The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-11
THE KANSAS QUESTION IN THE SENATE.
The Debate on the First Day.


TUESDAY, Dec 8, 1857.
The journal Of yesterday was read and approved.
PEsIDENT's MESSAGE.
Mr. BRIGHT from the committee appointed to wait upon
the President of the United States appeared and said
Mr. President the committee appointed on the part OF the
Senate TO meet similar committee ON the part OF
the House of Representatives, for the purpose Of in
forming the President of the United States that the two
houses organized and ready receive any
nicaon might be his pleasure to make have performed
that duty and received for answer that he would imme
diatey make a communication each house in writing
Mr. j. b. HENRY, the Presidents Private Secretary
shortly afterwards appeared below the bar and saidI
directed by the President of the United States TO de-
liver TO the Senate his annual message, in writing with
the accompanying documents
The Secretary read the message.
Mr. DoUGIAs-i offer the following
Ordered That the usual number Of copies Of The Message
sS s na
be printed for the use of the Senate.
Before yield the floor, desire simply to state that
have listened to the Message with great pleasure and
cordially in much the greater part of it, and in most of
the views expressed but in regard 10 topcthat of
Kansas totally dissent from all that portion of the Mes
sage which may fairly be construed approving Of the
proceedings Of the Lecompton Convention. At carly
period shall avail myself of an opportunity to state
for this dissent and also To the right Of
the people Of the Territory Of Kansas to be left perfectly
free TO form and regulate their domestic institutions in
their own, way according to the organic act
Mr. SruART-I do not propose to say anything on the
subject Of this last proposition but deem it duty TO
say word in with what has been said by the
Senator from Illinois. The principal topics Of the Pres
dents message have been treated in which not
only meets my entire appreciation, but / think may
safely add, able q manner as WITHIN the power
Of any In respect 10 that portion of the message
latng the Constitutional Convention Of Kansas if could
agree with the President in his reasonngs in so far he
seeks TO show that the principles OF the organic act Of that
Territory have been complied WITH might agree with his
conclusions but believing that the principles OF the
organic have been violated by the action of that Con
yentiop and that in the people of the Terri
tory be left that act declared they should be"per
fectiy free TO form and regulate their domestic in
sttutiOns in their way''-unless there shall be
future light which will show me that the aston
of this Convention has been msrcpresented and is
hxth tho lnt.fn~
myself never give il my support. AT future day
shall deem il my duty 10 into this subject AT length
this subject hereafter as heretofore win insist 10 the
of my ablety that the people OF Kansas shall be
treated like all other people and shall have the fullest
the reest opportunity TO form and regulate such nstu
tutions they may Dit 10 live under and whether
they in accordance with my tastes against them,
will not at all effect my action on the question
Mr. DAvs-Mr. President think it is premature TO dig
the message do not propose TO do So The re-
marks of two the honorable my right
be directed entirely to the action Of the and to
the phrase about the people being left free to form their
institutions in their own way ] could scarcely institute
argument proposition plain as that the people
act either by popular vote or through their dcegatcs
and denial Of sovereignty to the people 10 they
have the power elect their delegates and invest
them with authority TO form instrument which
shall be binding on the body polite. They might, If
they chose, by popular vote settle the whole question
They did choose 70 have delegates in Convention. They
might they had chosen, have directed those dele
body polite direct the Legislature to submit every act TO
popular vote rests them TO decide one way or the
other do not understand the doctrine u the extent OF
the remarks that made.
Mr. BGIFR-I shall certainly not engage in any discus
sion Of the main question at this time; but as two dstn
gushed Senators from the Northern part Of the Union of
my party, have declared emphatic difference with
the President much OF his relates 10 the
affairs Of Kansas, desire simply 10 say that inst
emphaticaily concur In these views. | cannot
agree with my friend from Illinois TO the
structon he has given to the rights Of the people
OF gKansas Nor | that any right Of theirs
under the organic act or that their liberty TO any
extent, 10 be impaired by the doctrines OF the message
0 would be unbecoming 10 into the details OF
the argument at present do not intend to do sim
ply for the purpose OF declaring that when shall
have heard the extended remarks Of the Senator from m
nos, with all Difference to his admitted Intelligence and
ability this subject, shall make the best reply can,
unless he oonvnces me that the President mistaken
TO the facts and theory OF this case OF which have no
Mr. BRows-I think tha, discussion of this question
now altogether premature. Inmations thrown out
first sdo and then tho other, which think, in
the present aspect OF the subject can lead 10 good
suit and that we may all sleep tonight the message
before undertake 10 discuss H. that the Senate
adjourn
Several sEsAroRs-Oh, no. Withdraw the motion.
