The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1856-06-04

as slave States as they no W have under the
Kansas Nebraska act? Why his desertioP
from the democratic pSrty, and his alliance
with black repubsioauism, il be really be-
lieves that the Missouri ComT romise, like
the Kansas Nebraska act, left the people ef
those Territories perfectly free TO form and
regulate their domestic institutions in their
own way, and to come into the Union with
slavery, or without. IS they might deter.
mine? II his construction Of the Missouri
Compromise be correct, il was mere tenn
porary expedient, possessing none of the
characteristics Of a covenant or compact or
conract--an ordinary legislative enact.
ment, which was Liable TO be repealed at a.
nv time; and which. If h had not been re-
pealed, would have become nugstory and
void in very brief period. fear that the
ti,Nebraska party Of Illinois will regard
these opinions Of my colleague as "unfoun-
ded assumptions" regret that he did
not enlighten bis political brethren on this
subject and persuade them 10 the correct
ness Of these opinions, prior to his own elec-
tion " the Senate. Had the Fusionists Of
Chicago understood the question in 1854.
as he now explains it. I think would have
lad very little trouble ia obtaining a hear
ing in my own defence whea | returned
home that year.
But, sir, said that / would not take
time ia the discussion Of these minor points
which my colleague desired TO bring into
the debate, overlooking the great question
at issue. My colleague states that question
in these words: ,..
"The great fact remains, and it s not met by til.
report that the people of Kansas have been corr
quer9d, as he governor himself once said, and a
Legislature has beon imposed upon themby violence
| Without denying this, tho report, to a legal
phrase, demurs 10 the declaration, thereby admit
ting the charge, but denying that il affords any res-
sen why the acts OF such a legislature should not
be enIorced!', ......
| Isit true that the great fact remains un
denied that Kansas was conquered? Is it
true that the report demurs to this allega,
ton, aud thereby admits its truth? In
what part of the report is such an admis
sion to be found? What line, what word
in the report, gives the.slightest pretext fol
such an assertion? On the contrary, the
report of the committee not only denies but
disproves, the truth Of such charge, so
|
repeating it. So overwhelming is the proof
of the majority report on this point. that the
only mode in which the minority could
avoid or break It's force was by suppressing
the testimony which disproved the truth Of
the allegation. am aware that it is =
grave and serious matter to state that the
minority report supPresses the evidence
which concusively disproves the truth Of
the allegation that Kansas was conquered,
in order to arrive at conclusiea whic
could never ave been rendered plausible,
except by the Suppression Of the facts as
| they appear on record and IN official jour
nails But make the declaration boldly,
with a full consciousness Of all its response
biIities, and wi vii ingness and ability
at all times to make good the proposition to
the entire satisfaction Of all fair and impair
tial minds. .....
The fac as presented in the majority re-
port, and proven by official and incontro-
vertible evidence, are, that of he eighteen
elec ion districts Into which kaasas was di-
vided, allegations of violence and illegal vo
ting were made in seven, while there was
no; at the time any pretext of fraud, VIC
ence. Or illegal voting in the other eleven
districts. The election was held on the 3Oth
Of March, 1855. under the PROCLAMATION of
Governor Reeder, and 10 pursuance OF the
rules and regulations prescribed by him.
The proclamation provided among other
things. that 'ln case any person or persons
shall dispute the fairness or correctness oil
the return OF any election district, they shall
make written statement, directed to the
governor, and setting forth the specific
cause oil complaint or errors in the conduct
lug or returning of the election in said dis.
irlc', sigued by not less than ten qualified
voters of the Territory, aud with an afhda-
Wit OF one or more qualified voters to the
truth Of the fact therein stated; and the
said complaint and affidavit shall bs pre-
sented to the governor on or before the 9th
day of April next, when the proper procee-
dings will be taken to hear and decide such
complaint"
In view Of this direct invitation on the
part Of governor, 10 all mef who were dis
satisfied with the result, to contest the cleo
Li0n, and the assurance that he would "heat
and decide sush complaint" it does not ap-
pear from any source that ten men were
ever found in any one OF the eleven dis
tricts who were willing to sign the state
ment or any one man who was willing to
swear to the truth Of the statement, that
there had been fraud, violerce, or illegal
voting in any one of these eleven districts!
Such statements were made and, presented
to the governor in reference to some OF the
precincts in seven Of the eighteen districts
but none 10 the other eleven. These facts
are distinctly set forth 10 the majority re-
port. and conclusively proved by reference
to the eflicial papers. While these facts
are cauiiously concealed in the minority
report. and the vsgus charge Of fraud and
violence substituted for them in general
terms, there is no specific denial of any one
| Of these facts--no pretence that the elec.
ton was contested in any one Of those elev.
en- districts. or any man found TO make the
charge, much less to swear to the truth of
it, MS required by the governor In his pro.
slamation. These eleven districts, where
there were no contests and no complaints
filed with the governor, elected large ma
iority Of both branches of the legislature
TO viii: ten Of the thirteen counei!men and
seventeen OF the twenty-six representatives
Of which, by the organic law OF the Terrific
ry, the legislature was composed. and ma.
iorily Of whom were TO constitute q legal
quorum for the transaction Of legislative bu.
slness. Hence il is entirely inmaterial, 50
far as the legality Of the legislature is In
yolyed, whether lbe contested GASES in the
other seven districts were decided right or
wrong. In either event there was legal