The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-04-16
SPEECH OF
HON. STEPHEN A, DOUGLAS
)E ILLINOIS
OE ILLINOIS.
ON THE ADMISSION OF KANSAS.

In the Senate March 90, 1856.
The Senate, as in committee ofthe Whole,
having taken up for consideration the bill
to authoriSe the people Of the Territory Of
Kansas to form constitution and State
government, preparatory to the admission
into the Union, s0hen they have the requisite
population
Mr.. DOUGLAS said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: will ask the indul-
gence of the Senate for such length of
time as the subject may require, provided
my strength do not fail me, while submit
some views in vindication of the majority
report, and in answer TO that of the mi
nority, of the Committee on Territories
upon the Kansas question.
In the first place, however, as we have
taken up for consideration the bill report
ed by the Committee on Territories, to
to authorize the people of that Territory
to form constitution and State govern
ment, preparatory to admission into the
Union, it is due to the subject that I should
give brief exposition of the provisions
and principles of the bill.
The first section provides that, when
ever the Territory of Kansas shall contain
ninety-three thousand four hundred and
twenty inhabitants, to be ascertained 10y q
census taken in conformity with law, (that
being the present ratio for member of
Congress,) convention may be called by
the Legislature of the Territory to form a
constitution and State government prepar-
atory to It's admission into the Union as q
State.
The second section provides that the
convention shall be composed of twice the
number of delegates which each district in
the proposed States has representatives in
the Territorial Legislature AT the elec-
tion of these delegates it is proposed that
white male Inhabitants who shall have at
tanned the age of twenty one years, and who
shall have resided six months in the Ter
ritory and three mouths in the district
may vote, provide they possess the quail
fications required by the organic act OF
the Territory. BY examination of the
precedents, find that it has been usual
to prescribe the qualifications of the voters
in the act of Congress authorizing the
people of the Territories to hold conven-
tions and form constitutions preparatory
to their admission into the Union.
The several acts of Congress prepara-
tory to the admissions of the following
States prescribed a residence, varying
! form three to twelve months, as condi-
ton of voting, as follows: Illinois, six
months; Indiana, twelve months; Ohio,
twelve months; Mississippi, twelve months;
Missouri, three months; Louisiana, twelve
months; Alabama, three months Most
of the other new States formed their con-
stitutions under the authority Of the Ter
ritorial Legislature without the prelimina-
ry action of Congress. In preparing this
bill have adopted the medium, accord
ing to the precedents running through our
whole territorial history-six months res
idence in the Territory and three months
in the district in which the vote may be
given. a.
The third and only remaining section OF
| the bill provides for the usual grants ol
land to be made to the State of Kansas,
on the same terms upon which they have
been made to most the other new States.
If there is anything Objectionable in the
details of the bill, they will be open to
amendment; and l shall be as ready to ac-
cept any amendment OF which my judg-
ment approves as any Senator.
Now, sir, few words in regard to the
speech of my colleague (Mr- TRuMBuLL)
delivered the other day in this body. 1t
is well known to the Senate that the Sen
ator from Texas (Mr. RusKl called the
attention of my colleague to the fact that
was absent at the time, and fos that rea-
son suggested the propriety of . post
ponement of the discussion until l could
be present I was absent for the reason
that the state Of my health did not render
it prndent for me to be present, and for
the further reason, that it had been dis