Mr.. HaE-Mr President, have nothing " say on the
particular branch OF the motion under consideration but
wish 10 address word two 10 the general question.
Perhaps apology 10 the Senate for saying word,
because the question that be sort
OF family matter in which outsider ought not 70 inter
fsre mh were not that Lsupposed there was some re.
word When address myself 10 this subject am not
at all embarrassed by having TO say that approve Of
any part Of the message that OF the friends
OF the Nebraska act aud very desrous
the principles Of that act carried out do not exactly
understand what the principles Of that act were but be
eve the President carrying them pretty fairly
do not TO say that he s carrying out the intention
that existed in the heart Of the patriotic gentleman who
framed IL and brought In here; but matter OF
public policy, and as matter OF the politics
Of the country, believe that the act has
been pretty fairly carried out ever since Il was
adopted and that i proposed to be carried out
now. But there Is single assertion made by the Pre-
wish TO make an issueno an issue of veracty OF course
but Of history and Of fair construction Of language. As
understand his message from the hurried reading have
given H. the President abors very hard TO explain away
little inadyeriences which be may have committed
Difference 10 this principle Of popular sovereignty in his
instructions TO Governor Walker He says, honest, simple.
hearted man as he is--he had doubt that this
question TO be fairly submitted {, the people Of that
Territory Twas In the exercise OF this comfortable
sursnce this Christian faith, would be so carried
out that he penned those lines In Governor Walkers in
sructons After having done ths he goes on 70 argue
that the whole has been carried out aud a last
70 the conclusion that
In the schedule providing for The transition from Terrific
ns rsserpss - sn ,a Ss,he n b beS" % d & %
constitution with without slavery.
Now, sir deny this entirely aud when deny do
50 in the manuer have stated. make question Of
vcrscy with any one but base the denial upon the
sructicn of words, the meaning OF language. have
read PAPER which purports TO be the constitution and the
schedule ard take for granted, until tho contrary ap
pears that s true copy. Instead Of y a constitution
aud schedule submitting to people the qucs
ton whether IT, all have a o-', on with wi,nout
slavery, f SUI to ~" 't iaestion whether they
will have the 4to Hu#e-tue difference between the
definite and inueuie Mtcle-wth slavery ia the consti
tuition and in tue schedule too, whether they will sim
ply have slavery in She schedule 50 ice up that can
never he abolished That u the question Submitted; be-
cause " have read the constitution Alright VI the people
vote 20 have the constitution without slavery, then the
article providing for savcry In the constitution s ~ 10
stricken out, but the schedule remains, which
makes slavery perpetual, aud gives monopoly TO
those who own slaves now iu TIE Territory, keep.
ing OF outsiders, and thus enhancing their price. The
people OF Kansas 20 the s, the President says 10
vote uron what has been "fary aud explicitly" submit
ted to them suppose they vote FOR the constitution with
ont slavery, What hen3 They only get the latter clause
Of slavery Tho article tn constitution olera g slave
ry stricken out but the schedule, which goes ca
which makes i budng. which tics up the hands OF the
Legislature, and attempts ~ tic the hands Of all future
Conventions, that slavery be touched there
mains This Is the perfect liberty which the people o Kan
have. was rcoiccd when heard the distinguished
senator from Illinois, who the author of the Kansas
Nebraska bill intimate that Al time nc would give
his views spon the subject should like 70 know wheth.
or this Is the perfect freedom which he understood tho
people Of Kansas 20 have but believe that he has
iudic tod hn not wis IN all