The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1857-12-25
Congressional.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1G.

Amid mach confusion, the mem.
bers proceeded to select their seats
by lottery.
The Printing committee reported
in favor of printing 10000 extra
copies Of the Presidents message
and accompanying documents.
Mr.. Coz said be heartily concurred
with the views Of the message in al
most every sentence except that part
relative to Kansas. In his judg.
ment, contrary to the opinion oftbe
President, there will be no peace il
J Kansas be admitted under the Lc.
compton Constitution. II was III
Exceedingly dangerous doctrine
when brought in contact with prin.
ciple, that there can be no peace
where the rights Of the people are
ljeopardized. He did not agree with
the old theologian, that in order to
be saved we must be damned. -
Laughter.) His duty to bis con.
stituents was to stand upon the doc
trine Of . submission Of the entire
Constitution to the people. This is
Of the highest consequence and es-
sential to self government.
1t has its foundation in the Gin
cinnati platform, in the Presidents
Inauguration, in Gov. Walkers &C.
ceptance, in the Presidents letter to
the Connecticut clergymen,i in the in.
structions which he sent to Cover.
nor Walker, and in his annual ii es-
sage.
All came here as . record Of evi.
dence, and shows that pledges have
been given to the people Of Kansas,
that they should have the whole
Constitution submitted to them. lie
asked the House why the traitorous
Catalines OF Kansas, should there
fore attempt to subjugate the leo
ples' will to their own. Having
given them pledges that there would
be no breach of faith and gross dere-
LECTION Of duty, they disregarded
them.
The movement at Lecompton was
an attempt to carry out the slavery
principle, and by q pretended sub.
mission, force the Constitution upon
an unwilling people; for in any
event it would not be rejected. This
sort Of juggle would not do. The
right Of seIi-governmcnt was higher
and dcarer than all Cabinets and
Presidents. There was no power
according to Jefferson and Buchsnan
for a Territorial Legislature to cal
into being a convention to superced,
the Territorial Government, withou
the consent OF the people.
The Constitution should never bt
dragged into Congress for grave de
liberation. 1t would be of Congress
sional intervention in their domestic
affairs. The people Of the North
west cared not what might be tn
result as to Kansas domestic insti
tutions. He would vote for her ad
mission as q slave State, If the vii
of the people be made clearly to ap
pear. He referred to what he char
acrerized as q fraud in the appoint
,, ment Of representatives, and men
/ toned in this connection as an ex
. ample, the Oxford precinct. Til
Constitution WAS not Republican i
form, if prohibited to alteration G
amendment, until the year 1864.
y Hany change is made, it must !
8 by civil war; for blood must ev,
e track the steps of the wrong. ii
J, earnestly protested against the col
y stitution because it was against tn
J, principle Of self.governlnent.
Inust be submitted entirely to th
/; approval OF the whole people.
u In conclusion, ho gave notice
}. his intention to submit propositio
s to take the popular vote on the sui
e ject.
, Mr.. Hughes arose to express h
! surprise end regret, that the gentle
= man has chosen this occasion to pr,
cipitate such delicate matters upo
the House. There are those vii
y, believe that the Administration
= :. in trouble, and that clouds are gail
;. ering around the Democratic part,
-" He, therefore, humbly conceive
:. that the friends of the Administr'
= - tion, and the members Of the Den
y y cratic party, should not be first
!" sound the alarm. Was not the que
;, ton before them, as to whether Kal
:, !" sas be admitted as q free, or . sla,
. State. Hence the time and oocasi(
~ ~ for the speech were against the gel
= tlemen.
a The gentleman from Ohio won
- recolleot that the term, popular so
ereignty, was not understood mn
after the Presidential election ,(laug
N teri and until the decision of q
a bred Scott case was not understot
Ii. IN all sections alike, and not undo
h. stood in the sense which Mr.. O.
v. seems to understsd it..
ig Perhaps the gentleman from Oh
70 does not intend to stand by I
nd President. II he Hughes) fin
70. himself compelled to separate fre
II. tbs Democratic party and the a
N, ADMINISTRATION, he should 80 with the
,re TO the last moment. He should q
DO first to leave the ship. Wht
would the gentleman 20 10 carry 9
M. the doctrine Of popular sovereiynt
N. Mr.. COX replied, by ssying that
10. would 60 on the Platform Of the Cl
Of cinnati Convention, the Presiden
hs inaugural and the annual meseal
o. and &s instructions 10 Gov. Walk
W. He would stand upon the wreck. .
would not b driven OF BY any lit