The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-30
Kansas in Congress.

We are upon the threshold of the final con-
fli,I in Congress upon the Kansas question.
The immortal John Calhoun, with that ever
lasting Lecompton constitution in bis breeches
pocket may turn up at any moment on Penn
sylvania avenue. 1t is not certain that he will
give the President the opportunity for regular
message upon the subject, inasmuch as the
Lord Protector" may prefer to carry his
parchments directly to the Capitol. There can,
ministration. The President and his Cabinet
are infexibly committed to the Lecompton con-
stitution, and in favor Of its ratification by both
houses and as fast as possible.
The President simply adheres to the law and
its responsibilities; and he is right. lie has no
alternative. Ills duty il to execute the law as
be finds it, aud to leave election frauds and
bogus returns to the local authorities, where
they belong Considerable noise in certain
quarters has been made concerning the alleged
frauds and thimblerigging Of Jack Calhoun -
and his confederates in the January Kan
sas elections, under the Lecompton pro-
gramme. But this matter is of no
sort of consequence in reference ITO
the legality of the Lecompton constitution
With the ratification of that document on the
2lst December Kansas according to the &c
quirements Of the Kansas Nebraska bill. be
came q State, awaiting her admission into the
Union. For all the election frauds, bogus re-
turns and false elections reports, therefore that
have occurred in Kansas since the 2lst Deem
Der, the State authorities and the people of
Kansas are alone responsible. And as the RENE
dies for these lawless proceedings are beyond
the reach of the administration and of Congress,
it is not the business of either 10 NEEDLE with
in this matter they trespass beyond the bounda-
ries Of both popular and State sovereignty.
How stands Mr.. Douglas? He has deserted
his own bantling, the Kansas Nebraska bill, and
has gone over TO the enemy. We speak from
the record. On the 18th March, 1856, Mr.. Doug
las, from the Committee on Territories, report
ed a bill Ito authorize the people of the Terri
tory Of Kansas TO form constitution and State
government preparatory TO their admission into
the Union" The third section Of that bill con-
tanned the following clause
That the following propositions be- and the Same are beye
by offered TO the said Convention OF the people of
when formed for their free acceptance or rejection which
accepted by the Convention, and rai6ef by s pos al
the election for tho dd7tion " he consittu;, y, shall be
obligatory on the United States and the State OF Kansas
Here we have popular ratification distinctly
ordained But in the bill as finally amended
(the Toombs bilD and passed by the Senate,
with the active co-opersv6n Of. Mr.. Douglas, in
lieu of the foregoing clause, contains the fol-
lowing
Sec. ~ And be further enacted that the following
propositions be- and the hereby offered 10 the
said Convention OF The people Of Kansas for their free ac
ceptance or rejection which, accepted by the Conven
ton shall be obligatory on the United States and upon the
said State OF Kansas.
Here the Constitutional Convention is made
the decisive exponent of the will of the
people Of Kansas. And such was the position,
of Mr.. Douglas upon popular sovereignty ~
1856, But that was before the Presidential
election. u WAS the pressure Of the Kansas
Nebraska bill upon Illinois in that election
that turned the head OF the Little Giant but