Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-12-16
Thirty.Fifth Congress-First Session.

WEDNESDAY, December 9, 1857.
The galleries of the Senate were densey crowded
when the Senators assembled.
Mr.. Pugh gave notice of his intention to introduce
bill for the improvement of the navigation of the
Ohio river.
Mr.. Mason offered a resolution, which was debated
and passed. inviting the clcrSymen of this District to
oficiate g'atuitously chaplains to the Senate
Mr.. Gwin gave notice of his intention to introduce
bills for the construction of the Northern, Southern
and Central Pacific Railroad. Also, to organize the
Territory of Arizona.
Mr. Douglas said he was yesterday under the i'm
preston that the President had approved the action
of the Lecompton convention and under that impress
sion he felt it his duty to state that while he concurred
in the general views of the message yet far it
did approve endorse the action Of that cenvcctisn
he entirely dissAnted from it, and would avail him
self of an early opportunity to give the for
such dissent. Upon a more careful and critical
animation of the message, he reoiced to find
that the President had entirely approved the
ton of that convention. He also rejoiced to find
that the President had not recommended that Con-
gress should pass laws receiving Kansas into the
Union state under the Constitution framed at
Lecomplon. True, the tone of the message ndica-
ted willingness the part of the President to sign
any bill Congress might pass receiving Kansas
State under that Constitution, but it was a very
significant fact that the President had ref aimed from
any endorsement Of the convention and from any
recommendation the course Congress should pur
sue in regard to the admission of Kansas. Indeed
the President had expressed deep modification and
disappointment thai the whole Constitution was
submitted to the people Of Kansas for their accep-
lance rejection. He, however, thought the Pre-
sident had fallen into fundamental errors subve,si,e,
if carried out, of the principles Of the Kansas-Ne
braska bill and the platform he elected n, but
he attributed those to the fact that the Kan
sas Nebraska bill discussed and adopted VIXEN
Mr.. Buchanan was engaged in the discharge ofimpor
tant diplomatic duties near the Court Of ST. James,
He then proceeded to show that Congress could
not properly receive Kansas into the Union under
the Lecompton Constitution. Not only the slavery
question but all others be submitted to the peo-
pie of Kansas as they qua .anted the right to
tablsh all their domestic institutions for themselves.
On this principle the whole Constitution must be
submitted to ascertain whether it meets their appro
baton.
Mr. Douglas commended that the people of Kansas
ought to have an opportunity to vote against the
Constitution if they chose. He compared it to the
freedom election of Paris when Louis Napoleon
elected The reason assigned why the people
not allowed to vote its acceptance that if they
had chance they would vote it down by an over
whelming majority. He believed they would, and
he thought it clear violation of the organic
act to force an obnoxious Constitution upon them.
The Executive message ITSELF be maintained fur
nshed facts and arguments sufficient to justify the
rejection of the Lecompton Constitution, that the
whole subject might be referred back to the people
under the authority of an enabling act Such
authority had the force of precedents, and such
thcrity Kansas had not received, inasmuch as the
Toombs bill" of the last Congress not passed
bv the House of Representatives. He entered
infinitely into the details of the principles involved,
and the circumstances of the territory, which have
become historical, and boldly averred that there
no justification for the pal pable violation of the
rights of the people Of Kansas He forc:bly appeal
ed to Senators sustain the right Of the people to
establish their own institutions, and clearly nmat-
ed that the Democratic party could not be kept uni
ted if that principle violated for himself, at
tached as he was to the party, his own course was
clear in the maintenance of his political principles
and his personal honor. He spoke an hour and a
half and loud applause resounded through the crowd
ed galleries as he closed. The disturbance of tie
quiet of the Senate chamber was much condemned
by Senators.
Mr.. Bigler replied, contendiugthat the Convention
was called according to law and has been recognized
by the President and Governor Of the Territory and
it their right to either make Constitution and
submit it not to the people. If when the Con-
st'iution came to Congress it was right in ITSELF re-
publican in FORM and the people had fairly decided
the slavery question, it would not be wise to keep
the people of Kansas out of the Union. Such an
cuse would be inconsistent with the doctrine of nom
Intervention. 1t was the duty Of Congress to lock
at the question as i. came before them, doing the
best for the whole country under all the crcumstan-
ces He thought it best for the Union and for Kan
sas that the State should be admitted at the first al
lowable opportunity. 1t would, however, have been
well for the whole Constitution to be submitted, but
the people outside had right to interfere with the
had an opportunity to say whether they will be ad-
mitted free slave State.
A pointed dialogue here took place between Messrs.
BigIer and Douglas with reference to their views.