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


man on the floor Of the Senate was at per
feet liberty TO vote for or against il without
surrepdering his party ties The adoption
Of the measure would not only reud asunder
the Democratic party, but en,ianger the
perpstui,y of the Union. The President
was frank man, and be did not believe the
Presiden; would ask the Senators TO run
their heads into the halter Of disunion or
civil war before be was ready 10 take the
lead and pon, ont the way. Then let us
restore peace 10 the country by ignoring
these irregular conventions at Lecompton
and Topeka, and authorize the people Of
Kansas to 60 forward and frame cons,itu
ton and State government for themselves
That he believed would restore peace in
ninety days.
Mr.. Green responded, arguing that u
convention could at any time be called 10
make such changes in the constitution US the
majority of the people might desire
Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Dec. u.
. SrSArg.-M Mr.. Biger made long speech
in vindication Of the Presidents policy in
the Kansas portion of the message.
In his opinion, the great speech OF the
Senator from Illinois wa. after all, mca-
gre structure. resting on very unsound
foundation. lie could no, understand why
the Senator should have shown SO much
Willingness 10 weaken public confidence in
the policy of the men OF his own party,
whom he had assisted TO place in power
lie could discover no purpose Of public pol
icy the attainment OF which required the
Senator 10 do these things or TO deal in an
ungenerous manner with the President
The allegation that that venerable states
man had fallen into fundamental error a. to
the meaning OF the Kansas. Nebraska bill.
because he was out of the country ut lis
passage, was not worthy Of the SENATOR
What did the Senator mean by assuming
that the Kansas policy Of the message was
not an Administration measure! Did he
mean that the Cabinet did not agree with
the President lie (Biger) understood diff
ierentIy; or did lac mean that the Admins
tration, having laid down lis Kansas policy,
will not hold that those who assa;l and de-
nouuce that policy do not oppose the Adj
mlnIstration? There certainly was no room
for misunderstanding on this point. II be
meant that he does not see CLEARLY what that
policy is, Mr. Bigler could tell him. and on
this occasion he did not doubt the accuracy
of the information. The Administration
having, from the beginning maintained the
! Territorial laws OF KANSAS. having sanction
cd the authority OF the Territorial Iegsla-
tnIe 10 call convention OF delegates TO
make constitution aud State government,
it would be improper to PREJUDICE aud dis
card the doings oi the convention before it
had been fully developed. Further, that
when Kansas shall have presented herself
for admission into the Union, her cons,itu.
ton being republican, and tho people having
/ had fair opportunity Of making free or
/ slave State as indicated in the organic act,
il will not be considered sufficient occasion
to object to the admission Of that State
that the ordinary forms Of the constitution
about which there was no dispute, and
which may he changed at any time the PEG
pie may desire, were not submitted TO
/ popular vote; the people had right TO do
this in their own way. The way it has
been done is their own but if in this or in
any other particular the delegates have act
ed in bad faith, or have abused the powers
delegated u them they are responsible to
the people. not 10 Congress, nor TO the Ad.
, ministration. The Senator assumed the
other day that whenever the law is silent on
the subject, the inference is in favor Of sub
mission but IA full examination of the pre-
cedents bearing on that point had showed
him that the proposition had the weight Of
authority, and that which he had laid down
as the rule Of procedure had never happened
III IL single instance.
Mr.. Bgler proceeded to sustain the lega!-
ity OF the lAcompton movement.
Mr.. Douglas replied, saying he had no
fault to find with the Senator from Penn
syivanIa for making II series Of attacks on
his consistency while emitting TO answer hi
arguments. Some persons had furnished
him with the record OF bis votes Of Senator
BIglr, on the Wilmot Proyiso, and some
iorner spcechis relative 10 kanscs matters.
lie knew not whether they were true or
false, but what had they 10 do with the qnss-
ton now presented be did not understand
the motives Of the Senator for ransacking
the public records and newspapers, aud
picking up every little scrap 10 see what bis
0arsc Id d been for twelve year. past. Oh
'bt sNSI''' VI 5'a't'.' 'Hppo-1 " Wa Iu'
that in lsls, he was 10 favor Of extending
the Missouri Conpromise line 10 the Pacific
OCEAN, as recommended by Mr. Buchanan in
his letters, bis letter preceding suppose il
IL true, that Ia leJl he introduced bin for
the reTeai Of tina, compromise, Of which
bill (the h aisas- y ebra-ka. the President
says he nOs approves. All these thing are
not material TO the argument. True, the
issue Wa whether popular sovereignty 10
which the President anil himself were
pledged, should be violated in X aBsss lie
thought the senator from Pennsylvania
showed want OF fairness and caDdor 10
quoting from hi- Springfield spe ct, emitting
to quote wha. be- said On the -ame subject
the Other day. which was prof certainly Of
harmony with his previously expressed opin-
ioos, he thought Governor Walker, ~ho
was authorized to say what he did in bis IN