The Washington union., 1858-03-26

according principles federal constitution to
United the shall be protected
10 the free enjoyment Of their liberty property and the religion wh
There, sir is the enabling act, which this Congress
has right to annul even If il necessary 10
have an enabling act ! merely mention this, be-
cause 1t binds Congress 10 admit this Territory into
the Union as States and there is not word in the
treaty which provides that Congress shall take pre-
iminary steps to authorize them to form constitu-
tion and ASK admission into the Union | voted during
the last session of Congress to authorize Minnesota to
form constitution aud ask admission into the Union
was one, believe, of only thirteen southern men, who
did cast such vote And Mr. Chairman believe that
all those who have served with here for the last Ave
years will bear witness, that in all the votes have
given here have given them without reference to
prejudice which may exist in my section OF the country in
reference to the principles of north of Mason and
Dixon line voted for that act because il had been
tbshed by pTecedents, and not because believe,
oginal question: that we had power to pass enabling
act authorizing Minnesota form constitution and ask
admission into the Union We did pass the act. Min
ncsota has formed constitution, and in forming that
constitution she has departed from the law of Congress
She had right to depart from IT, She had right to go
contrary o it, because when you admit that Congress
prescribe the mode and which States may form
their constitutions, you admit that Congress control
the domestic institutions of States before and after they
shall be formed. Well, sir, Minnesota has formed her
constitution and presents it here aud notwithstanding
that in forming that constitution she has gone directly
in the teeth of the law Of Congress- expect 4 do not
that shall because have looked into
the question Iexpcct to vote to admit the State of
Minnesota into the Union. What patriotism have is
not bounded by southern State OF by northern State
or by county or by district.
But, Mr. Chairman, far Kansas is concerned the
convention of the people have formed constitution and
ask admission into the Union sovereign State IL is
said by that the delegates to this convention were
not fairly elected 1t is said by Others that the
ton did not redeem its pledges II is said again that
the constitution not submitted to the people, and
that the convention had authority to make const-
tuition but that they had only authority present the
people constitution for their ratification
Sir, ! deny this assumptions The convention, in ma.
king that constitution exercised the authority delegated
to it, and it exercised it in the only mode in which il
could do it with justice and fairness. call your atten
tion 10 the law under which the convention was organ
Tcd and the delegates elected Section l6 provides
that, ...
The delegates thus elected shall assemble IN the
capital of said Territory the first Mndy Of September
shall which
equal footing With tho original respects
the name Of the state OF Kapras.
That section makes it the duty of the convention to
form constitution and State government and sir il II
fact, which is known perhaps to every member Of this
committee, that that law vetoed by the governor of
the Territory of Kansas upon the ground that it did
require the constitution to be submitted to the people
and passed by twothId vote over the veto and
thus became law. IL under that law that the
yention acted. The convention formed constitution
and have presented il here Will any say that the
constitution is not republican in its character i have
heard no one say yet and looking over it, anv
man must that it is not only republican in its
character but that it is couched almost in the Ian
gnagc and in the same terms the most approved
stitutions of the other States of this Union There is
nothing irregular in il and ask where was the irregu
larity in forming it Before it formed election
was held u take the OF the people to whether
they would form constitutions and they decided that
they would. After that election and after that popular
vote the legislature passed the law, of which have read
part, providing for election OF delegates Delegates
cppf
they made constitution and now it is said that be-
cause they submitted the slavery clause only and did not
submit the whole constitution to the people, should
refuse to admit the State of Kansas into the Union al
though her constitution is republican in fom and correct
and proper in every respect. rn b. .....a
ask you, sir from whom does this objection come I!
The people of Kansas have been in an unfortunate posi-
ton and why Because as the Kansas Ncbras-
ka bill passed, there hundred members of this
House. in the Thirty third Congress who determined
that that bill should not have its proper and legitimate
effect Ii Is not the people of Kansas who to blame
The revolution started here in the attempt to annul
and destroy the effect Of law passed in pursuance of
the constitution, by majority of both houses of Con
grcss, and approved by the President If to have
laws passed by all the legislative branches of the gov
ernnen thus overturned by fraud and force such has
been witnessed in Kansas and their effect defeated and
destroyed by any party in this country our govern
ment Will very soon he brought to end Repeal these
laws you dlsapprove Of then in the legitimate forum
but, instead of that, members of this House, of
Nebraska bill should not have its legitimate effect. and
that slavery should go into The Territory of Kan
ss. we ask II the law not constitutional Gentle
men admit that it was constitutional that it vi
oation of the constitution but, say they we are SO much
opposed to slavery that will defeat the action of the
law, will destroy it's effect even if do il at the
pense of our once glorious Union. Such the spirit
which sent these to Kansas.
Now what do we sec, At the very first election held
in the Territory we find disorders we find large mum
Der of northern there, not for the purpose of settle
ment but for the purpose Of shaping the institutions
Kansas. They refused to go into the election they
fused to into any election affecting the organization of
the Territory into II State government
Mr.. Chairman have always acknowledged that prin-
cp'e oi law which that man shall take advantage
of his own wrong These people went into Kansas for
could orcbly if they must When they failed they re-
fused to go into election although they were invited
to do so. They refused to go into the election when the
people were called to declare their wishes the sub
ject of framing State government They refused to
vote in the election of delegates They refused vote
when the article of the constitution in regard to the Ques
ton of slavery submitted To them And now they
come here, and ask 10 reject the admission of the
state. And why The reason is obvious they do not
desire to have this question settled they desire to keep
it open If you go Kansas, you will find a small party
there-no belonging to the respectable portion of the
free soiles OF the abolitionss headed by Lane with
his marauders, his murdercm and his house burners
They do not number more than eight hundred Take
them ont OF the way and the whole people of Kansas
in favor of the admission Of the state under tho Te
compton constitution.
| know it has been said here that A great fraud is
about to be committed the people of Kansas am not
asonishcd ut the course of The republican party They
have determined that State shall ever bc admitted
into the Union the constitution of which tocratcs sla