The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-12-10
Douglass Speech Oh Kansas.
WAsnINGroN. Dec. 9-P I

WAshlNo'ON, Dccs W II
Mr.. Gwynn gave notice of his intention to
introduce bills providing for the construction
OF a Northern, Southern, and central Pacific
Railroad, also bill TO organize the Terrific
~ of Aiizonia. Mr.. Douglass said he was
yesterday under the impression that the
President had approved OF the action of the
Lecompton Convent on. and under that i'm
preston he ielt it TO be his duty to state that
while he concurrcd in the general views Of
the Message, yet so far Us it did approve or
endorse the action of that Convention, lie en-
tirely dissented from it, and would give his
reasons for such dissent, upon "a more careful
and critical examination OF the Message. lie
was rcjoiccd to find the President had not en-
tirely approved the action Of that Conven-
ton.
He was also rcjoiced to find that the Presi-
dent had not recommended that Congress
should pass laws receiving Kansas into the
Union us State under the constitution franz
ell ut Lecompton. 1t is true the tone of the
Message indicates willingness on the part
Of the President to sign any bill Congress
might pass receiving Kansas as u State into
the Union under that constitution. But it
was very significant fact that the Prcsi-
dent had RETAINED from any Endorsement of
the convention, and from any iecommenda
ton as to the course Congress should pursue
in regard to the admission Of Kansas. In
deed the President had expressed deep NOR
LITIGATION and disappointment that the whole
constitution was not submitted To the people
of Kansas for their acceptance or rejection.
He proceeded TO show that Congress could
no: properly receive Kansas into the Union
under the Lecompton Constitution. Not on
~ the slavery question, but all others must
be submitted to the people of Kansas, as they
are guaranteed to establish ali their domes-
tic institutions tor themselves. On this prin
ciple the whole constitution must be sub
mitted to ascertain whether or not it meets
with their appreciation. Mr.. Douglas con-
tended that the people of Kansas ought to
have an opportunity to vote against the con-
siitution, II they chose to do so. lie COM
pared the freedom allowed by the Lscomp,on
Convention to che freedom at the elections in
Paris. when Louis Napoleon was elected
President. The reason assigned why the
people of Kansas were not allowed to vote on
the acceptance Of the constitution prepared
was that if they had the chance they would
vote it down by an overwhelming majority
lie believed they would, and thought that il
was a clear violation Of the organic act, thu.
to force the obnoxious constitution upon tn,
majority.
Reply of Mr.. Bigler.
When Douglas concluded. there was ap-
plause in the galleries. Bigler replied tc
Douglas, saying the convention was callec
according 10 law, and having been rccog
nized by the President, and the Governor O
the Territory, it was their right to submit
the Constitution to the people, or send it t.
Congress without submission. Ii it wa,
right in itself, republican in form, and tn,
people had fairly decided the slavery qucs
ton, il would not be wise to keep them on
Il -,
| stitution had not been submitted to them
To do 20, wonld be inconsistent with TIN
doctrine of non-iEtervcntion. There wa
nothing in the past history of the country I,
| Justify such course. 1t would be the dut,
| of Congress to look at the question as itcam
before them, and do the best they could
looking ut the happiness of the entire coun
| try.
He had long been under the impression
| that it would be best for the Union and Kan
sas that the State should be admitted at tn
first allowable opportunity, in order to avoie
| strife. He would have preferred that tn
| whole Constitution should have been submit
ted to the people. and that persons on aside tn
| Territory nave no right TO interfere with tn,
| slavery question there. He believes the PEG
| pie of Kansas now have an opportunity t
| decide whether they will have a free or slav
State. lie could not, however, determine
his entire course until they shall make sucl
| decision. lie said the position of Mr.
Douglass to-day was in utter derogation o
| that which h. occupied when he voted fo
the Toombs bill, which proposed to max
the State Constitution, and put it into opera
ton without submitting it to the vote of th
people, and this only short time ago. Ill
| could not understand how Douglass has s.
readily become sensitive regarding the right
of that people after having attempted suel
| an infringement upon their rights.
Mr.. Douglas said, i am certain Mr.. Bigle
d, did not speak for the President. know tina
! the President has just spoken for himself i:
the Message, in which he condemns the Con
vention for not submitting the Constitution
| to the people, and refuses to recommend tina
we receive it. The President is a bold an,
frank man, and if he intended to give us al
4 administration measure he would say So /
| is not respectful to assume that we will d.
what he viii not recommend us to do. o
course know the Senator from Pennsylva
mia did not speak by authority.
Bigler replied, l think am safe in saying
that The Senator from Illinoin will agre
that the President upholds in the Message tn
doctrine that the Convention had the right 4
form constitution and submit it to the peo
pie or send it up TO Congress for approval
think is deducible from the Message, tina