The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-10
THIRTY-FTFTH CONGRESS-.
FIRST BEssI0N.


FIRST sEssIoN.
Senate.
WASHINGTON, Dec Q, 1857.
The galleries were densely crowded ut tho hour OF
meeting.
IMPROVEMENT rK ONO RIVER
Mr. PuGH, (dcm) Of Ohio gave notice Of his Intention
10 introduce bill for the improvement Of the navigation
Of the Ohio river.
GRArUIrous PRAYING FOR THE COUNTRY.
Mr.. MASON, (dem) Of Va, offered a resolution which
debated and passed, inviting the clergymen of the
District of Columbia ociae gratuitously chaplans
TO the Senate.
PACIFIC RAILROAD BuIs-THE TERRITORY OF ARIZONA.
Mr.. GwE, (dem) OF CAL, gave notice Of his intention
to introduce bills for the construction Of Northern,
Southern and Central Pacific Railroad Also of bill TO
organize the Territory Of Arizona.
DEBATE KANSAS QUESTION
Mr. DOUGLAS (dem) of H., SAID that yesterday he
under the impression that the President had approved Of
the action of the Lecompton Conventon and while under
that he felt his duty TO state that while he
Cured in the general views of the message yet far az
approve endorse the action of that Convention he
entirely dssented from it; and he would avail himself
Of early opportunity TO give his reasons for
such dissent. Upon more careful and critical ex
animation Of the message, he was rejoiced TO find
that the President had not entirely approved Of the action
Convention He also rejoced to ind that the
President had not recommended that should
laws receiving Kansas into the Union as State under the
constitution framed at Lecompon True the OF the
message indicates the willingness Of the President sign
under that constitution but il was very significant fact
the President efraned from any endorsement
the Convenon and any recommendation to the
which Congress should pursue In regard TO the ad-
mission Of Kansas. Indeed, the President had
pressed deep modification and disappointment that
the whole constitution was not submitted TO the
He proceeded to show that Congress- could properly
receive Kansas into the Union under the Lecompon
sttuon Not only the slavery question: but all Others
must be submitted TO the people OF Kansas, they
guaranteed establish all their domestic institutions
themselves On this principle the whole constitution
be submitted TO ascertain whether meets with their
appreciation Mr.. Douglas contended that the people of
Kansas ought to have opportunity to vote against tho
constitution, they desired to do He compared il to
the freedom Of election in Paris when Louis Napoleon
chosen The assigned why the people should not
be allowed to vote its acceptance that they had
achance they would vote ii down by overwhelming
majority He believed that they would and he thought
was clear violation Of the organic act to force an OBJ
noxous constitution upon them.
When Mr.. Douglas concluded there was applause from
the galleries.
marking that the decorum Of the Senate had been fire.
quently violated in this way.
Mr. as spP B. Of Me- iSg%sh hoped not ,is ,,n.o..
menced the floor, and it would be hard punish spec
tators for following that example.
Mr.; BIGIER, tden) Of Pa hoped the motion would be
Mr. MASON acquesced; but hoped tho next time the Of
fence was repeated would not be allowed TO pass with
impunity.
Mr BicrKR replied to Mr., Douglas saying the Conven-
on called according to law and had been recognized
right to submit the constitution TO the people, or send 10
Congress without such submission. If IL right in
itself republican in form, and the people had fairly de-
cded the slavery question: would not be wise TO keep
them out Of the Union simply because the whole cons
ton had not been submitted to them To do would be
inconsistent with the doctrine or Intervention There
nothing in the past history Of the country justify
such II would be the duty Of Congress look
at the question before them and do the best
they could looking at the happiness Of the entire country
He had long been under the impression that ii would be
best for the Union and Kansas that that state should
be admitted at the first allowable opportunity in order to
ocal2e the strife He would have preferred that the
whole constitution had been submitted 10 the people, but
persons outside the Territory have right TO interfere
with the slavery question there He believed that the
people Of Kansas now have opportunity to decide
whether to have free slave State He could not how
ever determine his entire course until they should make
such decision. he said the position Of Mr. Douglas day
utter derogaon OF that which he occupied when
he voted for Mr.. Toombs bill, which proposed TO
make a state Constitution and put into opera
tion without submitting to the vote Of the
people, and this only short time ago, He could no
understand how Mr. Douglas bad readily become sensi
tive regarding the rights Of that people, after having at
tempted such an infringement upon them.
Mr.. MASON exposed and replied 10 what he character
zcd a faacy In the remarks OF Mr. Douglas
Mr.. DOUGLAS explained, and said he had been msre
presented
Mr. BrcrER remarked that In a conversation with Col
Henderson, who active member of the Convention
he understood him to say there were two constitutions
virtually.
Mr. DorGrAs-f there arc two, should like to see the
other.
Mr.. RIGfER-I say, precisely similar.
Mr.. norGtAsff precisely nike, what difference does
make Il you may for one or the otherS
Mr. BIeIER-0ne for free and the other for a slas
State. That II the difference.
Mr. Dorerls-It makes no difference how many copies
they make The simple question Is that they only allow the
people 10 vote slavery. Nothing else. The Senator
from Pennsylvania had assumed an air which he thought
unnecessary and rather ntmated 70 that he spoke by
authority.
Mr. BiGIKR-I expressed my own views, deliberately
formed and they are in concurrence with those OF tho
President
Mr. porarAs-T may have misunderstood him. am
/
for the President has ast spoken for himself In his
sage in which he condemns the Convention for not submit
ting the constitution 10 the people and refuses recommend
10 receive H. The President In bold frank man, and
II he intended 10 give administration measure he
would say not respectful " that will
do what he will not recommend us TO do OF course
know the Senator from Pcnnsylvmn did not speak by
authority.
Senator from Illinois will agree that the President uphods
in his message the doctrine that the Convention t q
right form constitution and submit 20 the people for
approval, or send up Congress for approval think
II deducibe from the that the President does
not hold that because entire constitution was
mfcd the people, Kansas should be kept outDf the
Cn,ou.
Mr. poreIas-I infer from the message that the PresI.
constitution and send hero; but that only right
to petition for redress Of grievances under the federal
constitution, and not because the Legislature had power
10 constitute that o legal Convention.
Mr. BIaIRR-where did you get tbar
Mr.. DorGr.s rcplied-A gentleman (meanine Mr.. Trum-
bul yesterday read from speech made by Mr. Buchan
twenty years ago 20 show that the legislature had
right 70 create convention to supersede the Territorial
government and IN attempt would be gross usurpaon
The democratic party has held that doctrine since,
and asserted year ago by endorsing his Dongiss)
port from the Committee Territories Three hundred
thousand copies circulated q party document,
and he himself paid FOR hundred thousand Of them
Uaushter)
Mr. oriR entered his protest and claimed the statute
of limitations. lie could not that Mr. Douglas
should hold the President responsible for principles laid
down twenty years ago under entirely different circum
stances II is not half long since Mr.. Douglas declared
that The Missouri line the best compromise In 1913
he proposed 10 extend the Pacific Ocean. Yet he
pealed the whole Of IT,
Mr norGtls denied the right or Mr. Biger 10 Offer the
statute OF limitations but the authorized attorney OF
the party Thus ntcrrosc As the Senator has denied
any authority 10 speak for the President he cannot e
that plea Mr. Douglas approved OF the statute Of ma
tons He needed very much himself. He
had never boasted that he had never changed
his opinions He felt every year little wiser than
the year before. Has the President will that
opnonY He denied the right to plead the statute of mi
taons against the Cincinnati Convention until the Charles
lnn eltinr rnecta He atnnd sxhcra he sinnl