Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-12-25
Congress.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.
SENATE.


Kansas affairs. Mr.. Douglass speech,
he said, took him by surprise, not only as
to its matter, but as to its manner; and
it was well calculated to prejudice the
question pending before the people OF
Kansas. He wished to counteract, so
far as might be in his power, the impress
sion made by that speech. The real IS
sue now was, ought Kansas, when her
constitution shall be presented, to be ad-
mitted into the Union or ought the con-
sideration of what the Senator from Il
linois calls the fundamental error of
the President" to be regarded as suffi-
Gent cause for keeping Kansas out of the
Union, and keeping up the agitation OF
this most unfortunate question.
The question was not whether we ap-
prove of all the individual parts Of the
/, Lecompton Convention, as in reference
to the banks, taxation, etc. but the only
question is, does the Constitution embody
Republican form of government? No
body has ever disputed that. There seem
ed to be want of clear understanding
as to the relation which the federal gov
eminent sustained towards territory
|. The inhabitants Of Kansas are people,
and no enabling act is required to impart
to them power to propose a change in
- their form of government. He argued
9 that Congress would have no right to re-
II fuse to admit Kansas under the Lecomp-
= ton Constitution.
The people of Kansas never proposed
70 to form a government without the con-
sent of Congress. The Convention was
'e held in subordination to the Territorial
= government, and was under no obligation
to submit the constitution, or any part Of
:. it, to the popular vote. They chose tc
10 submit the slavery question, which wa:
= the great bone of contention, as a matter
n of policy and prudence, and not from
> any legal compulsion whatever. 1t wa:
his opinion that the submission of tina
y question alone was better calculated tt
- get the real will and judgment of the PEG
70 pie than if the whole constitution haC
y been submitted. He concluded by urg
d ing speedy decision of the question
= saying that, if any of the provisions o
:" the constitution were obnoxious to til,
l0 people of Kansas, they would have tn
n II power of modifying or changing them a
- any time.
Mr.. Douglas replied, stating his posi-
NC ton First-He did not regard it as
az a. fatal objection that there was no enablin
~ "a act in advance secondly-That he di'
nc i. not take the position that it was fats
Il objection that the Constitution was nc
a. submitted to the people before it wa
~ sent to Congress for acceptance. TIL
u position he did assume was, that the re
III gular mode of proceeding is by an ena
St. bling act. If the Territorial Legislator
III proceeds to call Convention withou
80 having the consent of Congress, that
re- &c irregular, but not SO irregular that it Mt
III cessarily follows that all proceedings al
'Uo Initiated. The Lecompton Conventio
~ was not an unlawful body, but it was n,
'n' Convention authorized to establish {
institute government for itself. I'll
ESQ Schedule said the Constitution should |
nl0 submitted TO all the people of Kans;
ga ca for approval or disapproval. No Coz
uiu stitution could be considered republics
vi c which did not embody the will of tt
VI people who are to be governed by it.
The next question was-the best moo
of obtaining that will. He agreed wi
zed the President, that the best mode was
ept refer it to the people for acceptance
the rejection. He could not admit that
and constitution, forced upon people again
her their will, was a Republican Constit
Don ton. 1t was of no use to say it was
hey good constitution. Congress has no rig
uld to cram good thing down their thros
N against their will. The Senator fro
ind Missouri urged the Importance of tern
osy mating the controversy. Now he do
l, glass would do anything that was rig
emit and just to terminate it. He would s
I'll crifce everything but principle, and ho
she or, and country, in order to close this U
ing happy controversy.
zed But how are we to do it? 1t must
hen done upon the principles of eternal ],
lger tice and truth, or it will not stay clost
;hes Congress must terminate it upon t
nee principles of self-governmenl, or tn
who will not have Republican form of 90
love eminent No system of patching
SIS. and trickery will settle this question.
Instead of having peace, it would
tho only the beginning of new controvers
g If and it would be necessary to increase t
mo army and use the military power, if t
ore majority were to be subjected to the
ron, preston of the minority. He trust
and there would be no outbreak, no violent
,oon but he feared such result if the major
of the people of Kansas were to be co
ced into submission to the will of {
minority.
lued Mr.. Douglas then argued that
rom people of Kansas could not change
ears Constitution, if adopted, until the y,
en- 1864, and then only by Convent
called by two-thirds of the Legislatu
This was not to be regarded as an /
5 re- ministration measure. Every man
}. ar the floor of the Senate was at peri
pur- liberty to vote for or against it, with
zion. surrendering his party ties. The ad
s of ton of the measure would not only r.
ocie- asunder the Democratic party, but
danger the perpetuity of the Union
The President was frank man and
did not believe the President would
Rep his party to do that which he was nm,
Il