Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-12-18
L A T EST NEW S

Thirty-Fifth Congress-First Session.
Washington, Dec Is.
The House met in the new hall to day for
the first time, and with much confusion the
members proceeded to select their seats BY
lottery.
A resolution was adopted that the Sen
ate will. tomorrow, proceed to the election
Of printer.
Instructions have been sent to the com
mander Of the troops in Kansas. directing
him to call together sufficient military
force at every election precinct in the Ter-
ritory. where there is any likelihood Of dis
turbance. and that no organized force, acci-
dental or premeditated broil, shall prevent
the full and free vote Of the people. The
troops will act upon the requisition Of the
civil authorities.
Mr.. Green proceeded to speak on Kansas
affairs, and objected to Mr.. Douglass speech
as well calculated to prejudice the question
pending before the people Of Kansas. The
real issue was not whether we approve or
do not approve of all the individual parts
OF the Lecompton constitution, the only
| question 10, does the constitution embody
the Republican form of government No
body has ever disputed that There seemed
to be q want Of clear understanding as to
the relation the Federal government sus
tains towards the Territory, The inhabit
ants OF Kansas are people, and no ena-
bling act is required to impart to them the
power to propose a change in their form OF
government. He argued that Congress
would have no right 10 refuse to admit
Kansas under the Lecompton constitution
The people Of Kansas never proposed to
form a government without the consent OF
Congress. The convention was held in sub
ordination to the Territorial government,
and was under no obligation to submit the
constitution or any part oft to the popular
VOTE They chose to submit the slavery
question, which was the great bone Of CON
tention. as q matter Of policy, and not from
any legal compulsion whatever, and it was
his opinion that the submission Of that ques.
tion alone, was better calulated to get the
real will and judgment Of the people than
if the whole constitution had been submit
ted.
He concluded by urging speedy decis
ion of the. question, saying that if any Of
the provisions of the constitution were OBJ
noxious to the people of Kansas that they
would have the power Of modifying and
changing them at any time.
Mr.. Douglas replied, stating his posi-
ton.
First, he did not regard as fatal obiec-
tion that there was no enabling act in ad-
vance.
Second, he did not take the position that
it was fatal objection that the Constitu-
tion was not submitted to the people before
it was sent 10 Congress for their acceptance
The position he did assume was, that the
regular mode of proceeding is by an enabl-
ing act. but if the Territorial Legislature
proceeds to call Convention wi hout hnv-
ing the consent of Congress, it is irregular
but not SO irregular that it necessarily fol-
lows that all its proceedings are vitiated.-
The Lecompton Convention was not an un-
lawful body, but it was not convention
authorized 10 establish or institute a gov
ernment for itself The schedule said the
Constitution should be submitted to all the
people Of Kansas for approval or disap-
prevail no Constitution could be considered
republican which did not embody the will
Of the people who are to be governed BY it.
The next question was the best mode Of OBJ
tanning that will He agreed with the Pres.
ident The best mode was to submit it to
the people for acceptance or rejec ion. He
could not admit that Constitution forced
on o people against their will was q Repub-
lican Constitution.
1t was Of no use to say that it was good
| hoa -,
force this thing down their throats against
their swill. The Senator from Missouri
urged the Importance of terminating the
anything that was right aud just to termin
ate it he 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-
pie of eternal justice and truth, or it twill
not stay closed. Congress must termin
ate it upon the princip es of selfgoverment,
or they will not have republican form Of
government. Nosystem Of patching up and
trickery will settle this question instead Of
making peace it would be only the begin
ming of new controversy, and it would be
to increase the army and use the mill
tary power, if the majority were to be sub
jected to the oppression Of the minority
he trusted there would be no ;outbreak nor
violence, but he feared such result if the
the majority Of the people Of Kansas were
| to be eoerced into submission to the will of
the minority.
Mr. Douglas then argued that the people
of Kansas could not change Their Constitu-
ton if adopted, till the year 1854, and then
only by convention called by two-thirds
Of the Legislature. Ehis was not to be re-
garded as an administration move. Every
man on the floor Of the Senate was at per-
ctssibertytto vote for or against it with
out surrendering his party ties. The adop-
ton Of the measure would not only rend as
sunder the Democratic party, but endanger
the perpetuity Of the Union. The Presi
dent was frank man, and he did not be.
lieve the President would ask the Senators
to run their necks into the halter Of disun-
ion or civil war before he was ready to take
the lead and point out 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 70 60 forward and frame Constitu-
ton and State Government for themselves
That. he believed would restore peace in
ninety days.
Mr.. Green responded, arguing that a
Convention could at any time be called to
make such changes in the Constitution as
the majority Of the people may desire.
Adjourned.