The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-12-17

their right to submit the Constitution 10 the
people, Or send it to Congress without sub
mission, il it was right in itself and repubIi-
can in form, and the people had fairly de-
cided the slavery question. II would not be
wise TO keep them out Of the Union simply
because the whole Constitution had not been
submitted TO them. To do 10 would be in.
consistent with the doctrine Of non.intorycn-
ton. There was nothing in the past history
OF the country to Justify such course. i,
would be the duty Of Congress to look at
the question as it came before them, and do
the best they could, looking at the happiness
OF the entire country. lie had long been
under the impression that il would be the
best, both for the country and Kansas, that
the State should be admitted at the first
favorable opportunity, in order to legalize
the strife. lie would have preferred that
the Constitution had been submitted 10 the
people, but persons outside Of the Territory
have no right interfering with the slavery
question there lie believed the people of
Kansas now have an opportunity to decide
whether to have free or slave State. He
could not, however, determine his entire
course until they shall make such decision.
lie said the position Of Douglas to-day was
in utter derogation to that which he occu-
pied when he voted for Toombs' bill, which
proposed to make State Constitution and
put IT in operation, without submitting it to
vote OF the people, and this only shor,
time ago. lie cond not understand how
Douglas had 40 readily become sensitive re.
gardiDg the rights Of the people, after hay.
ing attempted such an infringement upon
them
Senator Donglas--I am .artain Scna,or
l'igi'r does not speak for the President. |
know the President has Just spoken for him
self IN his message in which he condemns the
convention for not submitting the constitll-
ton to the people and refused to recommend
Us to receive it. The President il a bold.
frank man, and il he intended TO give Us an
administration measure he would say 40 it
Is not respectful TO assume that he will do
what he will not recommend us to do Ol
coun@c ] know the Senator from pcnnsylsa-
MA did not speak from any authority.
Blgler-l think AIN safe in saying, and
think the senator from Illinois will agree
that the President upholds in his message
the doctrine that tho convention had the
night To form constitution and submit it
to the people for approval or send it up to
Congress without approval. think il is
deduclbe from the message that the I'resi.
dent does not hold that because the entire
constitution was not submitted to the people,
h aiisas should be kept out of the Union
Judge Doug as-l infer from the message
that the Pr,siden, does hold tina, Conyen-
ton had right 10 form II constitution and
send IL here, but that was only the right TO
petition FOX redress Of grievances under the
federal Constitution and not because the
Legislature had the power to constitute tina,
u legal convention.
Bgler--W here did YOU ct that,
Judge Douglas rcplied--A gentleman
(meanlng TrumbnlD Yesterday read from a
speech made by Mr. buchanan that the H.
gslaturc had no RICH, to create a convention
to sHpcrcede Territorial government, and TO
attempt il would be gross usurration.---
The Democratic party has held that doctrine
ever since, and asserted il year ago by en-
dorsing his Douglas report from commit
tee On Territories. Three hundred thousand
copies were circulated "a party documents
lie himself paid for IL hundred thousand
copies of them tlaughterl.
Bigler entered his protest and claimed the
statute Of Limitations He could not con
sen, that senator Douglas should hold the
President responsible for principles laid
down twenty years ago under entirely differ.
cut circumstances. Il is no, half so long
since Douglas DECLARED the Missouri line was
"a sacred compromise, In lsi- he proposed
to extend it to the Pacific Ocean yet he
repealed the whole of il.
Mr.. Douglas denied the RICH, of Bigler
To- offer the statute Of limitations. None
but the authorized attorney Of the party
can thus ln,erposc. The Senator has de-
MED rne authority to speak for the President,
lie sannot file that plea.
Douglas approved Of the statute OF limi-
tatious. He needed one very much himself
lie hal never boosted he had never changed
hi- opinions. lie felt every year little
wiser than the year before Has the Presi.
dent ever withdrawn that opinion in which
he denied the right to plead the statute OF
limitations against the Cincinnati Conyen,
ton Until the Charleston Convention
meet, he STOOL now where he stood last wear,
because he believed hc was right. |, was
true that he voted for roomb- hill and was
ready to voto FOR IT again BY doing 40
there would be no quarrel--lt would not do
10 ,aun, him for once voting Tor a measure
no vnuli nat vote iur now
After further debate the matter WAS pos,
poaed, aud tie Senate adjourned