The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-07-30
Sound Doctrine.

delphia, July 4th, 1856, by the Hon,
VIM. RIGLER, US. Senator from Penn.
sylvania. We select the extract exposi-
tory of the true position of parties on
the Kansas Bill, and the merits of the
Bill lately passed by the Senate.
"But now for the Kansas question
and the course of the Republican or
Fremont party. Ever since the com
Increment of the present session OF
Congress tho whole country has been
agitated, deeply and violently agitated,
concerning the state Of society in Kan
sas, The most accomplished artists of
the Republican party have painted the
startling picture from time to time.
That the simple reflection of the truth
would have made a picture dark enough,
no one can doubt; but that these gen.
tlenen, for purposes of their own, have
given it the deepest shade practicable,
is just as evident. We have been told
by the Republican orators in Congress,
on the rostrum and in the pulpit, that
the people of Missouri had invaded the
Territory, and controlled the elections
for members Of the Legislature held in
March, 1855, that the Free State men
had been driven from the polls; that the
government had been usurped by mere
brute force; that the avs of Kansas
were not valid laws that the people
would and should resist them that
anarchy reigned in Kansas; that arsons
and murders we're invoked, to serve the
ends of slavery; that finally Kansas
and liberty lay bleeding at the feet OF
the border r%uffians, and that the whole
country was on the verge Of civil war.
Here is q picture; 10y what remedy did
the Republican rel reese natives in Con-
greSs propose. Did they ask a legal
and just measure of reform? BY no
means. fellow citizens; but with denun-
citation against the lawless authorities of
Kansas still fresno their lips, they be-
came the advocate of the Topeka Con-
v%ention and the State Constitution
framed by that body, a movement adj
raittedly without law, and in c~ontraven-
ton of law and in menace of the Gov
eminent. With all their seeming rever-
enee for the law, they could advocate a
revolutionary step taken in defiance of
the Government. We were told that
the admission of Kansas as a State, was
the only remedy for her evils-the only
mode of quieting the public mind end
averting civil war in the Territory.
"Well, gentlemen, it has become APP
parent to ell, that some effective and
inal measure of paciication was de-
manded by the best interest, not only of
Il - IL c IL r-Lo1, -a41n. chat
whilst the laws of the local Legislature
were technically legal, the right of suf-
frage had been abused in selecting the
members, and that many of the statutes
were oppressive and unjust, and in can
fict with the Constitution, and the origi-
nal Kansas-Nebraska act.
"NFith a view to meet these difficult
ties, Mr. Toombs, a Southern Senator,
about ten days since, introduced a bill
providing for the prompt admission of
kansas as a State. His proposition was
referred to the Territorial Committee,
and reported to tbs Senate on Monday
last, by Dir. Douglas, and Wednesday
fxcd for a Email vote.
"That bill provides that the present
inhabitants may elect delegates to a
Convention to. meet in November next,
TO form a constitution, preparatory to
admission az a State; that a board OF
Ave commissioners should be appointed
by the President, to repair to the Ter
ritory, to superinteud the election of
delegates; to make an enumeration of
the legal voters; and put up a list of
voters at every district and that only
those who are new in the Territory, and
those who may haye left on business or
because Of the sad state Of the society,
shall vote. The law throws ample
guards about the ballot box, by heavy
penalties against illegal voting Or vio-
lent efforts to interfere with the right of
suffrage; it also annuls all the Terri
t9rial statutes subyersive of the liberty
cf speech and the freedom of the press,
ind those requiring an oath of fidelity
to the Fugitive Slave law as a qualifca-
1ioa for a voter and other absurd provis-
10, $. These statutes being inconsistent
with the Constitution and the organic
law, are clearly within the scope of the
Congressional correction, without inter
fering with the doctrine of non-interven-
ton, for tho Kansas law provides that
the action of the Territorial Legislature
shall be confined Hto rightful subjects
of legislation" Here, them was a
measure of peace and law, the prompt
admission Of Kansas as a State, ~irrespec-
tive of her decision on the slave ques-
tion. Its vital objects being to terminate
at once all motive On the part Of out
sidcrs to force temporary population in
to the Territory, with the view to control
it's policy on the slavery question.
"What followed {? Did the Repub
lican Senators support this measure
Did they accept this proposition to bring
Kansas in as a Statc? By no means; tt
my amazcment it met their violent re
sistance. The first demonstration cam
from the Senator from Massachusetts
Mr.. Wilson, who proposed to strike GU
the entire bill and insert a section sim
ply repeating all the laws of Kansas
substituting anarchy for the admission
Of the Territory as a State. The Sena
tor from New York, Mr.. Seward, tn,
\eadcr and the intellect of that party
still insisted upon the Topeka constitu
ton. In the face of all his anathema.
against the lawless authorities in Kansas
ho voted to sanction 4 measure wanting
in the slightest coloring of authority
and which had been brought forth in dc
fance of the law and its officers; ant
what is surprising, in addition, hi
course seems to be sanctioned by the en-
tire Republican press, headed by tina
common fountain Of fanaticisms, false
hoods, and vagaries, the N. Y. Tribune
The Senator from New Hampshire, Mr.
| Hale, proposed to strike out the 18th O.