The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-12-31
WAsllfkGTnS. dec.

w AfblbfIVN, l'''-. D.
SASKATOON motion Of Mr.. Douglas, the
Senate resumed the consideration Of the mo
ton made by him yesterday. 10 prin, the
Presidents message and accompanying doc
umeuts with fifteen thousand extra copies.
Mr.. DorGLAs-Mr President when yes
terday the Presidents message was read at
the Clerks desk, | heard il bat imprfectly,
and was Of the impression that the Presi-
dent Of the United States had approved aud
endorsed the action OF the lecompton Con
stitntion in Kansas. Under that impression
] felt il my duty 10 state that, Wide con
Cured in the general views VI The Message,
yet, 80 far a. il approved or cndorsecl the &C.
ton Of that Convention, entirely disscDted
from it. and would avail myself Of an early
opportunity to state my reasons for dissent.
Upon a more careful and critical examina-
ton Of the Message, am rcjoiced 20 find
that the President OF the United States has
u law 10 receive Kansas into the Union IN
der the constitution formed ut Iecompton.
II IL true that the tone ofthc message indicate
Willingness on the part Of the President 10
sign any bill that Congress may pass il we shall
sec proper 10 pass one receiving X ansos into
she Union under ,ha, Constitution hut.
sir. IL is fact Of great significance, and
worthy Of consideration that the President
has refrained from the enforcement Of the
Convention, and from any recommendation
us to the course Congress should pursue with
regard 10 the Constitution there formed.
The Message Of the President has made
nm argument An uDanswcrable argument
in my olnion--aganst that constitution,
which shows clearly. whether intended TO
arrive ut that result or not, that consistent
ly with his views and his principles. he can
not accept that constitution. lie has ex-
pressed his deep modification and disap-
pointmcnt that the constitution itsalf has
not been submitted to the people Of Kan
sas for their acceptance or rejection. liz
i6iorms IN that he has unqualliicdly express
Ell his opinion on that subject in his instruc.
tiors TO Governor Walker, assuming, ~ q
matter of course. that the constitution was
10 be submitted To the people before Il
could have any Vitality or validity. lilo
goes further and tells us that the example
set by Congress In the Minnesota case, by
inserting clause In the enabling act re-
curing the constitution 10 be submitted to
the people, ought 10 become uniform rule.
not 10 be departed from hereafter in any
case. On these various propositions |
agree entirely with the President Of the
United States, and | am now prepared 10
sustain that uniform rule which he asks ~
u pursue. in all other cases, by taking the
N,un..a,,ta nravt.inu M nur ~ aupla
| rejoice, On II careful perusilal OF the
message, To find 81 much less to dissent from
than I was under the impression there was,
from the hasiy reading and the imperfect
hearing OF the message in the first instance.
In effect. he refers that document 10 the
Congress of the United States--as the Con.
stituiion vi the United States refers it---for
US TO decide upon il under our responsibility.
Il h proper that he should have thus refer
nd IL 10 Us ~ matter Tor Congressional
action. and not ~ an Administration or
Executive measure, for the reason that the
Constitution Of the United States says that
"Copgtcs- may admit new States into the
Union" Hence WI find the Kansas Ques-
ton before ny now, not IA mn Administration
measure, not ~ al Executive measure, hut
as u measure coming before us Tor our own
free action, without any recommendation or
interference directly. or indirectly. by the
Administration now IN possession of the
Federal Government. Sir. propose to ~.
anime this question calmly aud fairly, 10 sce
whether or not We can properly receive
Kansas into the Union with the consiltu-
ton formed at lecompton.
The President, alter expressing his re-
grct and modification and disappointment,
that the constitution hal not been submit
ted TO the people in pursuance OF his In
stru,tions to Governor Walker, and in pir-
suance Of Governor Walkers assurances to
the people, says. however, that by the Kan
sas- Nebraska act the slavery question only
was required To be referred to the people,
and the remainder oi the constitution was
not thus required 10 he submitted. lie nc
knowledgcs, that, as general rule,
on general principles, the whole cousti.
tuition should be submitted but ne
cOrding 10 his understanding of the organic
act Of Kansas, there was an imperative Oh
legation TO submit the slavery question for
their approval or dlsapproyal, but no obliga-
ton To submit the ea,ire constitution. In
other words he regards the organic act the
Nebraska bill. as having made an exUp
ton Of the slavery clause. AMI provided for
the disposition OF tina, question IN q mode
different from that In which other domestic
or local, rs cou,radistingushcd from federal
questions. should bc decided, Sir, permit
me 10 say. with profound reSIect for the Pre-
sden, Of the United States, that eouceiye
,ha, on this poin, he has committed a fund.
annental error, an error which lies a, the
foundation Of his whole argumen, ou TIL.
matter. | can well understand how tina,
distinguished statesman came Ia hall into
this error. lie was not in the country al
tho time the Nebraska bill was passed be
was no, party 10 the controversy, AMI the
discussion that took place during It's pas
sage. lie was then representing the honor
and dignity OF the country with great wiz
dom and distinction at foreign court Thus
deeply engroSscd, bis whole energies were