Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-03-31
From Washington.
w ashingtOn. March 81.

1neN set fortn the frauds at the cleo
ton and the irregularity and illegality
OF the Lecompton Constitution. They
challenge investigation into the state
ment put forth. The whole purpose of
the Committee having been thwarted
IN the refusal Of the majority to enter
upon q full and fair Investigation, they
submit that the facts already proven
are enough to establish the position
they maintain to the fullest extent.
First, those on investigation ought to
have been a Committee with the pow
er and disposition to send for papers
and persons.
I'd. That the President has been
nlsintomed and badly advised in rela-
ton to the condition Of parties in Kan
Sas.
Sd. That in proportion as Congress
has relaxed its power over Territories,
that of the Executive has increased.
and that all the difficulties cannot be
improved until Congress shall resume
It's entire constitutional authority.
4th. That the maligned Topeka Con
St'tution was the act of the people of
Kansas, and accords now more with
the will of the people than any other,
and is more entitled to the respects of
Kansas.
5th. That the plighted faith of the
nation was pledged to the people OF
Kansas that any Constitution which
might be named, should be submitted
to them for approval or disapproval,
which has not yet been done.
9th. That there is no unimpeachable
evidence to show that the Constitution
presented by John Calhoun is the iden-
teal one agreed upon by the Lecomp-
ton Convention before it adjourned.
18th. That the Lccompton Constitu-
ton is Illegal in conception and there
fore void, and if this were not so, then
by action Of the Territorial legislature
the people have been enabled to vote
for or against, and have emphatically
rejected it.
March %. Mr.. Douglas spoke three
hours this evening to an immense au-
| dlence. There were no vacant places
IN the galleries, and the reporters We're
OVerrun by invading border rufiianS.-
The floor OF the Senate was crowded
with ladies.
Mr.. Douglas referred to his course on
the slavery question from the time of
the admission OF Texas. Congress,
he said, eventually decided that new
Territories should chose their domes-
tic policy for them:elves, and for want
OF power to carry out his own meas
ures, he agreed with their new line of
policy with view Of healing sectional
strife, and restoring peace to the coun-
try. His object was to localize, not to
sectionallze, slavery. The people of
Illinois. on sober reflection, approved
OF his course, and the Legislature, with
great unanlmity, passed resolutions to
that effect. Subsequently, as 4 Sena-
tor Of that State, and a member of the
Democratic party, he felt it his duty to
| apply to the kansas-N ebraska act the
principles which had been substituted
for the geo2rAphlcaI lne-Doth par
ties were pledged to It, The exact
words Of that principle are, that it is
not intended to legiSlate slavery into
any Territory, but to lead the people to
regulate their own affairs. Now, said
Dir. d., the question arises, is the Lee
compton Constitution in accordance
with the principles Of the Compromise
Of 1850, and in accordance with the or
ganic act, and have the people ofKan-
sas been left to manage their own aft
fairs In their own way, subject only to
the Constitution of the United States e?
Does the Lecompton Constitution en-
body the will Of the people of Kansas?
If it does, you have the right to admit
her in the Union, and waive any irrec-
ularity that may have occurred in minor
details.
The whole action of this House turns
on this, whether or not they give free
expression Of their will in that account:
but what evidence have we that it is
so? He would refrain from going into a
report OF how many votes were fraudu-
lent; but supposing them all legal, how
can we accept it as the will of the peo-
pie, when they could only vote for and
against it? and at the subsequent cleo
ton against it there were 10000
This was evidence to his mind that Le-
compton is not the expression of the
will Of the people.
1t has been said that the election Of
December 2lst, was legal, and that on
January 4th was not legal. Where do
You find law that legaizes the election
of December 2lst, only under the law
Of the Lecompton Constitution, which,
if it possessed as much as it received
from the Legislature, and if so, the Leg
islature possessed as much power on
January 4th, as On December 2lst, and
Feb goth.
Mr.. Douglas referred to Calhoun's let
ter, recently published, saving that he
thinks Delaware Crossing gives the leg
islature to the free state men. It was
of no Importance what Mr.. Calhoun
thought, but the facts of them are i'm
porta1t, as on them depends the integ-
rity Of the vote-as Mr.. Calhoun is alb
sent, it is satisfactory for the deposed
President to address letter to the ed
itor of the Star, stating his private
opinion.
He would like to know what the