Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-07-25

/ cord, collision, violence, q, d, probe
/ bly,, bloodshcd.
It has produced these things such
certainly has been the result. In
this state Of things shall not say
that | sec my way perfectly clear IN
bringing about immediate peace but
| do say, that to expect at this time,
that the people will have fair OPP
/ portunity Of trying this experiment
by discussing the subject, and hold
ing "A pcaceable and quiet canvass,
and using fair arguments through
the press aud orally, is TO me alto
/ gcthcr preposlcrous.
have now a word to say IN rela-
tion TO the Topeka constitution. 1t
is an extreme case. Necessity, at
times, it is said justdes extreme
measures. In the present state OF
things, the admission Of Kansas with
/ the Topeka constitution is the most
quiet and easy way Of settling the
question think II well justified by
all the circumstances. ! do not say
that should always be willing to
approve, under all circumstances,
such mode Of getting mp consli-
tuition, but think the circumstances
then existing there well justified the
the attempt II believed it did ex-
press the opinion of majority Of
the people, thea | should not mind
what violence had since occurred to
dive the people away If it was
the viii Of the people, then it seems
to me | am well justified in sustain
ing ii. What do you fad in truth Z
We understand, from the report of
the committee Of The House Of Re
preseulatives, that thcre were one
thousand seven hundred and thirty
one votes cast for the ratification ol
that constitution, aud bot foHy-sIX
against 1t, have no doubt that
those who were in favor Of establish
ing slavery did not attend that eec-
lion to any considerable extent; but
they were invited TO do il. The
election was open to every body resid-
ing in the Territory, aud that is all
YOU can ever have at any election
How many were there Of them -
The utmost that can be made out at
any ume, by any vole--aiter striking
out those who were proved TO have
come from abroad. armed for the oc-
caslon--is SIX hundred pro-slavery
voters.
Besides the one thousand sever
hundred and thlrty-one votes cast
for the constitution, the ballot-bUx al
Leavenwotth was destroyed. Judg-
ing from the votes given in that pre-
cInct on other occasions, there must
have been AT least five hundred votes,
and large proportion of them io
the constitution, destroyed. There
were therefore, clearly more thar
two thousand votes cast in that Ter
utory 20 favor Of ihe constitution at
that lime on an invitation freely
given 10 all people, aud ballot-boAes
open 10 all, when, from the best
evidence we eau gel, there could not
have been more than SIX hundred
opposed TO ii, even If all the men 10
favor Of the establishment of slavery,
as manifested 10y their votes on other
occasions, had voted against it,
| Then, TO my mind, the evidence is
clear, that this IS IN all probability a
better expression, and moro favor
able manifestation OF the state Of
opinion there on this question, than
eau be obtained by any experiment
which can be attempted now IN the
present state Of affairs.
Mr.. PEARcE. Mr.. President, |
was mol present during any part of
the discussion on the Senate bill
now offered as an amendment, nor
did vote upon it. That produces
the disadvantage IN ny case of being
somewhat unlniormed VITA regard to
the facts as " ell us the views pres
enled by Senators. 1t yields, how
ever, this cOuntervalllng advantage,
namely, that | have not participated
IA the exclements which am told
have attended tins debate. leel---
at least | th,nk that leel--perlccly
impartial, aud enllfelJ unaffected uy
the prejudlces on tins subject, which
are SO natural and IN iuth may
say that think am so, even with
out reference 10 my abseuce during
that debate
| acqulesced in the original bill,
called the kansas-Nebraska act,
with much reluctance. may say
that, for | believe II is very we'll
known, aud hope ! shall not be
supposed TO be asking to be excused
IN any degree for any mistake may
have made by voting for that bill. 1
take ny lull share OF the responslbl-
hly, and of the consequences, what
ever they may be but Il IS fact,
that ! acquiesced with great relucl-
ance IN the passage OF that bill, |
am not, therefore, one Of the ardent
aud extreme inends OF the measure /,
and | think | look at this subject as
/ It Is now presented, without The IN
Auences which are apt To be created
10y ones having been partisan IA
the course OF Il two years struggle
over a great public measure.
The question presents itself 10 me
in this way There is state Of
things existing in one Of the Tern
tories Of this Union Of IA very form
daole and distressing character. II
IL alleged that the settlers in the Ter