Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-12-22
xxxv CoNGREss-Firgt session
WASHINGTON, Monday, Dec. 81.
SENATE


Mr.. Wright introduced bill 10 continue
the improvements Of the harbor of Newark,
N. ]. Referred.
Mr.. Biggs submitted joint resolution,
which was adopted by vote of "a against
IL, providing that when the two houses ad.
journ on Wednesday next, the adjournment
continue till Jan. 4.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill granting
million acres of land for the benefit of pubic
schools in the District of Columbia.
Mr.. Bigler made long speech in vindica-
ton of the Presidents policy in the Kanzas
portion of his Message. In his opinion, the
great speech OF the Senator from Illinois was,
after all, huge structure resting on very
unsound foundation. He could not under.
stand why the Senator should have shown
so much willingness to weaken public conf
dence in the policy Of the men Of his own
party, whom he assented to place in power.
He could discover no purpose of public policy,
the attainment Of which required the Sena-
tor to do those things, nor to deal in any un-
generous manner with the President The
allegation that the venerable statesman had
fallen into fundamental error as to the mean.
ing of the Kanzas and Nebraska bill, because
he was out of the country at the time of its
passage, was not worthy of the Senator
that the Kanzas policy Of the Message was not
an administration measured Did he mean that
the Cabinet did not agree with the President?
He (Mr. Bigler) understood differently. Or
did ne mean that the Administration, having
laid down its KanZas policy, will not hold
that those who assail and denounce that pol
icy do not oppose the Administration There
was certainly no reason for misunderstanding
on that point. If he meant that he does not
see clearly what that policy is, Mr.. Bright
could tell him, and on this occasion he need
not doubt the accuracy of the explanation,
The Administration having from the begin.
ming maintained the Territorial laws of Kan
zas, having sanctioned this authority of the
Territorial Legislature to call convention of
delegates, to be elected by the people, tomake
a constitution, and having exercised all its
powers to secure to the people fair opportu-
nifty to make their domestic institutions in
their own way, it would be improper to pre-
judice and discord the doings Of that conven-
ton before it had been fully developed, and
farther, that when Kanzas shall have present.
ed herself for admission into the Union, her
constitution being Republican, and the peo-
pie having had fair opportunity of making
free or slave State, as indicated in the or
ganic act, and as required by the general un-
NSASeohNtD6 u bAAS NLOlO lOnhbEJy IL Will not
be considered sufficient reason to object to
the admission of the State that the ordinary
forms Of the constitution (about which there
was no dispute, and which may be changed
at any time the people may desired we're not
submitted to popular vote. The people of
Kanzas had right to do this in their own
way-the way it had been done is their own,
but if in this or in any other particulars the
delegates have acted in bad faith, or have
abused the powers delegated to them, they
are responsible to the people, not to Con-
gress, nor TO the administration.
Mr.. Bgler said he had before him the bill
reported March 7, 1866, providing for the ad.
mission Of Kanzas into the Union us State.
the third section of which reads as follows
"that the foregoing propositions be, and the
same are hereby offered to the said convention
of the people of Kanzas, when formed for
their acceptance or rejection, which, if adopt.
ed by the convention and ratified by the peo-
pie at the election for the adoption OF the con.
stitution, shall be obligatory upon the
United States, and the said State of Kan.
xas. The bill was read in this place by the
Senator from Georgia, (Mr. Toombs, on the
18th Of July, and refened to the COMMITTEES
on Territories contained the same section