Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-12-17

the people of Kansas now have an oppor-
tunity to decide whether to have free or
slave State. He however would not deter
mine his entire course until they shall make
such decision. He said the position of Mr..
Douglas to-day was in utter derogation to
that which he occupied when he voted for
Toombs' bill, which proposed to make a
State Constitution and put it in operation
without submitting it to a vote of the peo-
pie, and this only short time ago. He
could not understand how Douglas had SO
readily become sensitive regarding the
rights of the people, after having attempt
ed such an infringement upon them.
Senator Douglass am certain Senator
Bigler does not speak for the Presipent.--
l know the President has just spoken for
himself in his message in which he con-
dennis the convention for not submitting
the constitution to the people, and refused
to recommend us to receive it. The Pres
ident is bold frank man, and if he intend
ed to give US an administration measure
he would say SO; it is not respectful to as
sumo that he will do what he will not rec
ommend us to do. Of course l know the
Senator from Pennsylvania did not speak
from any authority.
Bigler--I think [ am safe in saying, and
l think the senator from Illinois will agree
that the President upholds in his mes
sage the doctrine that the convention had
the right to form constitution and sub
NIT it to the people for approval or send it
up to Congress without approval. l think
it Is deducible from the message that the
President does not uphold that because the
entire constitution was not submitted to
the people, Kansas should be kept out Of
the Union.
Judge Douglass infer from the mes
sage that the President does hold that a
convention had a right to form constitu-
ton and send it here, but that was only
the right to petition for redress of grievan-
ces under the federal constitution and not
because the Legislature had the power to
constitute that legal convention.
Bgler-Where did you get that?
Judge Douglas replied-A gentleman
(meaning TrumbulD yesterday read from
!, a speech made by Mr. Buchanan that the
Legislature had no right to create con-
vention to supercede Territorial govern
ment, and TO attempt it would be a gross
usurpation. The Democratic party has
held that doctrine ever since, and asserted
it year ago by endorsing his douglas
report from committee on Territories
Three hundred thousand copies were cir
culated as party documents. He himself
paid for one hundred thousand copies OF
them (Laughter.)
Bigler entered his protest and claimed
the statute of limitations. He could not
consent that Senator Dougles should hold
the President responsible for principles
laid down twenty years ago under entirely
different circumstances. 1t is not half so
long since Douglas declared that the Mis-
sonri line was sacred compromise. In
1848 he proposed to extend it to the Pacif-
ic Ocean, yet he repealed the whole of it.
Mr.. Douglas denied the right of Bigler
to offer the statute of limitations. None
but the authorized attorney Of the party can
thus iAterpose. The Senator has denied
me authority to speak for the President
lie cannot file that plea.
Douglas approved of the statute of limit
atoms. He needed one very much him
. self He had never boosted he had never
changed his opinions. He felt every year
little wiser than the year before. Had
the President ever withdrawn that opinion
, in which he denied the right to plead The
! statute of limitation against the Cincinnati
, convention? Until the Charleston conven
ton meet, he stood now where he stood
last year because he believed he was right:
: 1t was true that he voted for Tombs' bill
and was ready to vote for it again; if by
, doing so there would be no quarrel--ii
. would not do to taunt him with once vo-
! ting for measure he would not vote fol-
: now.
, After further debate the matter was
postponed and the Senate adjourned.
r Washington Dec. 10.
3 Mr. Douglas gave notice of his inten-
ton to introduce bill at an early day to
f enable the people of Kansas to form con-
3 stitution and State government preparatory
to their admission into the Union.
"Have you Blasted Hopes?'" asked s
lady of green librarian, whose face was
swollen by the toothache.
''No ma am, but have blasted tooth
ACHE"