Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1857-12-24
Senator Douglas Speech on Kansas At
faira

delivered in the Senate on the 9Th on that
portion of the Presidents Message relative
TO Kansas affairs, and the Lecompton Con-
s,ituton. The position Of the President
will be recollected by our readers, and we
ei;e few extracts to show how the Sena-
Tor combats the Presidents views.
THE PROMISES TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS.
II understand, from the history Of the
transaction. that the people who voted for
delegates to the Lecompton Convention
and those who refused to vote-both parties
understood the Territorial act 10 mean that
they were to be selected only to frame
constitution, and submit it 10 the people for
their ratification or rejection. l say that
both parties in that territory, at the time Of
the election of delegates, so understood the
object of the Convention. Those who voted
for delegates did so with the understanding
that they had no power 10 make govern
ment, but only 10 frame one for submissions
and those who staid away did so with the
same understanding. Now for the evidence.
The President Of the United States tells us
in his message that he had unequivocally
expressed his opinions in the form OF in
structions TO Gov. Walker, assuming that
the Constitution was 10 be submitted TO the
people for ratification. When we look al
Gov. Walkers letter Of acceptance Of the
office of Governor, we find that he stated
expressly that he accepted it with the un-
Outstanding that the President and his
whole cabinet concurred with him that the
Constitution, when formed, was 10 be sub
mited 10 the people for ratification. Then
look into the instructions given by the Pres
ident of the United States, through Gen.
Cass, the Secretary Of State, to Gov. Walk
err, and you there find that the Governor is
instructed 10 use the military power 10
protect the polls when the Constitution shall
be submitted TO the t'sople of Kansas for
their free acceptance or rejection. Trace
the history little further, and you will find
that Governor Walker went to Kansas and
proclaimed in his inaugural and in his
speeches at Topeka and elsewhere, that il
was the distinct understanding, not only Of
himself, but of those higher in power than
himself--meaning the President and his
Cabinet-that the Constitution was to be
submitted to the people for their free &C.
cepiance or rejection, and that he would
use all the power at his command 10 defeat
its acceptance by Congress, if it were moi
thus submitted TO the vote of the people,
Mr.. President, am not going to stop and
inquire how far the Nebraska bill, which
said the people should be left perfectly free
TO form their Constitution for themselves
authorized the President, or the Cabinet, o,
Governor Walker, or any other Territorial
officer, TO interfere and tell the the Conven'
ton of Kansas whether they should oil
should not submit the question to the peo
pie. am not going to stop to inquire how
far they were authorized to do that, it being
my opinion that the spirit Of the Nebraska
bill required it to be done. 1t is sutiicien
for my purpose that the Administration o
the Federal Government unanimously, tina
the administration OF the Territorial Gov
, ernment in all its parts, unanimously I'm
derstood the Territorial law under whic
the Convention was assembled TO mean tina
the Constitution to be formed by that Con
Il vention should be submitted TO the peopl
It for ratification or rejection, and, if not con
firmed by majority Of the people, Shout
be null and void, without coming to Cor
eress for approval. Not only did the Nj
tional Government and the Territorial Go,
eminent SO understand the law at the TIM
but, as have already stated, the people
,, the Territory so understood it. As fu1
u Their evidence on that point, large humble
v if not the majority, of the delegates wei
instructed in the Nominating Convention
=, 10 submit the Constitution TO the people Fl
;, ratification. / know that the delegat
# from Douglas county, eight in number, M
- Calhoun, President of the Convention, b
"a ing among them, were not only INSTRUCT
- thus to submit the question, but they sign
and published, while candidates., writ
n pledge that they would submit 1t to.Ihe pc
ID pie for ratification. know that men hi
in authority and in the confidence OF /
:. Territorial and National Government, ca
o vassed every part Of Kansas during the
lection of delegates, and each one OF the
pledged himself to the people that no sn
be Judgment was to be taken; that the Cons
sh tuition was TO be submitted 10 the Peep
's' for acceptance or rejection, that it wo,
'oi be void unless that was done; that The A
e. ministration would spurn and scorn it as
nd violation Of the principles on which it cal
IT. into mower, and that Democratic Congrt