Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-03-28
After some unimportant business, Mr.
DOUGLAS proceeded to reply to Mr.Trum-


DOUGLAS proceeded to reply to Mr.Trum-
bull
Mr.. D. regarded his colleagues opening
the debate on the Kansas report, the other
day, as q violation Of that courtesy which
gives the Chairman of committee that
privilege. Among other points in the mi
nority report on Kansas affairs, he referred
to the charge that the Legislature Of Kan
sas was a spurious body, and elected BY
fraudulent and illegal votes, and the peo-
pie of Kansas as invaded and conquered
By armed Missourians. Mr.. Douglas said
it was admitted that in seven districts
there was illegal voting, and Gov. Reeder
denied the members their certificates for
that reason but in the other fifteen dis
triets, there was no protest, nor proofs OF
illegal voting. Then, admitting, for the
sake of argument, that the allegation was
true as to seven districts, there was clear
majority of the Legislature legally elected,
and hence their acts were binding. The
majority report shows the fact that, after
the Legislature assembled at Pawnoe and
organized, a resolution was adopted, BY
which every person whomsoever was au-
thorized to contest the right Of any men,
b1. holding a seat, on giving notice to the
sitting member. This was more than
three months after the alleged invasion.
If the people we're SO much intimidated as
has been said, it was to be supposed they
would have recovered from their fright in
the course of three months. But at that
time no man was found who desired to
contest the seats Of any of the fifteen
members; and it was universally admitted
that the fact that Gov. Reeder had given
these certificates was conclusive regarding
their election.
[Gov. Reeder, however, has no doubt Of
the illegality of the election of those hf-
teen, but, as there was no one in those
districts to make the contest within the
time required, it was not his province to
reject them on mere run,or. 1t will be
recollected, too, that the spurious members
turned out all the Free Soil members, who,
at the second election, we're sent from the
" seven" contested districts, leaving only
one Free Soil member, and he refused to
stay. The idea of contesting" the 'na-
jority of members before the very MAJORITY
itseLf-all Of one stripe, and judge and jury
in their own case!-is piece Of impudence
worthy of Douglas ouly.-ED. CHRoN.]
Mr. Douglas charged that the minority
had suppressed the evidence in order to
make out case. That report declared the
Topeka Convention justifable, on the
ground that, under clause in the Consti,
tuition, the people had right to assemble
psaceably for the redress Of their grievan,
ces. MIR. Douglas characterized the To-
peka Convention as an act of rebellion,
and should it result in bloody issue, i,
would be high treason, and the traitors
ought to be hanged.
Mr.. TRUMBULL, in replying, said he
had learned most of his Democracy from
Mr.. D., aud had little thought, at the time,
that he was cherishing Black Republi
canism," with which MIR. Douglas had re.
Gently charged him. He was sitting at
the peoples gate, and would not bow
down and worship his colleague; and if,
on the scatfold erected by Mr.. Douglas fol
him, there should be found another hang
ing, it would not be his MIR. Trumbulls]
fault. As to the absurd proposition of hi
colleague that both should now resign
their Office, be had only to say that the
people had sanctioned bim, recently; first
by electipg him Representative, and then
a Senator. That certainly was modest
proposition. Let the Senator himself re
sign, and if, after going back to his con
st!tuents, he should be reelected, he Mr.
Trumbull] would join him in resignation
Thus they would stand on equal terms
The people of Illinois stand on the Dem
ocratic platform, erected by the aid Of MIR.
Douglas, and others, in 1850. The prop
osition to resign, reminded Mr.. Trumbull
of the unsuccessful client in Court. Hav
ing lost his case, he ,cds ready and asked
for neU trial. Laughter.
MIR. Trumbull maintained that the Kan
sas Legislature was fraudently elected
He said My colleague speaks Of hanging
traitors, and thinks they may be found
without going to Kansas. If the people
there have committed errors, is it not in
consequence of falling into my colleague
lead? Has it not been proclaimed in the
majority report, that the people shall set
tie their affairs in their own way! II
they committed an error, no ono was more
instrumental in bringing it about than my
colleague. .,
After replying to other points, be said
that when the question here was threaten
ing civil war and disunion, and the peace
and happiness Of thirty millions at stake,
and the cause of republicanism throughout