The Washington union., 1858-03-12
SPEECH or sENAToE sEBasrIAN

The speech Of Mr.. Sebastian, of Arkansas deliv-
cred in the Senate on Wednesday hast has elected
many compliments not only from those persons who
were present and heard it. bnf also from those who
have read it As published Ia the Globs The argu-
On the legal right 81 Kansas to CLAIM. admission
into the Union is a complete answer 10 Mr.. Seward
and others who that il is not the proper ex
precision Of tlle viii Of the people Of Kansas, lie
discusses at length the provisions Of the Kansas
Nebraska bill lis legal force aud effects, The proEa-
gandisn resorted 10 through the Emigran sid So
ceiy control the character Of e institutions Of
Kansas aud demonstrates, by reference 10 well-
established facts the legality o. the State constitl-
ton. Towards the close Of his remarks lac takes
up the minority report Of Judge Douglas from the
Committee on Terriiories commenting especially
upon his allegations that the constitution Of Kansas
cannot be amended until after ls64 On this point
We quote part Of two paragraphs, which embrace
his views thereon and which viii serve to give our
readers a glimpse only Of the excellence Of the
speech from which it is taken:
la the remarks which jast aade have treated this
clause ia the constitution If il restriction inn
posed by the people themselves and suspension Of the
general right VI amendment the constitution until the
year 1864 There certain fundamental principles Of
American organic law which hope and irust are like
the laws the Mees and Persians unaiterahle There
are olher provisions which Had place constitl-
t0ns which should be subjected 10 change aud reform
when the viii OF the people duly expressed demands IL
This great and universal principle o American organic
law contained in the lall Of rights 1t declares
all political power inherent In the people and all free
governments founded their authority and insiit-
ted their benefit and therefore they have all times
inherent and indefeibie right To alter. reform aol
81. ,I,.
think rroIr- This Of those PRINCIPLES
Of which have said that they shond be eternal Iii logi-
cal form of government Ii il wrong then
representative and republican governments wrong
This right Is essential self government and while
wcaid deYTesate frequent s exercise and
would always limit that la su5oratioI 10 the of
law vet il s which Is FIRST in Importance and il is
better that should be subject To anse than limita
fiun This right Is theirs exercise all times and
cannef he psstpone1 suspended for a If 1t
be suspended ior period IL he indefinitely pof
pared and thus CONSTITUTIONS would he perpetual and
fornas of government immortal II this language OF the
Constitution hostile to- Inconsistent with the hl
rights il ust to that extent Weld 10 IFS superior author
This Of those original and reserved nights
the people delegat-d aiiensted by the people
neither surrendered suspended bat withheld from
the erant which mp just powers Of government
aid which enumerated in the constitution In this
supremacy between reserved rights and dele
gated power it easy To dtermne which Is the higher
and which the subordinate law.
hold however that there real hostility between
tess provisions The conflict plausible than READ
The l. the declaration of great principle of Amer
fundamental law, the other the regulation oi
the OF the exercise II this night Indeed the
latter clause does aly part OF the constitution
Of the articles VI the schedule which pro
vides against the inconvenience arising from change
government 1t finds place IN and forms part Of
the constitution the great charter prescribing the powers
OF government and regulating their exeTise. The right
alter the constitution such they
think proper is Of the rights retained the people
and this much condemned clause OF the schedule only
pTesrriles that a5aT the year 1864 Until then
the right untraneed and without prescribed form for
its