Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-04-07
TH1RTY.FIFTH CONGRESS.

THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
Senate.-Wa Washington, April 2, 1858. The
business transacted during the morning hour
was of an unimportant description.
The Kansas bill from the House was ta-
ken up.
The amendment was read, whereupon Mr..
Green IMo.) said that, without further expla-
nation, he would submit his motion to disagree
with the House.
Mr.. Bigler took the floor.
Mr.. Green (Mo.) submitted motion, with
out comment to disagree to the House amend
| ment to the Kansas bill.
| Mr.. Bigler considered the amendment as
clear violation of the Democratic principle
that Congress would not interfere with the
| right of the people of the Territories to gov
ern themselves. Under that principle, he had
| hoped to see the fraternal sight of two States,
| one Slave and the other Free, coming into the
Union together. He was against the amend
ment, because it sets aside what the people of
Kansas have already done. The amendment
provides that, if the present Constitution be
voted down, the people of Kansas call Con-
| vention to frame new one, on which the Pres
ident may admit her by proclamation. She
thus becomes a State without coming before
Congress at all. What guarantee against a.
| buse is there in this Who knows if the
Constitution that may be framed will be re-
publican in form, or may not contain inadmis-
sable features? There were many insidious
features about this measure of the Houses
which pleased the public eye, but he trusted
that we were near the close of the Kansas tur-
moil. The agitation of Slavery was spread
ing like upas, poisoning the channels of in
tercourse between the great parties of the
| Union. He had hoped that the Slavery feud
would have been set at rest by Kansas coming
into the Union under the Senate bill.
Mr.. Douglas (Ill.) had hoped, with the Sem
ator from Pennsylvania, that the question
would have been settled in accordance with
those Democratic principles which had been
the rule of his (Douglas's) life. He thought
that if the amendments were concurred in by
the Senate, it would be the triumph of those
principles and bring peace and quiet. The
Senators on the other side urge as reason fo1
, the admission of Kansas, that it will bring
peace. Why not then admit her We can
do it in an hour by asserting to this amend.
ment. Concur with the House, and the action
right to make Constitution to suit herself
, Let men of all parties and sections then unite
in settling the contention.
After replying to Mr.. Bigler's opinion that
this was a violation of Democratic principles
: Mr.. Douglas referred to the Presidents Mes
sage, aluding TO Kansas and Nebraska, and
asked if the President had abandoned the
, Democratic party. The object of the refer
ence of the Constitution to the people is simp-
ly to ascertain if it is an embodient of their
will, if it is their act and deed and it is the
, duty of Congress to see that it is the embodi
ment of their will before making it their fun
| damental law. The Senator from Pennsylva
5 mia had cited the case of Florida. Florids
was no precedent, and proves nothing excep
: to engraft on the action of Government the
, principle that there is no need of Constitu
, tion to be the will of the people. Such reas
oning strikes at the root of all free Govern
, ments-strikes the props from all parties, Dem
ocratic, American and Republican. The House
, had amended the bill in such wise that it nov
, accomplishes two great points-one, that i
S settles this Kansas excitement; another, tha
D it recognizes the right of the people of Kansas
r to frame their own institutions. Why, then
not all unite and vote for the amended bill
D and thus settle the Kansas questions Vot'
for it, and the right of the people is recog
nized vote for it, and State rights and SOW
t ereignty are preserved; vote for it, and ther'
is peace in the country.
!, Mr.. Pugh (Ohio)-Explained the reason
+ which would influence him to vote against th
S House amendment.
: No other Senator offering remarks, Mr.
: Green's motion was adopted by Yeas 80, Nay
%. Nays-Messrs. Broderick Cameron, ,Chand
Ter, Clark, Collamer, Crittenden, Dixon, Doc
g little, Douglas, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Hale
). HamIin, Harlan, King, Seward, Simmons
9 Stuart, Trumbull, Wade, Wilson.
Absent-Messrs. Bates, Davis, Durkee, Hen
c derson, Reid, Sumner, Toombs.
e The Senate was crowded, but not much ex
a citement manifested. After several calls 70
g the yeas and nays, made to prevent Mr.. Doug
: las from taking up the Minnesota bill, tn
{ Senate adjourned till Monday.
:
}, The Onion is a superior distinctive. Tw
: or three good-sized ones, cut in halves, an
placed on the floor, absorb the noxious ei
U fiuvia, &c. which are generally in the sick
y room in an incredibly short space of time