The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-12-26
Our Prospects.

OH tno CHdiaCIeE VI GHo HISG LHSIslabuIo
elected under the Lecompton Constitu-
ton; the action of Congress in the prem
ises; or the power of the people to throw
off the usurped government. The Legis-
lature in the hands of true men would
prevent the federal troops being employ
ed against us, and could take measures for
framing new Constitution. Congress has
power to refuse to receive us as aState, to
pass an enabling act, or to continue rs in
a Territorial condition. The People have
power to throw off the usurpation with a
strong hand, and will do so, if they can
get redress no other way.
The first proposition is to be tested On
the 18th of January.
Our hope in Congress is heightened or
lessened with every dispatch from Wash
ington. That our readers who are so
numerous, may have the means of form
ing an opinion of our prospects there, we
shall continue to quote from leading press
es, particularly on the Democratic side,
as that party has control of the present
Congress. We shall also quote from the
position of their leading politicians, as
given in Congress. In furtherance of this,
we copy the following from report of a
~, he
Der on the third day of the session, be-
tween MeSsrs. Douglas and Bigler -
Mr.. Douglas said he was yesterday un-
der the impression that the President had
approved the action of the Lecompton
Convention, and under that impression he
felt it to be his duty to state that while
he concurred in the general views of the
message. yet so far as it did approve or
indorse the action of that Convention, he
entirely dissented from it, and would give
his reasons for such dissent upon more
careful and critical examination of the
message. He rejoiced to find the Presi-
dent had not entirely approved the action
Of that Convention. He was also rejoiced
to find that the President had not recon-
mended that Congress should pass laws
receiving Kansas into the Union as State
under the Constitution framed at Lecomp-
ton. 1t is true the tone of the message
indicates willingness on the part of the
President to sign any bill Congress might
pass receiving Kansas as State into the
Union under that constitution but it was
a very significant fact that the President
had refrained from any endorsement of
the convention and from any recommen-
dation as to the course Congress should
pursue in regard to the admission of Kan
sas. Indeed the President had expressed
deep modification and disappointment
that the whole constitution was not sub
mitted to the people of Kansas for their
acceptance or rejection. He proceeded to
show that Congress could not properly re-
ceive Kansas into the Union under the
Lecompton Constitution; not only the
slavery question, but all others, must be
submitted to the people of Kansas, as
they are guaranteed to establish all their
domestic institutions for themselves. On
this principle the whole constitution must
be submitted to ascertain whether or not
it meets with their appreciation. Mr.. ID.
contended that the people of Kansas
ought to have an opportunity to vote
against the constitution if they choose to
do so. He compared the freedom allowed
by the Lecompton convention to the free
dom at the election in Paris when Louis
Napoleon was elected President. The
reason assigned why the people of Kansas
were not allowed to vote on the accent
ance of the constitution prepared, was,
that if they had the chance they would
vote it down by an overwhelming major
ity. He believed they would, and thought
that it was clear violation of the organic
act thus to force the obnoxious constitu.
ton upon the majority.
When Douglas concluded there was
great applause in the galleries.
Mr.. Bigler replied to Mr.. Douglas, say
ing the Convention was called according
to law, and had been recognized by the
President and the Governor of the Terri
tory. 1t was their right to submit the
Constitution to the people or send it to
Congress without submission, if it was
right in itself and republican in form, and
the people had fairly decided the slavery
question. It would not be wise to keep
them out of the Union simply because
the whole Constitution had not been sub
mitted to them. To do so would be in
consistent with the doctrine of non-inter.
ventlOn. There was nothing in the past
history of the country to justify such
course. 1t would be the duty of Congress
to look at the question as it came before
them and do the best they could, looking
at the happiness of the entire country
He had long been under the impression
that it would be the best, both for the
country and Kansas, that the State should
be admitted at the first favorable oppor-
tunity, in order to legalize the strife. He
would have preferred that the constitu-
ton had been submitted to the people, but
persons outside of the Territory have no
right interfering with the slavery question
there. He believed the people of Kan
sas now have an opportunity to decide
whether to have free or slave state. He
could not however determine his entire
course until they shall make such decision.
He said the position of Douglas to-day
was in utter derogation to that which he
occupied when he voted for Toombs' bill,
which proposed to make State Constitu-
ton and put it in operation without sub
mitting it to vote of the people, and
this only short time ago. He could not
understand how Douglas had so readily
bscome sensitive regarding the rights of
the people, after having attempted such
an Infringement upon them.
Senator Douglas-I am certain Senator
Bigler does not speak for the President.
l know the President has Just spoken for
himself in his message in which he con-
demns the convention for not submitting
the constitution to the people, and refused
to recommend us TO receive it. The Pres
ident is bold, frank man, and if he in
tended to give US an administration meas
ure he would say so it is not respectful
to assume that we viii do what he viii
not recommend Us to do. OF course
know the Senator from Pennsylvania did
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