Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-06-13

= 5a4 "'N'F'P'" -Sohg' Debdtes, sgi. ~, rart 4,
It was Mr.. Calhoun, however. who nressod
the opposition with the most persevering in.
'en''ty. In his sight, the admission Of Mich.
lgan under tho circumstances. would be
w. uio most monstrous proceeding under our
CONSTITUTION lhat can be conceived. the u,,a
repugnant TO ITS principles, and dangerous in
~ consequences" (Cong. Debates vol IA
p. @lOl There IS not" he exclaimed. aone
particle OF official evidence before us We
have nothing but the private letters OF in.
dVldualsi who do not know even the num-
oefs That voted on either occasion. 'fhey
Know nothing Of the qualifications of voters
nor no" their votes where received, nor by
whom counted" (Bdl And he proceeded
10 characterze the popular Convention az
mol only party caucus, for party purpose,
but criminal meeting--a meeting To sub.
vert the authority Of the State and to as.
sumo ITS sovereignty" adding "that the ac-
tors ~ that meeting might be indicted. tried.
aud punished and he expressed as,onish-
meni that a sslicreated meeting. cpnyenod
tor criminal object, had dared to present to
TINS Government an act Of theirs. and to ex-
pect that we are to receive the irregular and
criminal act AS a fuliment Of the condition
which We had presented for the admission Of
the state" lIbid, p. 299.) No stronger
words have been employed against Kansas.
But the single question on which all the
proceedings then hinged, and which is as
pertinent IN the case Of Kansas as in the
case oi Michigan, was thus put by Mr. Nor
ris, ot Ohio Ibid, p. 2l5)-" WiH Conpysss.
rec1gnirs as raid, constitutional, and obiigo-
tory trihom he color Of a iap of yMch-
igdn 10 sustain II, an act done by he Peopie
Of ne Silte IN their primary assemblies, and
acknowledge that act as obligatory on The con-
sthuied authorities and Legislature Of the
State y Thls question, thus distinctly pres.
cntel was answered in debate by able Sem
ators among whom we're Mr.. Benton and
Mr Ming But there was one person, who
has since enjoyed much public confidence.
and has le't many memorials of an industri.
Gus career IN the Senate and in Diplomatic
life, James buchanan, who rendered himself
conspicuous by the ability and ardor with
which, against all assaults, he upheld the
cause OF the popular Convention, which was
80 strongly denounced, and the entire con-
iomlty OF It's proceedings with the genius
OF American Institutions. His speeches on
that occasion contain an unanswerable argu-
ment, at all points, mutdio nomine, for the
mmedate admission of Kansas under her
present Constitution; nor is there anything
by which he Is now distinguished that will
rebound so truly to his fame If he only
continues true TO them. Bot the question
was emphatically answered in the Senate by
the hnal vote on the passage OF the Bill
where we mad twenty-five yeas to only ten
nays. In the House Of Representatives.
after debate, the question was answered in
the same way, bya vote of one hundred and
forty -eght yeas to fiIty-eight nays aud a.
mong the yeas IS again the name of Frank
I'm Pierce. Representative from New
Hampshire.
Thus, in that day, by such triumphant
votes dld the cause OF Kansas prevail in the
name OF Michigan. A popular Convention
called absolutely without authority, and
containing delegates from portion only of
the population called, too, in opposition to
constituted authorities, and in dorogation of
another Convention assembled under the
forms Of law-stgmatized as caucus and
criminal meeting, whose authors were liable
to indictment trial and punishment-was,
alter ample debate, recognized BY Congress
as valid, and Michigan now holds her place
IN the UnloD and her Senators sit on this
moor, 6y virtue OF that act. Sir, if Michigan
IS legitimate, Kansas cannot be illegitima,e.
You basiardlse Michigan when you refuse to
AtNpEnlNt hdnsuS.
Again, say, do you require precedent
give It to you But | will not stake this
cause on any precedent. | plant it iirmly
on the fundamental principle of American
Institutions, so embodied in the Declaration
OF independence, by which Government is
recognized as deriving its Just powers only
from he consent Of The goUernei, who may
alter or abolish It when It becomes destruc
nf tfrff l.. 81. -
Nebraska Bill, at the overthrow of the Pro-
hbltIon Of Slavery, the Declaration Of lnde-
pendence was denounced a1 " self>evdent
lie" 1t is only by a similar audacity that
the fundamental principle, which sustains
the proceedings in Kansas, can be assailed.
Nay, more you must dlsown the Declaration
OF Independence, and adopt the Circular Of
the Holy Alliance, which declares that use
iul aud necessary changes in legislation and
IN the administration OF States ought only to
eollnate from The free ioW and The intelligent
and wei-,oeighsd e0Hpiciion of those teLom
God has rendered responsible for power."
Face to face, put the principle of the Dec
hration OF Independence and the principle
OF the Holy Alliance, and bid them grapple
" The one places the remedy in the hands
which feel the disorder !" and when thus
truthiully characterize them, but adopt a
sentent0us phrase from the Debates in the
Virginia Convention on he adoption of the
Federal Constitution. @ Eliot's Debates,
lOI-Mr. COrbin.l And now these two
principles, embodied IN the rival propositions
of the Senator from New York and the Seq
aIor from Illinois, must grapple on this floor
Statesmen and Judges, publicists and au-
thors, with names OF authority in American
history, espo1se and vindicate the American
principle. Hand in hand, they now stand
around Kansas and feel this new State lean
on them for support. OF these | content
myself with adducng two only, both from
slayeholding Virginia, in days when Human
Rights were not without support in that
State Listen TO the language Of st. George
Tucker, the distinguished commentator upon
blackstone, uttered from the bench in ia.
lcal opinion
" fhe '~er Of conyenng tho legal Assemblies, or
hu odinlry Constitutional Legsliiute, resdsd solely
tae Efe1s,'re They could neither be chosen with.
put writs Issued by ~ authority, nor assemble when
ihosan but under tho same authority, This Conyen.
ions on tho contrary, were chosen and assembled e
h'f 10 pur-uan ot recommendations from Coug uss
lf rom thor own hoes, .. By tae discretion aud eom
legh Assembly existed Witness tins Conyantion
iod AZ hehmnid 10 March MS anet which period
W nn'huf,, BY ihs Soyofnof Lord Dunnoss.n
ft eiastitatiaaai dapsHdaRes tAs Brist GoBsrA-
Hshi Das Hfosr ieais5 asti tAs sHessaAg hiy."
tha Cfayertnn, thsn was not the oidinary Lagsia-
lure Of Nifsina. u ~. iho body of the people, i'm
pHllsd 90 assemble ffou Of dagger,
.utag flf tho good, and aeting 10 Al things
FOE be- e,mmaa safsy."- YIgiaia Casss. 70, n, Kam
per a.. HIusnas.
Listen 10 language Of James Madison:
" That 10 all gfaat changes OF established govern
nenif forms ought To give way 10 substance that
igd idhffeure 90 sneh the H. ms would renisr
iomnii and nugatuty thu transreudent aud pseeiou.
iFhi ul the people IN abnhsh atnf the GuvufnmeGt
An aNl fttua
ud hnppiness.N Nor can Il have hsaa for
often hai ~ lfle w tmsi scrHpies zeal J0r aatsr
ag q oriHarg farms aaycAert etept m thss
oho wsted 10 ainige aadsr hess aats their
airy o. tAe aHbsance e5Aissdci tor iIas Eedera isf
No a.
Proceedings thus sustained, am unwil-
ing 10 call n U0iutioHary, although this term
has the sanction of the Senator from New
y I--... L.....l- II