Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-24
THE KANSAS QUESTION.
Speech Of Hon. S. A. Douglas.
Delivered in the Senate of the United Stat es
Dec. 9, 1857.


Dec. 9, 1857.
Mr., DOUGLAS said
Mr.. President when yes
terday the Presidents Message WAS read at the
Clerk s desk, heard it but imperfectly, and |
was Of the impression that the President of the
United States had appro ed and indorsed the ac-
tion of the Lecompton Convention in Kansas.
Under that impression, felt it my duty, to state
that while concuned in the general views ofthe
message, yet, so far as it approved or indorsed
the action of that Convention, | entirely dissen
ted from it, and would avail myself of an early
opportunity to state my reasons for my dissent.
Upon careful and critical examination of the
message, am rejoced tie find that the President
of the United States has not recommended that
Congress shall pass law to receive Kansas in
to the Union under the Constitution formed at
LecomptOn. 1t is true that the tone OF the mes
sage indicates willingness on the part of the
President to sign any bill that Congress NAV pass
if we shall sac fit to pass one receiving Kansas
into tho Union under that Constitution. But,
sir, it is fact of great significance, and worthy
of consideration, that the President has refrain
from an Endorsement of the Convention, and from
any recommendation as to the course Congress
should pursue with regard 10 the Constitution
there formed.
The message Of the President has made an ar
gument--an unansw erabe argument in my opin-
lon-against that Constitution, which shows
clearly, Wheter intended to arrive at that result
or not, that, cansisiRntlr with his views and his
principles, he cannot accept that Constitution.
He has expressed his deep modification and dis
appointment that the Constitution itself has not
been submitted to the people of Kansas for their
acceptance or rejection He informs us that he
has unquali6edly expressed his opinions on that
subject in his instructions to Governor Walker,
assuming as a matter of course that the Consti-
luton was to be submitted to the people before
it could have any vitality or validity He goes
farther and tells usIhat the example set by Con-
gress in the Minnesota case, by inserting clause
in the enabling act requiring the Constitution to
be submitted 10 the people, ought TO become
uniform rule, not to be departed from hereafter
in any case. On these various propositions |
agree entirely with the President of the United
States, and | am prepared now to sustain that
uniform Iue which he asks US to pursue, In all
other cases, by taking the Minnesota provision
as our example.
rejoice, on careful perusa of the message
to find so much less TO dissent from than was
under the impression there was, from the hasty
reading and the imperfect hearing OF the mess
age in the first instance. In effect, he refers
that document to the Congress of the United
States-as the Constitution OF the United States
refers it-for US to decide npon it under our re
sponslbility. 1t is proper that he should hav
thus referred it to us matter for Congresslona
action, and not as an Administration or Executive
measure, for the reason that the Constitution o
the United States says that {" Congress may ad-
nit new States into the Union Hence we
e. IL Z kofa ns
an Administration measure, not as an Executive
measure, but as measure coming before us tor
, our free action without any recommendation or in
terferance directly or indirectly by the Admin
istralion now in possession of the Federal Gov
ernment. Sir, pr0poseto examine this ques-
ton fairly and see whether or not we can properly
= receive Kansas into the Union with the Consti-
tuition formed at Lecompton.
The President after expressing his regret and
: modification and disappointment that the constr
It tuition had not been submitted to the people, II
e pursuance of his instructions 10 Governor Wall
er, and in pursuance of Governor Walkers as
surancss TO the people, says, however, thai by
y The Kansas Nebraska aet the slavery question
l. only was required to be referred to the people
f and the remainder Of the constitution was no
- thus required TO be submitted lie acknowledg
: es that, as general rule, on general pnnclple
the whole constitution should be submitted
D, but according to his understanding OF the organ
=, c act of Kansas, there was an imperillve obhga
., ton to submit the slavery question Tor their ap
proval or dsapproval but no obligation TO sub
'r nit the entire constitution. In other words h
m regards the organic act the Nebraska bill, a
n. having made no exception of the slavery claus
+ and provided for the disposition of that questlo
- IN mode different from that in which ether dc
Isl nestle and local as contra-disting nguished frOr
er Federal questions, should be decided. Sir, PEI
st nit me to sav, with profound respect for til
:, President of The United States, that coneeiv
=" that on this point He has committed fundameI
49, tai error which lies at the foundation of h
ut whole argument on this matter. can well III
on derstand how this distng uished statesman can
=. TO fall into this error He was not in the couI
try at the time the Nebraska bill was passed th
W. was not a party to the controversy, and the di
en- cussion that took place during its passage. l.
IS. was then representing the honor and dignity
.s the country with great wisdom and distinction
foreign court. Thus deeply engrossed, h
y whole energies were absorbed in cohductir
ed great diplomatic questions that diverted his
ention from the mere territorial questions and {
in cussons then going on in the Senate and Hou
=. of Representatives, and before the people
an home. Under these circumstances he may W,
le- have fallen into an error radical and fundamel
ler al ii is, in regard to the object of the Nebrs
on ka bill and the principles asserted in it.
- Now, sir, what was the principle enunclat
ne by the authors and supporters of that bill VIII
lrl. it was brought forward Did we not come |
bin fore the country and say that we repealed t
ch Missouri restriction TO- the purpose OF suost'
ting and carrying out as general RUE the gre
principle of sefgovernmont, which LEFT the p'
as ple of each State and each Territory free
ellie form and regulate their domestic institution