The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-03-31

the Senator from ILL., says the only reason
why they did not submit the whole Consti-
tuition was because it would be voted
down. Who said so? No one except the
Senators from Illinois and Michigan.
The grea: question is, does the Consti-
tuition emhody the will of the people,
which is their legally expressed will The
rules of evidence are the same in equity
and law. We cannot take flying rumors
and opinions of Governors as evideucc-
that is fraught with danger that if, car
ried out its uitimatum would bring briSt-
ling bavoneis and cannons pointed at the
walls of the Capitol, to substitute the
opinions of the mob for the forms of law.
All the legal forms having been complied
with in completing the Lecompton Con-
stitutioG, it was a completed fact, and the
people had no right to vote whether or
not it was Constitution. What would
the Senators say if the Constitution of
their own State, after being in actual OPP
Grafton waste be submitted to the people
to see whether it is Constitution or not
The Senator from Kentucky says it
could do no harm only show an abundant
care to submit again and again to the
people-yes try again. Col. Fremont
would have liked that principle, to try
again AS to the cry of frauds, it re-
minded him, but he would not apply the
maxim to Senators, that lie well stuck
to and often repeated is as good as the
truth
Mr.. Green continued to nnalyze the
rcputed frauds, admitting that frauds did
exist, but none to vtiate the Constitution.
Further than this, no legal evidence exists
to show that this Leeompton Constitution
does not embody the willie the people,
and if we go beyond the legal evidence We
strike at the very principle of liberty.
He admitted that the Senators from Hi
nois, Michigan, California and Kentucky
were not Influenced in their action by the
existence or non-eXlstencc of slavery, but
they were assisting to build a party, dan
gerouS 10 the Union, and whose fundamen-
tai principle just enanciated is, ''no more
slave States" Had it not been for them
Kansas, many weeks since, would have
been young sister in the federation of
States.
Among other things, he said that Black
Republioanism was crushing out true De-
mocracy in its course, and would never
meet its barrier till it met the cannon Of
the south. He concluded by expressing
his ardent aspirations for the consolidation
and permanenee Of the Democratic party
1t is of 10 Importance that Gen. Calhoun
has given certificates to the Free State
party-the principle involved Is one of
vital interest to the south and the north
for the interests of both are so interviewer
they cannot be severed without injury to
both.
Green then referred to the statement
of Douglas, that the constitution cannot
be changed before 1864, except by the
exercise Of revolutionary right. This
is rot so. New York and other States
had done it, and the provision was in
serted, with similar Interpolation, in
the Kansas bill of rights. The people
must have the right to change a coustitu-
ton in legal way; otherwise they cannot
regulate their own affairs, but would be
bounl by preceding generations. La
summing up he said he would appeal to
Americans to build up the Democratic
party, but would ask them to help break
down the only party dangerous to, both.
Mr.. Crttenden, of KY, said he would
not reopen the debate, but made an ex-
PLANTATION that his statements were made
on the official records, not on conytrsa-
tions with a Governor of Kansas =
Thank God he could distinguish right
from wrong, and had the courage to say
so. He followed conviction, not party
The Kentucky maxim, be'just and fear
not, was also his. He believed his course
was the best for the North and for the
South He said he had never used the
words that he arrayed himself on the side
of Northern Democracy. He wished
neither to build up nor break down any
party.
He made affectionate reference to his
compatriots of the Senate when the Sen
ate wasa great body aud included among
its Vembers Messrs Clay, Calhoun, Web-
ster and Beuton. He professed himself
an American, and it was his principle to
protect the ballot box, as the only instru-
ment by which the people can exercise
their Sovereignty. When Mr.. Crittenden
concluded, Mr. Green, without further re-
marks, moved three amendments. He
withdrew the Minnesota bill altogether,
and moved three amendments to the origi-
nal bill.
First. To strike out the preamble and in :
sert the following:
Whereas, The people of the Territory
of Kansas did, by Convention of dele
gates called and assembled at Lecompton
ON the 9th of September, 1857, form for
themselves Constitution and State Gov
ernment, which said Convention having
asked the admission of the Territory into
the Union as State on equal footing
with the original States, &C., carried. =
Insert enacting paragraph.
Secondly, to amend the second section
by inserting the following clause: that
not hinr in this act shall hp construed 70