The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-12-19

Pugn, Clay, and cameron MADE speeches,
when the customary resolutions were adop-
ted, and the Senate adjourned.
In the House, the speaker announced the
| standing committees. Harris, of Illinois, is
chairman of the committee on elections !;
Marshall, OF H., chairman of the committee
on claims; Stephens, of Ga, takes Colonel
Richardson's place on the committee on ter
ritories. The senate resolutions in reference
to the death of Senator Butler were then
read, when the house adjourned.
Dec. 15.--In the Senate Mr.. Hale announ-
ced the decease Of Senator Bell, of n H.,
when, after passing the usual resolutions,
the senate adjourned.
In the House the same announcement was
made, and no other business transacted.
Dec l6.--In the Senate, a resolution was
adopted calling on the President for all cor
respondence between the department and
the present Governor of Kansas.
The Senate standing committees were ar
ranged. Mr.. Douglas retains his place as
chairman of the committee on territories
Hunter on finance Mason on foreign az
fairs, &c.
Mr.. Green proceeded to speak on Kansas
affairs, and objected to Mr.. Douglas speech
as well calculated to prejudice the question
pending before the people If Kansas. The
real issue was not whether we approve or
do not approve of all the individual parts Of
the Lecomptop Constitution. The only
question is, does the Constitution embody
the republican form of government. No
body has ever disputed that. There seemed
to be want Of understanding as TO the re-
lation the federal government sustains to-
wards the Territory. The Inhabitants of
Kansas are a people, and no enabling act is
required 10 impart TO them power to propose
a change in their form of government. Con
| gress would have no right to refuse to adj
NIT Kansas under the Lecompton constitu-
ton. The people Of Kansas never proposed
| TO form a government without the consent
| OF Congress. The convention was held in
1 subordination to the territorial government
and under no obligation to submit the con-
stiiution, or part of it, to the popular vote.
/ They chose TO submit the slavery question,
which was the great bone of contention, as a
matter of policy, and not from any i'll, gal
/ compulsion wha'ever 1t was his opinion
that the submission OF that question alone
was better calculated to get the real Will and
Judgment Of the people than If the whole
constitution had been submitten. He con-
/ Guided, by urging speedy decision, saying
+ that, if any OF the provisions Of the consti-
/ ton were obnoxious to the people Of Kan
I sas. they could have the power of modify Ing
and changing them At any time.
! Mr.. Douglas replied, stating his position
First, he did not regard it as a fatal oojec-
/ ton that there was no enabling act in ad-
vance. Secondly, he did not take tn posi-
ton that it was 4 fatal obligation that the
, constitution was not submitted to the people
before it was sen; to congress for acceptance.
The position he did assume was, that the
regular mode Of proceeding is by an enabling
act; but if the territorial legislature pro.
ceeds to call a convention without having the
consent Of Congress it is irregular, but not
so irregular that il necessarily follows that
all the proceedings yi.iatcd. The L.
compton Convention was not an unlawful
body, but il was not a convention authorize
to establish or institute government for
/ itself The schedule said the constitution
/ should be submitted to all the people OF
Kansas, for approval or disspproval. No
constitution could be considered republican
which did not emboiy the viii of the peo-
pie who are TO be governed by it, The next
question was what was the best mode Of OBJ
tanning that will. He agreed with the Pre-
! sident that the best mode was to submit i,
/ 10 the pc pie for acceptance or REJECTION
lie could not admit that constitution forced
on people against their will, was republi-
can constitution. Ii was Of no use to say it
was a good constitution. Congress has no
I right to force this thing down their threats
/ against their will. The Senator from Mis-
| souri, urged the importance of terminating
the controversy now. He Douglas would
do anythirg that was right and just to ter
inmate it. I,e would sacrifice everything
but principle, honor, and country to close
this unhappy controversy; but how are We
to do it? 1t must be done upon the princi-
pies of eternal justice and truth, or it will
not stay closed. Congress must terminate
it upon the principles of self Government, or
they will not have republican form OF 60
vernment No system of patching up and
tickery will scstle this question. Instead
of having peace it would be only TIE begin
ming of a new controversy, ana it would be
necessary to increase the army and use the
military power if the majority were to be
subjected to the oppression of the minority.
He trusted there would be no outbreak nor
violence, but he feared such result if the
majarity of the people of Kansas were to be
coerced into submission to the will Of the
minority. Mr.. Douglas then argued that
the people Of Kansas could not change their
constitution, if adopted, till the year 1864,
and then only by convention called by
two thirds of the Legislature THIS was not
to be regarded as an Administration move
Every man on the floor of the Senate was
at perfect liberty to vote for or against it,
without surrendering his party ties. The
adoption of the measure would not only rend
asunder the democratic party, but endanger
the perpetuity Of the Union itself The
President was frank man, and he'd id not
believe the President would ask the Senators
to run their necks into the halter of dis
union or civil war, before he was ready to
take the lead and point the way. Then let
us restore peace to the country by ignoring
these irregular conventions at Lecompton
and Topeka, and authorize the people Of
Kansas to go forward and form a constitution
and State government for themselves. That
he believed, wOule restore peace within
ninety days.
Mr.. Green responded, arguing that con-
vention could at any time be called to make
such changes in the constitution as the ma
jority Of the people might desire. Adjourned.
The House met in the new hall, and amid
much confusion the members proceeded to
select their seats. After some unimportant
business, Mr.. Cox, dem. of Ohio) proceeded
to express his hostility to the Lecompten
constitution, advocating the sub mission of
the entire instrument to the people. ADJ.
Dec I'm the Senate, Mr.. Gwin intro
duced bill for the organization of the new
territory Of Arizona, and bill providing
for the construction of a railroad to the Pa
ciic. Mr.. Hunter introduced bill from the
Finance Committee authorizing the issue of
Treasury notes, the amount in no case to