Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1858-05-13
EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH OF
HON, J. J. CRITTEEDEN,
h hs U. S. Senate, .4pri 9Th, on The Re-
1,oTl of The Conference Committee,

poTl OF the Conference Committee.
NJ. Crittenden.-Mr. President, wish,
with as little consumption OF The time Of the
Senate as possible, 10 set forth the reasons
which, upon the fullest consideration that /
have had the opportunity Of giving 10 this
subject. constrain Inc 10 vote against this
report. In some respects, undoub,ed y the
amendment proposed by the commute Of
conference meets nv cordial concurrence.
was opposed 10 the admission Of Kansas
upon the basis Of the Lecompton constitution,
because thought that instrument not Ga y
did not express the will OF the people Of
Kansas, but was against their known wish
es; and moreover thought il had been made
by fraud and political trickerv. Iopposed,
therefore, the enforcement Of that constitu-
lion upon The people Of Ksn'as. That was the
main point Of controversy then. Gentlemen
~on the other side regarded it as being pre-
sented in all the forms Of law, and said tina!
those forms Of law through which this ques-
tion bad passed in the territory Of Kansas,
preclude us from any examination beyond
them. supposed that forms were only in
tended TO promote and ascertain the truth
and precluded all examination into it.
| was opposed TO enforcing this instru-
ment upon the people against their will
and stained as suppose with fraud. Other
gentlemen took different views Of the case
and insisted upon its prompt and Immediate
adoption and the absolute admission Of the
State into The Union upon it. The commit.
Tee Of conference, in their consideration o.
the subject, have changed The views which
were entertained by the Senate at that time
and have now agreed TO abandon the Le-
compton constitution, so far at least us Il
submit il TO the people Of Kansas now fol
their affirmation. So far we are sgreed.
But, sir, in making that submission 10 th.
people, certain consequences are attached e
it, which, think, are unjust, on improper
ineumbrance upon the free right of the peo
pie TO choose their institutions for them
selves. In The bill substituted by the HOUSE
Of Representatives in place of the Senate.
bill, there was fair submission of the LIE
compton constitution provided for, and The
people were told, 'if you affirm this, yer,
well; il is all al your discretiOn; matter o
choice with you, free, uninAuenced, fair
choose as you please; and if you choose T.
reject this constitution rs satisfactory 10 you
convention Of the people OF The territor,
shall be Immediately called, 10 make sucl
contribution as is Satisfactory, and upon Tho
constitutions being made, and upon refer
ence Of it to the people, if they shall affirm
what the convention has done, the Presi
dent Of the United States being made &C
quainted with the fact, shall announce b,
proclamation, and thereafter the State shal
be considered as one OF the Union"
That is the bill which the Senate has VIC
led against. The committee OF conference
abandoning, as say, The enforcement OF tll
Lecomp.on constitution as an absolute ona
and the admission Of the State as an ebso
Iule admission, come 10 our ground, SO ia
rs to agree that that instrument shall
submitted to the people. The committee q
conference say if shall be submitted 10 th
people, but how submitted! In the fair
omen. unincubered manner that il was 70 b
by she bill Of the House Of Representatives
No. sir.
have said that this new amendment pre-
poses tie submission of the constitution.
am substantially correct in that statement
Literally, however, II is but a submission
Of certain grants Of land which have bee
habtually made BY Congress upon the for
nation and admission OF new sta;es-grant
for school purposes, grants for universe
ii, grants for establishing seat Of govern
ment. It submits these grants and the con
ditinn upon which they are made, to-wit
that the state accepting them shall not b
at liberty 10 interfere with the disposal c
the public lands or 10 impose taxes upol
thsm-it refers this formal part of the in
strument of admission TO the people.
submits 10 them the question: Are you will
ing 10 take these grants of land or not? Tha
is the only question TO be submitted 10 tn
people, but by legislation 8 consequence
TO flow from their action perfectly arbitra
~ In its nature, and altogether illogical i
the conclusion. II they are willing TO tax
the land, it is 10 be inferred that they az
willing 10 take constitution which is know
TO be obnoxious TO them? And il they re-
jcct the grants Of land for any reason, o
without any reason, they are TO be consi,.er
ed as rejecting the constitution. Here is
side issue infinitely more important than th
direct question proponnded TO the people.
Now, sir, why is this? 1. is in effect,
grant, for | do not wish 10 stand OH mere for
= maliiies or technicali!ies, q submission c
The constitution 10 the people. 1t is sort o
feigned issue ont Of Congress. That issu
the people are TO try. The world. lookin
al that issue, might say: "Well, but what {
this; what do you say about the constitution
there is nothing here abOu, III" Oh, well
we will annex, by law, legal consequence
though no man would ever think Of derivin
it as Legitimate and logical consequence
and that consequence shall be, if you tax
the land, you take another thing entirel.
distinct from it-a certain constitution. Yo
agree 10 waive all your objections to wha
you regard as its obnoxious character Q
obnoxious paris, il you take the land.
you do not want the land, or If you rejec
il because it is not as much as you desir
or as much as you hoped for. then ycu sha
be considered as rejecting the constitution
though you may, in fact, be satisfied with il