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

WAsnISGToN, Wednesday, Dec IG.
.SESArE.-A resolution was adopted that
the Senate will, tomorrow, proceed to the
election of printer.
On motion Of MIR. GwIS, q resolution was
adopted calling on the President for all cor
respondence between the Departments and the
present Governor of Kansas, together with all
orders and instructions which hove been issued
TO said officer
Mr.. GREEN proceeded to speak on Kansas
affairs. Mr.. DOUGLAS speech, he said, took
him by surprise, not only as to its matter, but
as to its manner, and it was well calculated
to prejudice the question pending before the
people of Kansas He wished to counteract,
so far as might be in his power, the impression
which had been made by that speech. The
real issue now was. Ought Kansas. when her
Constitution shall be presented, to be admit
ted into the Union, or ought the consideration
OF what the Senator from Illinois calls the
" fundamental error Of the President" to be
regarded as sufficient cause for Keeping Kan
sss out Of the uniol and keeping up the agi-
tation of this most unfortunate question The
question was not whether we approve or do
not approve of all the individual parts Of the
Lecompton Constitution, as to the provision
in reference to the banks, taxations, etc
These are matters with which We have nothing
to do, but which are to be left to the people
themselves to regulate. The only question
for Congress to consider is, does the Constitu-
tion embody republican form of government?
Has anybody disputed that proposition and
contended to the contrary? Certainly the
Senator from Illinois has not done so. There
seemed to be want of clear understanding as
20 the relation which the Federal Government
sustains towards a Territory The inhabitants
nf Kansas are people, and what enabling act
is required to impart to them power to propose
change in their form of government Is an
enabling act to give them more political rights
or more inalienable rights That would be
soleciSm aud a contradiction. From these
considerations it must be argued that Con-
Sress would have no right to refuse to admit
Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution
line people OF Kansas never proposed to form
State Government without the consent of
Congress. The Convention was held in sub
ordination to the Territorial Government. If
admitted into the Union a State Government
will take the place of the Territorial Govern
ment, aud not without. If any attempt were
made TO subvcrt the present Government and
set mp another in opposition to the Federal
authority We could subjugate it, but they do
not propose 20 interfere with the Territorial
Government until the assent of Congress is re-
ceived. There were eight States in the Union
which formed Constitutions without enabling
acts for admission, two Of which the Senator
from Illinois. himself voted for. Florida and
California had no enabling act IF Mr. DorG-
Las could vote for these, there coud he no
reason why he could not vote for the admission
OF Kansas. The assent Of Congress may be
given any time The organic act declares that
the people of Kansas shall be perfectly free to
form and regulate their domestic institutions
in their own way That way was to leave it
to the action of the Convention, which was
under no obligation to submit the Constitution,
or any part of it, to the popular vote They
chose to submit the Slavery question, which
was the great bone Of contention, as matter
OF policy and prudence, and not fromany legal
eompu'sion whatever. 1t was his (GREEx'sl
opinion that the submission Of that question
alone was better calculated to get at the real
will and Judgment of the people than if the
whole Constitution had been submitted 1t
has been also said that the people Of Kansas
were deceived, and that positive pledges and
PROMISES to submit the Constitution had been
m~tie and violated. That was matter about
which there has been great deal of contro-
rersy, bat as there was no positive evidence
OF TINS ne did not think it proper TO dwell up
On it. In conclusion he urged the Importance
OF deciding t6c question speedily, SO as to pa.