Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-12-23
IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

The Senate then resumed the consideration of the
Presidents annual message.
Mr.. Green, of Missouri, replied, in q speech of
great ability, to the remarks of Judge Douglas some
days since on the proprety Of the admission of Kan
sas under the Lecompton constitution That speech.
he remarked, completely took him by surprise, not
only as to its matter, but it's manner. 1t was not
his purpose to inquire into the motives that dictated
it; and while he was willing to concede that those
motives might be patriotic. he regarded the speech
as very improper one. He thought it was we'll
calculated to prejudice the question now pending
before the people of Kansas; and he therefore felt
it his duty to reply to it, in justice to his own State
which was deeply interested in the subject, in order
to counteract so far as might be in his power the
impression which had been made by that speech
The real issue now is, ought Kansas when her con-
stuion shall be presented to be admitted into the
Union, ought the consideration of what the sena-
tor from Illinois calls fundamental error of the
President of the United States to be regarded as
sufficient cause for keeping Kansas out of the Union
and keeping up the agitation of this most unfortun.
ate question? The question was, not whether We
approved or did not approve of all the individual
parts OF the Lecompton constitution as the provi-
sions in reference 20 banks taxation &C.. those are
matters with which We have nothing to do, but
which to be left to the people themselves to reg
ulate. The only question for Congress to consider
is, does the constitution embody republican form
of government? Has anybody ever disputed that
proposition, and contended that it not republic
can? He believed not :; certainly the senator from
Illinois had not done so. .,,s.,,-,.. .r.,.,.--x
Mr.. G. went on to remark that there seemed to
be a want of clear understanding as to the relation
which the federal government sustans towards
Territory. Territory, when it is organized, con-
stitutes people" Individuals may live on lands
belonging to the United States, and still not be
people in the technical sense OF the word !; bat,
whenever Territory is organized into political
community, then they constitute a people," The
inhabitants of Kansas are, therefore, people and
what enabling act is required to impar to them the
power to propose change in their form Of govern
ment? Is an enabling act to give them politi-
cal rights or more inalienabe rightsp That would
be solecism and a contradiction. From these con-
siderations he argued that Congress would have no
right to refuse TO- admit Kansas under the Lecompton
constitution. He then took up the celebrated Ar
kansas case, and replied to the argument of Mr..
Douglas founded thereon. He maintained that the
people Of Kansas never proposed to form State
government without the consent of Congress- The
convention held in subordination to the terrific
rial government; if admitted into the Union, the
State government will take the place Of the terrific
rial government and not without. If any attempt
were to be made to subvert the present government
and set up another government in opposition to the
federal authority, We could subjugate it But they
do not propose to interfere with the territorial gov
eminent until the assent of Congress is received
This harmonizes with the opinion of Attorney Gen
ersl Butler, upon which Judge Douglas had relied