The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-17
WASHINGTON. d. c..
THlRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS,
FIRST SESSION.
Tuesday, December 8, 1857.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Thu message from tie House, announcing its
organiza.ior, having been received, Messrs.
Bright, Bigler, and Collamer, were appointed
t. ioin the House committee TO wait on the
President of the United States.
Mr. Blight subsequently reported that the
President would Immediately send in his annu-
al message.
IL was received accordingly, and read.
Mr. Douglas submitted az order for the
printing of the usual number of copies of the
President's message and accompanying docu-
menis, and also for the printing Of fifteen thou
sand extra copies for the use of the Senate.
Mr. Douglas expressed his dissent from that
portion of the message relating to Kansas and
the action of the Lecompton Convention; and,
at an early day, he should express his views,
and give the reason why he believed the people
of Kansas had not been left, as the organic act
declared perfectly free to regulate their institu-
tons in their own way.
Mr.. Gwin proposed that the usual number of
copies of The documents be printed by the print
er to the Senate at the last Congress, and that
sll the other orders shall be printed by the same
person.
Mr.. Stuart concurred in the views of Mr..
Douglas respecting Kansas. He believed that
the principles of the Kansas and Nebraska act
had been violated by the Lecompton Conven-
ton.
Mr.. Davis, of Mississippi, was understood to
concur in the views of the President concerning
Kansas.
Mr.. Bgler said that, after Mr.. Douglas
should make his promised remarks, he should
reply.
Mr. Seward hoped the defenders of the Pres
ident would explain the atter's position as early
as possible. He regarded the message as lame
and impotent.
Mr.. Mason maintained that, if he understood
the Presidents message, the Presidents posi-
ton relative to the Lecompton movement was
improbable.
Mr.. Trumbull denied the authority of the
Legislature Of Kansas to authorize the calling
of the Convention to frame a Constitution. IL
was an act of usurpation, because there was no
authority to authorize the Convention.
Mr.. Brown, of Mississippi, appealed to Sena-
tors to sleep on this document before express
ing their opinions upon it.
On his motion, the Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE
Mr.. Clemens, by consent, made personal
explanation, and caused certain correspondence
TO be read, in substance-that Mr.. Faulkner
had written to him q letter, asking for the data
on which be had made certain remarks in eau
Gus, affecting the character of Mr.. Wendell, the
public printer. Mr.. Clemens agreed to the
suggestion Of Mr.. Faulkner, that Mr.. Wendell
should be heard in his own defence.
The statement made in writing by Mr.. Glenn
ems embraced the fact that, on Saturday last,
he was approached by an individual who ssid
Mr.. Clemens's mother should receive a pecuni-
airy consideration either of two contingent
cies, namely: that be should vote for Mr.
Wendell, or not at ALL Mr. Clemens brand
ed the person as scoundrel, but, for the
l. Z. L. L IL L.
name he said he was willing to take Mr
WendelPs disclaimer, that he Mr. Wendell)
never authorized nor had he any personal
knowledge o: any person being employed to
procure votes for him.
MIR. Smith, Of Virginia, proposed to postpone
the election Of public printer, and to appoint
committee TO examine into the subject
This proposition gave rise to a spirited de.
bate, during which Mr.. Smith, of Tennessee,
said that Mr.. Wendell was in favor Of the nom
inee of the Democratic caucus, (Mr. Stead
man,
Pending The subject, the Presidents annual
message wssreceived and read.
The debate on the printer was then resumed.
and the House adjourned without coming to g
conclusion upon the subject.
Wednesday,, December, 3, 1857.
SENATE
Aher some preliminary business, Mr.. Douglas
delivered bis promised speech upon that part OF
the message having reference to Kansas:
- Mr.. Douglass Speech.
The Senator commenced by saying that the
President had made au unanswerable argument
against The Lecompton Constitution, but be has
fallen into a fundamental error in supposing
that by The Kansas Nebraska act only the Sla
very question was referred to the people. To
show the error o. Mr.. Buchanan, the Senator
gave the history of tie passage of the bill, al
luded TO the pledges given at the time to the
people of the country, and the instructions Of
Governor Walker. The Presidential election
was carried upon tie understanding, upon the
pledge, that the people of Kansas should select
their own institutions. He then went on as fol
lows:
Now, LET Us step TO inquire how they redeem
ed the pledge to submit the Constitution to the
people. They first 90 on and make Consti.
tunon- Then they make q schedule in which
they provide that the Constitution, on the 2lst
OF December-the present month-shall be sub.
United to al the bona fde inhabitants of the
Territory on that day, for their free acceptance
or rejection, In the following manner, to wi,
thus acknowledging that they were bound to
submit Il to The Will OF the people, conceGiny
that they had no right to put it into operation
without submitting it to the people. provid;ng
In the instrument that it should take effect from
and after the date Of its ratification, and not be-
lore; showing that the Constitution derives its
vitality, III their estimation, not from tie nm
thority Of the Convention, but from that vote Of
the people to which 1t YVES to be submitted, for
their free acceptance or rejection. How ia tito he
submitted lt shall be submitted in this form
"Cons;itution with Slavery, or Constitution with
no Slavery" All men must vote for the Con.
stitution, whether they like it or not. in order
to be permitted to vote for or against Slavery
Thus a Constitution made by Convention that
had authority to assemble and petition for re-
dress of grievances, but not to establish Gov
ernment-a Constitution made under pledge
of homer that it should be submitted to the peo
pie before it took eff CT; a Constitution which
provides, en- lis face. that it shall have no va.
lidity except what il derives fiom such submits
sion-is submitted to the people at an election
where all men are at liberty to come forward
freely without Intolerance ard vote for II. but
no man is permitted to record vote against II.
That would be as fair an election as some of
the enemies of Napoleon attributed to him
when be was elected First Consul. He is said
to have called out his troops, and had them re
viewed BIZ his officers with speech, patriotic
and fair in its professions, in which he said 10
them:
snow, my soldiers, you are to go to the cleo.
ton, and vote freely just as you please If you
vote for Napoleon, all is well; vote against him,
and you will be Instantly shot,"
That was a fair election. Laughter This
election is to be equally fair. All men In favor