The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-24

can constitution within the spirit Of institutions II
Is argument TO say that this constitution y an excel
lent one. You have right 10 cram good thing down
the throats of the people OF Kansas against their viii IL
strikes the fundamental principles Of liberty This
question between is radical II is whether that peo
pie shall be permitted To form their constitution, and
whether the Constitution under which they are to live
shall mbody their will not 1t is not matter OF form
whether the constitution shall be Submitted 10 them
That IL but mode Of obtaining the evidence OF the
fact Of their Will The President says IL Is the best mode
and agree with him. the principle being that their VIII
Is the great essential qua before you can bring
them into the Union a State.
Then. Mr. President the simple question comes back,
Shall that people have the authority TO form and reSu-
late their institutions to suit themselves The sen
says may admit them IL we proper and ought
to do so in order 10 terminate the controversy. Sir
win do anything that is right anything that Is just, IN
order terminate this controversy No living is so
anxious for its termination viii sacrifice every
thing but principle and honor and my country in order
TO close this controversy Bat how you TO close "
You must close IL principles Of eternal Justice and
truth, or IL viii not stay closed You must terminate II
on the principle Of self government, the consultation
under which the people TO live Is not republican No
patching up system of trickey by which the majority
cheated by the minority, will settle ths question In
stead Of producing peace that will only be the beginning
Of undue controversy When the broad fact stands ad
mtted before the world that this constitution Is the act Of
minority aud not Of the majority the injustice becomes
the more manifest and the monstrous. The only
reason for submitting the constitution fairly is that
il would be voted down II il submitted This is an
admission that it Is the act Of minority not OF major
y Do you expect that you will restore peace and quiet
10 the country by forcing upon people constitution
which does mbody their will tell you that you
viii have avail yourselves Of the recommendations OF
the message increase the army and to use the military
power Of this country il the majority is to be subjected to
the oppression of a minority. trust there will be no
outbreak no violence. i viii every influence, by
counsel and exeron to insure submission but fear the
result you shall power to coerce majority Of four
fifths into subsection to minority OF one fifth.
Riit sir we lret
they can easily get nd Of this constitution. The Pres
dent says they may change it Immediately after their adj
mission All how is that? The constitution formed at
ecompon provides that it may be changed after the year
1864 by convention called by twothrs OF the eisa~
ure hold it to be principle of law that when con
stuon provides for its change at particular time
and In particular manner that excludes all other times
and all other modes. undertake to say that any court
in Chrstendom would thus eonsrue this constitution
When it says that it may be amended at one time IT ex
cludes all other times When it may be amended
in one mode it excludes all other modes VIII you tell
me that the constitution Of the United States can be
changed by town meeting or mass meeting or in any
other mode than that pointed out in the instrument IL
self2 No. sir There is constitutional modes by
which this constitution Of Kansas If once in force can
be changed before 1864 There ia another modea rev.
oIutionary mode 1t is by the legislature first coming
together taking oath to support the constitution and
then proceed to call convention TO change IT. IN viola
tion Of the constitution and of the oath Suppose they
should do this, and the convention thus called should
make constitution and establish new government and
the old government should refuse to surrender the pos
session. who would be governorthe one elected under
the old constitution or the new You wonld have two
governments in operation at the time, one under
the old and the other under the constitution and
YOU would call the army to decide between them.
The scheme is scheme Of civil 1t leads directly
to war II ever voted for it, should expect to vote
also for increase Of the and for supplies to the
army enforce it at the point Of the bayonet lt means
violence the subecton OF the majority 70 the
minority beseech senators TO pause before they COM
NIT themselves fatal step. beseech oil to pause
and whether this is right wrong for on this mat
ter free from party ties The senator from MIS-
souri, and myself agree that the President has not made it
| an administration measure We agree that he has not
recommended il in his message We agree, therefore,
that every man ON this floor is Mt liberty to go for
against IL without changing his party ties or affecting MS
party relations Why, then, we not stop and pause
before rush step that not only rends asunder
democratic party but threatens the peace and perpe
| tuity of the Union itselfi has Erg
twill not do tell me that the President IL in favor
OF IT, Sir believe the President to be frank, bold
an honest man. / will not believe that he viii make
any party which he does not recommend
in his message will not believe that he would ask ms
party TO 60 for TO which he would not commit
himself on paper. will not believe that he wishes s
To run our necks into the halter Of dison and civil wa
before he takes the lead and points the way The ab
sence Of recommendation in the shows that no
man can consistently with the Presidents dignity Of
character assert that he is in favor Of this measure
Then say let restore peace to the country by ig-
norng the Irregular convention at lecompton, py ig
4 u0f1ng poonb.S
an enabling act In proper form authorizing the people to
form constitution and State government ior themselves
such am act will restore peace to the country in ninety
days. In fact the day you pass II everything VIII be
\ quiet in Kansas.
The pcnpe OF Kansas will then see that Congress Is
going carry ia good faith the principle OF seltgoy-
eminent They will that Congress is going TO allow
them have slavery II they want it, and to pIohibt ID
IL they do NOT IT, They will that Congress rs
going allow them TO make their constitution and
laws ia their way. The moment they discover that
Impartiaity to prevail and Justice s TO be carried out
they will be content aH will be quiet there will be
peace the NORTH peace ut the South peace in the dem
ocratic party, peace throughout the whole country.
trust that shall discuss this question in calmness in
good hnor and in kind and respectful spirit, ss we
have discussed it to-day. Fts.tte Ea
Mr. GREEN. Il do not propose to notice the exhorta-
ton Of the honorable senator. IL Is only his argument
and the points of difference between that deserve in
vestigaton and 70 them shall direct my attention, He
mistakes entirely when he that admitted that
the slavery branch this controversy must OF necessity
under the hw, be submitted to the people said just
the contrary said il question with the conven-
ton Of the people of Kansas Territory They un
der no responsibility obligation, legal otherwise, to
submit any branch of the result of their abors TO sub
sequent vote of the people at the polls but remarked
that if they proper il they deemed IL a matter of
propety 10 submit that question 10 had been matter
OF controversy there propriey IN sismittng 1t
separate question for that the only way to sub
NIT il in order to get fair decision OF that question and
nothing else. That was my position. e
But the senator says that of the people there
against the constitution. He this he has
no evidence Of it and doubt hs right 20 make the
charge in the Senate He's that the only reason why