Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-12-11


House resumed the consideration OF the two
pending relative to the election
Of Printer
The House proceed 10 the election of
Printer, when Mr.. Babcock nominated JAS
b. oteadman, and Washbnrne, of Me-, nomi.
mated G. NJ Weston. The vote was then
taken and stood j. L. Steadman l2l, G. NJ
W eston SO, scattering 4. The former was
declared elected
SENATE
The galleries were densely crowded again I
this moi ming, in expectation of speech I
from Senator Douglas.
Mr. Pugh gave notice Of his intention to
introduce bill for the improvement Of the !
navigation OF the Ohio River.
Mr. Mason offered resolution, which /
was debated and passed, inviting the cler-
gymen OF the District to ofiiciate gratuite
ously as chaplains of the Senate.
Mr. Gwin gave notice of his intention to
introduce bills proyiding for the construc
tion OF Northern, Southern and Central Pa
cfic Railroads; also bill 10 organize the
Territory of Arizonia.
Mr.. Douglas said he was Yesterday under
the Impression that the President had ap
proved the action Of the l.ecompton Conyen-
tion, and under tnat impression he felt it to
be his duty to state, that while he concur
red in the general views Of the message, yet
SO far as 1t did approve or indorse the ac-
ton Of that Convention he entirely dissent
ei from it, and would give his reasons for
such dissent. Upon more careful and
critical examination OF the message, he was
relolced . find the President. had not en-
tirely approved the action Of that Couven-
tion. lie was also reioiced TO find that the
President had not recommended that Con-
gress should pass laws receiving Kansas IN
to the Mon as State under the constltu-
tlon framed at Lecompton. 1t IL true, the
tone OF the message Indicate Willingness
on the part OF the President to sign any
bill Congress might pass receiving Kansas
State into the Union under that Con.
s'itution, bnt il was q very significant
fact that the President had refrained
from any Endorsement OF the Conyen-
tlon, and from any recommendation rs to
the course Congress should pursue in regard
TO the admission of kansas Indeed the
President had expressed deep modification
and disappointment that the whole Const-
tuition was not submitted to the people Of
Kansas for their acceptance or relcetion.-
He proceeded to show that Congress could
not properly receive Lansas into the Union
under the LccomptOn Constitution. Not on
ly the slavery question but all others must
be submitted to tie people Of Kansas, a. they
are guaranteed to establish their own do
mestic Institutions for themselves. On this
principle the whole Constitution must be
submitted to ascertain whether or not it
meets with their appreciation.
Nh ID. conlended that the people Of Kan
sas ought to have ii chance to vote against
the Constitution If they chose to do 50. lie
compared the freedom allowed by the Le-
compton Convention to the freedom al the
election in Pats when Louis Napoleon was
elected President The reason assigned why
the people of Kansas were not allowed to
vote Oh the acceptance Of the Constitution
prepared was, that. il they had the chance
t4ey would vote it down by an overwLelm
| ing majority. lie believed they would, and
| thought that it was clear violation Of the
| organic act thus to force the obnoxious Con
stitutlon upon the majority. When Mr.
Douglas concluded there was applause in
the gallery.
| Mr. Bigier replied to Mr. Douglas, saying
| that tie Convention was called according to
! law and had been recognized ty the Pres
| dent and the Governor of the Territory
| 1t was their right to submit the Constitution
to the people or send il to Congress, without
submission. Ii il was right in itself, repub-
! lican IN form, and the people had tairly deci-
! ded the slavery Question, 1t would not be
wise to keep them out of the Union SIMPLY
because the whole Constitution had not been
submitted to them. To DO so would he in
consistent with the doctrine of non nterven-
tion. There was nothing IN the past history
OF the country to justify such course. 1t
would be the duty OF Congress 10 look at the
question as it came before them, and do the
best they could looking at the happiness OF
tie entire country. He had long been
under the impression that it would BE-
the best for the Union and Kansas tina,
the State should be ad mitte al
the first favorable opportunity, in order
to localize the strife. He would have pre-
fered that the whole Constitution had beer
submitted tothe people, but persons outside
OF the territory have no right to interfere
with the slavery question there. He believ
ed the peop'e of Kansas now have an op
portunity to decide whether to have free
or slave state. He could not, however. de
terrnine his entire course until they shall
,, make such decision. He said the position O
Mr.. Douglas to day was in utter deroe atior
of that which he occupied when voted 70,
Mr. Toombs' bill which proI esed to make ,
State Constitution and put it into operation
without submitting it to a vote OF the people
and this only a short time ago. lie coul.
not under stand how Mr. Douglas had $
readily be come sensitive regaraing tn
e rights of the people after having attenpte,
! such an Infringement upon them.
t Mr. Douglas-i am certain Mr. Bigler di
e not speak for the President know tina
e the President has just spok ZEN for himself i
his message, in which, he condemns tn
Convention for not submitting the Constitt
ton to the people, and refused to recon
mend them TO receive it. The President
a bold, frank man, and if he intended to Civ
US an administration measure, he would "a
so. 1t is not respectful to assume we wi
. do what he will not recommend US to do
0f OF courseI know the Senator from Pennsy
vania did not speak by authority.
4. Mr. Bigler-l think l am safe in sayir
:. and think the Senator from Illinois W
- agree, that the President appeals in Il
r, message to the doctrine that the Convent,
ct had right to form Constitution and Gu
to nit it to the people for approval or send
i, up TO Congress for approval I think it
deducivle from the message that the Pre-
no dent doesno hold that because the entire G,
for stitutlon il not submitted to the people H
NO sas should be kept out Of the Union.
- Mr.. Douglas-I infer from the Mese1
eg' that the President does hold that the G
It. vsntion had right TO form . Constitut
and ssad u here, but that was only