Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-12-10
TIE LATEST NEWS.
By Telegraph to the Worcester Daily sp
BV the American Telegraph Oompanys Printing Lines
Ohcein General Express Office, Lincoln House Block.
THIRTY-FIFTH CoNGR ESS First
Session.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.
SRNATR.-ln the Senate, Mr.. Pugh Of Chic,
gave notice of bill for the improvement of
the navigation of the Ohio.
A resolution VAS passed inviting the cler
gymen of the District to ofieiate gratuitously
as chaplains of the Senate
Nh. Gwinn gave notice of his intention to
introduce bills for the construction of North
ern, Southern, and central Pacific Railroad.
Also, bill to organize the Territory of Ari-
IONA.
Mr.. Douglas said that yesterday, he was
under the impression that the President had
approved the action of the Lecompton Con-
vention, and while under that impression, he
felt it his duty to state that while he con-
Cured in the general views of the message
yet so far as it did approve or endorse the ac-
ton of that convention, be entirely dissented
from it,and he would avail himself of an early
opportunity to give his reasons for such dis
sent. Upon more careful and critical exami.
nation OF the message, he was rejoiced to find
that the President had not entirely approved
| OF the action of that convention He was also
| reloiced to find that the President had not
recommended that Congress should pass laws
| receiving Kanzas Into the Union as State
under the constitution framed at Lecompton
true, the tone of the message indicates the
willingness of the President to sign any bill
that Congress might pass for receiving Kanzas
as a State under the constitution. but it is a
very significant fact, that the President had
RETAINED from any endorsement of the con.
stitution, and any recommendation, as to the
course which Congress should pursue in re-
/ gard to the admission of kanzas. Indeed,
the President had expressed deep modification
and disappointment, that the whole constitu-
ton was not submitted to the people of Kan
| zas, for their acceptance or rejection.
| He proceeded to show that Congress could
not promptly receive Kanzas into the Union
| under the Lecompton constitution-not only
the slavery question, but all others, must be
! submitted to the people Of Kanzas, as they
! are guaranteed to establish all their domestic
| institutions for themselves. On this princi-
! pie, they should say, upon the whole consti-
tuition, whether it meets with their approba-
ton. Mr.. Douglass commended that the peo-
| pie of Kanzss ought to have an opportunity to
vote against the constitution, If they chose to
do so. He compared the proposed mode of
voting on the Lecompton constitution to the
| freedom of election in Paris when Louis Ma
| poleon was chosen. The treason assigned why
| the people should not be allowed to vote on its
! acceptance, was, that, if they had chance,
they would vote it down by an overwhelming
majority. He believed it was a clear violation
of the organic act to force an obnoxious con-
| stitution upon them.
| When Mr.. Douglas concluded there was
applause from the galleries. Mr.. Mason
moved that they should be cleared, remark
ing that the deeorum of the Senate had been
frequently violated in this way. Mr.. Hunter
hoped not Mr.. Clay thought that the APP
| plause commenced on the floor, and said it
would be hard to punish spectators for follow
ing their example. MIR. Bigler hoped that
the motion would be Withdrawn. Mr.. Mason
acquiesced but hoped that the next time the
offence was committed it would not be allow
ed to pass with impunity.
Mr.. Bigler of Pennsylvania replied to Mr..
! Douglas, saying that the Convention was
called according to law, and had been reeog-
nized by the President and Governor of the
| Territory 1t was their right to submit the
Constitution to the people, or send it to Con-
gress without such submission. If it was
| right in Itself, Republican in form, and the
| people had fairly decided the slavery question.
it would not be his wish to keep them out Of
the Union, simply because the whole Consti-
tuition had not been submitted to them. To
do SO would not be at all consistent with
the doctrine of non intervention. There
was nothing in the past history Of the
country, to justify such course. 1t would
|
ton as it came before them, and to do the
best they could, looking at the entire happi-
ness of the entire country. He had long
been under the impression that it would he
best for the Union and Kanzas, that the State
should be admitted at the first allowable OBJ.
portunity. In order to loealize the strife, he
would have preferred that the whole constitu-
ton had been submitted to the peoples but,
persons outside of the Territory have no right
to interfere with the slavery question there.
He believed that the people OF Kanzas now
have an opportunity to decide whether to
have free or slave State.
He could not, however, determine his en-
tire course, until they shall make such decis-
ion. He said the position OF Mr.. Douglas
today was in utter derogation of that which
he occupied when he voted for Mr.. Toombs's
bill, which proposed to make State eonstitu.
ton, and put it into operation, without sub
hitting it to the vote of the people, and this
only short Time ago. He could not under
stand how Mr.. Douglas had so readily become
sensitive regarding the rights of the people,
after having attempted such an infringement
upon them. r~,ss
Mr. Mason explained, and replied to what
he characterized as tallacy in the remarks Of
Mr.. Douglas, who explained, and said he
had been misrepresented.
Mr.. Bigler remarked, that, in a converse
ton with Col. Henderson, who was an active
member of the Convention, he understood
him to say that there were two constitutions
virtually.
Mr. Douglas--H there are two, should
like to see the other.
MIR. Bigler-I say, precisely similar.
Mr.. Douglas-If precisely alike, what DIFF
ference does 1t make if you may vote for one
or the others
Mr.. Bigler--One for free State and the
other for slave State that is the difference.
Mr.. Douglas-It makes no difference how
many copies they make. The simple question
is, that they only allow the people to vote on
slavery nothing else. The Senator from
Pennsylvania had assumed an air which ]
thought unnecessary, and rather intimated to
me that he spoke by authority.
Mr.. Bigler-I expressed my own views, de.
lberately formed, and they are in cOnsonance
with those Of the President.
Mr.. Douglas.--I may have misunderstood
him. | am certain he did not speak for the
President. know that. for the President has
just spoken for himself in his message, in
which he condemns the convention for not
submitting the constitution to the people, and
refuses to recommend me TO receive it, The
President is a bold, frank man, and if he in.
tended to give us an administration measure
he would say so, 1t is not respectful to assume
that we will do what he will not recommend
us to do of course, know the senator from
Pennsylvania did not speak by authority.
Mr., Bgler-l think [ am safe in saving