Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-24


the Constitution met the appreciation of a ma
oritY OF the people Of Kansas, and it any OF
its provisions were obnoxious to them, they
would have the power of modifying or chang
ing them at any time.
Mr.. DorcrAs replied that he was gratiicd
at the tone aud spirit in which the Senator
from Missouri had discussed the question. but
as that Senator seemed to have misapprehend
ed his (DoUGLAs') position as laid down in his
speech delivered the other day, he (DoUGLAs)
woald make a brief statement on one or two
points, in order that the Senate and the coun-
try might see what his position really was
First he did not regard it as fatal objection
that there was no enabling act in advance
Second, he did not take the position that 1t
was fatal objection that the Constitution
was not submitted before it was sent to Con
gress for acceptance The position he did as
Sutne was, that the regular mode of proceed
ING is by an enabling act, and that if the Ter
ritorial Legislature proceeds to call ConVen-
ton, without the consent of Congress to do
so, that is irregular, hut not so irregular that
it necessarily follows that all the proceedings
are vitiated. The Convention of any other
body Of men NAV send petition to Congress
for Il change in the form of their Government,
and Congress is at liberty to accept or reject
the petition as it peases. The Lecompton
Convention was not an unlawful body and
might send petition, but it was not a Con
ycution authorized to establish or institute
Government for Kansas. Many of the new
States had been admitted without an enabling
act being first passed by Congress. The sche-
due said that the Constitution should be sub
l,o, Il, &
val or disapproval No Constitution could
be considered as Republican which did not
emboiy the will Of the people who are 10 he
governed by it and was not formed by their
acton. The next question, what is the best
mode of ascertaning that will He argued
with the President that the best mode was to
refer it the people for acceptance or rejection
by fair vote He (DoUGLAs) could not ad-
NIT that a Constitution forced upon the peo-
pie against their will was Republican Con
sttuton 1t was no use to say it was good
Constitution Congress had no right to cram
good thing down their throatS against their
will The question was whether the people
shall be permitted to form their own Con,titu-
ton The Senator from Missouri urged the
Importance of terminating this CONTROVERSY
Now he (DouGLAs) would 90 anything that
was right, and anything Just, in order to ter
inmate it. He would sacrifice everything but
principle and honor and country, in order to
close this unhappy agitation, but how are we
to do it? 1t must be done upon principles OF
eternal Justice and truth, or it Will not stay
CLOSED Congress must terminate it upon the
principles of self-govcrnmcnt, or they will not
have a republican system Of government No
system of patching-up and trickery will settle
this question Instead OF having peace, it will
only be the beginning of new controversy
1t would be necessary to increase the army and
use the military power Of the Government. if
the ma ority were to be subjected to the OBJ
preston of the minority. He trusted that
there would he no outbreak, no violence but
he feared such result # a majority Of the
people Of Kansas were to b. co2rccd into sub
mission to the will of the minority The Sena-
tor from Missouri bad said that they could
change the Constitution Immediately after they
became a State, but he (DoUGLAsl argued on
the other hand that it could not be changed
until 1864, and then only by a Convention to
he called by two-thrdS Of the Legislature 1t
was principle Of law, when constitution
provides for its being changed at particular
time and in particular mode, it excludes all
other modes Any Court in ChriStcndom
would thus construe it, and the only other
mode Of changing their constitution would be
by revolution This scheme, therefore. is
scheme of civil war, and leads directly to war.
If he should vote to admit Kansas under the
Lccompton Constitution, he should feel obiig-
cd, in consequence, to increase the army and
enforce it at the point of the bayonet He
beSouyht Senators to panSe before they com
mitted themselves to such fatal error This
was not to be regarded as an Administration
measure. Every man on the floor Of the Sen
ate was at liberty to vote for or against it
without surrendcring his party ties The
adoption Of the measure would not only rend
asunder the Democratic Party, but endanger
the peace and perpetuity of the Union. The
President was frank man, and he did not be-
lieve that the President would ask his party
to do that to which he was unwilling to com
nit himself on paper. He did not believe the
President would ask Senators to run their
necks into the halter of disnDion 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 Conyen-
tions at Lecompton and Topeka, and authorize
the people to go forward and form a Consti-
tuition and State Government for themselves
That, he (DoUGLAs) believed, would restore
quiet in ninety days.
Mr.. GREEN responded, denying that the
people of Kansas would be compelled TO re-
tain their present Constitution unchanged un-
til 1864, and argued that a Convention could
be called at any time, to make such a change
as majority of the people might desire.
The further consideration of the subject was
then postponed until Monday. Adjourned
lIousE-The House met in the new hall
\ communication was received from the
clergymen of Washington, rendering their SER
vices to open the daily sessions with prayer.
AMID much confusion, the members proceed