu-
ton, effected by the vote of the people--the
eiccting from the Presidential chair of the pre-
sent miserable doughface, and the placing therein
| an honest man.
! We have already said that Douglas succeeded
in getting his bill through the Senate. The pro-
visions of the bill much more liberal than
they doubtless would have been, mad it not been
on the eve of Il Presidential election. 1t first
provides for the appointment of FIVE Commissions
crs, and then stipulates their duties in the fol-
lowing manner:
They shall take census of all the voters in
the Territory, and make fair apportionment of
Delegates, to be elected by each County, to form
| u Constitution and institute Il state of govern
ment. When the apportlOnment shall be made,
| the Commissioners are to remain in session every
day except Sunday, ut the place most convenient
for the inhabitants of said Territory, to hear all
complaints, examine witnesses and correct all CT
rors in said list of voters, which list shall be pre-
viously printed and generally circulated through
the Territory. and posted in at least three of the
most public places of each election district and
so soon all the errors have been thus correct
ed in said lists, the Commissioners are requested
to cause corrected list of the legal voters to be
printed. and copies furnished to each Judge of
election, to be put up ut the places Of voting,
and circulated in every county in the Territory
before the day of eection-no person to he al
| lowed to vote whose name does not appear on
the list as legal voter; the election for Dele
gates to take place on the dav of the Presiden-
tial election, and the Convention TO assemble on
the first Monday III December to decide. first.
whether it be expcdient for Kansas to come into
the Union at that time, and if so decided. to
proceed to form Constitution and State Gov
eminent which shall be of republican FORM Kan
sas then to be admitted under such Constitution
on an equal footing with the original States
| The bill provides further, that no law shall be
enforced in the Territory infringing the liberty
of speech or Of the press, or the right of the
people to hear arms, &c. 1t also provides pun
ishinPnt for illegal voting or fraud and violence
ut elections, and authorizes the use of the militia
nv for that purpose. The main point is that the
persons designated by the census as the present
inhabitants of the Territory shall decide all
points in dispute ut fair election without fraud
or violence, or any other improper influence
| All white male inhabitants over 81 years of are
arc to be allowed to vote, if they have resided in
the Territory three months previous to the day
of election, and no other test shall be required :
no oath to support the Fugitive Slave law, or
any other law, nor any other condition whatever.
Mr.. Geyer offered an amendment to the effect
that no law shall be made to have force or effect
which shall require test oath or any oath to
support any act of Congress or other lcgisla-
tive body as qualification for any civil office or
public trust, or for any employment profess
sion, or to serve rs Juror, or vote ut elections
or which shall impose any tax upon, or condition
to exercise the right of suffrage by any qualified
voter, or which shall restrain prohibit the free
discussion Of any law subject of legislation in
the territory, of the free exercise of opinion
thereon by the people of the territory. This
gave rise to IA debate involving the questions of
soil, sovereignty, and whether Congress ought ia
interfere. as proposed, it having left the people
free to settle their own affairs.
Gen. Cass said some of the acts passed by the
Assembly of Kansas were disgraceful to the age.
How could the people properly pass laws unless
they had the right of free discussion !?
Gcyer's amendment was adopted; only three
NAYS, namely: Brown, Fitzpatrick. and Mason.
Mr.. Wilson's amendment to form part of the
proceedings was rejected. Nays %; Yeas s.
Mr.. Seward offered II substitute admitting
Kansas with the Topeka Constitution. Rejected.
Yeas Bell, of N. H., COllamer, Durkcc, Fesscn-
den, Footc, Hale, Seward, Trumbul, Wade,
Wilson. Nays Sc.
| The bill, as amended by Geyer, finally
passed. Yeas 33: Nays IL, namely: Bell, of N.
| H., COllamcr, Dodge. Durkec. Fcssendcn, Footc,
Foster. Hale, Seward, Trumbul, Wade. Mason.
10000 copies of the bill were Odercd to he
printed.
So it will be seen that the Bill proposes to give
to the Free State men everything they wish.-cv.
erythng they have asked for. Public opinion
has forced Douglas into this movement, and now
he lifts up his hands and cries. Liberty of
speech and of the press, and of the right of the
people to bear arms" lie ignores the idea of
taking "an oath to support the Fugitive Slave
Law and just at this time is as good an Adolf
ZIONIST as there is in the country. lie is only
shutting the cards for another deal, and like all
still lower, if possible, toto the depths of infa-
my. While on its surface, the water appears
smooth and glossy, beneath it rolls a tremendous
flood of iniquty. The stream is fed by Slave
holders and Northern doughfaces, whose only aim
is to perpetuate and spread the cursed system of
Slavery. Mark eur prediction and watch the re-
suit. Should there be no reconsideration of the
vote admitting Kansas as Free State, the peo-
pie of that unfortunate Territory will be do omed
to endure for some time to come, the aggressions
OF " Border Ru0ians," who delight in numbering
and pillaging innocent citizens. Poor doomed
Kansas Thy day of rctribution will surely
come, and the enemies shall drink of the bitter
cup of public indignation.
CO The Pioneer insists that it is not sup
porter of the Border Rulian'' cause, and yet
it glorifes over the defeat of the bill admitting
Kansas with her Free Constitution. The Pioneer
is "spreadins itself.' ltsays 1.-THE BILL ssThc
Republicans will defeat it, if possible, because