The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-15
The Kansas Debate In tho senate O,
Saturday.

The Kansas Debate In tho senate on
Saturday.
The Kansas debate in the Senate was enliven.
I'd on Saturday by personal discussion grow
ing out of Mr. Douglas connection with the
Kansas Enabling BILL which passed the Senate
during the session of 1856. If we did not hap
pen to know the facts the telegraphic report
would be perfectly incomprehensible. Senators
are Represented as suddenly jumping up, soon
siderably agitated," and making personal ex-
planations-although the report gives no ex-
PLANTATION of the cause of their "agitation" their
names not being mentioned till they thus mys-
teriously became agitated. We have frequently
spoken of the incompetency of the telegraphic
reporters for the Associated Press; but our COM
ments on their incapacity appear to have worked
miracle exactly opposite to that intended
they have actually become more stupid, and
their reports more confused and uninteNigble,
than ever.
The facts are that Mr.. Bigler, of Peunsylva-
MIA, in the early part of the session. in reply to
Mr.. Douglas objections to the Lecompton con-
stitution, stated that the Senator frem Illinois
ought not to object to the action of the Conven-
ton in not referring the constitution to the peo-
pie. because Mr.. Douglas himself, in the pre-
vious Congress, had reported bill from his
committee to enable the people of Kansas to
form a constitution, in which the sovereignty of
the Convention was distinctly enunciated Mr.
Bigler at the time had good point on Douglass
but his intellectual calibre was scarcely suni-
cient for the occasion, and the consequence was
that he permitted himself to be bullied into 81
lepce. An allusion to this incident by Mr.
Wade, Of Ohio, on Saturday, was the cause Of
this sudden commotion. Mr.. Broderick.
of California Senator who graduated
in the Sixth ward of this city, and
who, unfortunately, had not the advantage
of being educated by Stephen Fl. Branch,
or any one else-seems to have acted as the
champion of Mr.. Douglas, in the absence of that
gentleman. An ignorant telegraphic cores
pond whose especial mission appears to be
putting up Mr.. Bigler upon every occasion, in
forms us that Broderick was promptly rebuked,
and thus the matter dropped. We have no
doubt, however, that the subject will be re-
have an important bearing on the present posi-
ton Of Mr.. Douglas, we hope it will be taken
up by some more capable Senators than those
who have yet figured in the discussion.
AT the commencement Of the last Congress
Mr. Douglas, from the Committee on Terrific
ries of the Senate, reported bill ''to authorize
the people Of the Territory Of Kansas to form
constitution and State government prepare
tory to their admission into the Union" The
bill provided for the election Of convention
of the people, and contained the following
clause:-"That the following propositions be-
and the same are, hereby offered to the said
Convention Of the people of Kansas when
formed, for their free acceptance or rejection
which, if accepted by the Convention and rati-
fed by the people at the election for the adop-
ton of the constitution. shall be obligatory on
the United States and the State Of Kansas
II will be remembered that this clause made
distinction between the Convention and the
people, declaring that the constitution should
be accepted by the Convention land ratified by
the people at the election for the adoption of
the constitution No immediate action was
taken on this bill; and on the 25th of June, 1856,
Mr. Toombs Of Georgia, presented an amend
ment to it, which he gave notice he would pro-
pose at the proper time as q substitute. Mr.
Toombs in this substitute retained the clause in
the bill reported by Mr.. Douglas as quoted
above, recognizing the right of the people to
"ratify the constitution" Mr.. Douglas there
upon had both his bill and Mr.. Toombs' substi-
tute recommitted to bis committee.
Immediately after this recommitment meet
ing Of democratic Senators was held at Mr..
Douglas house, and the whole question was fully
discussed. Mr.. Brown, of Mississippi, objected
to the clause in the bill which requised that the
Convention should ubmit the constitution to the
people, as an unnecessary interference with
their sovereignty. Mr.. Douglas, therefore, on
the 30th of June made lengthy report from
his committee, accompanied by bill as sub
stitute for the one he had originally reported
This bill embraced many Of the features of his
first bill and the Toombs amendment. but the
clause making a distinction between the Con
vention" and the 'people" WAS amended, in
conformity with the understanding agreed upon
at Mr.. Douglas house, 70 as to read-"And be
It further enacted, that the following PROPOSE
tions be, and the same are, hereby offered To the
said Convention Of the people of Kansas for
their free acceptance or rejection, which, If ac-
cepted by the Convention, shall be obligatory
on the United States and upon the said State of
Kansas"
Here IL a distinct avowal that the consti-
tuition, " If accepted by the Convention
should be obligatory on the Emitted States
and upon the said State of Kansas" The
bill, as thus amended by Mr.. Douglas, passed
the Senate. II failed TO become law in conse
sequence Of the inconvenience of the House
of Representatives, but its principles are no
less binding upon its author Judge Douglas, as
a anestion Of consistency snread nnt ON The