Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-01-02
GonaressionaI Ne@s.


Yesterday, Mr.. Bigler said That no one re-
gretted more than himself to perceive that
the discussion on the Kansas policy oil the
Administration was to be precpltated upon
the Senate and the country. lie preferred
to avoid discussion until the result OF the
election on the slavery clause had transpired'
and until Kansas should present herself Tor
admission as a State. But the Senator from
Illinois (Mr. Douglass) made different
policy necessary and proper, and ro aitetna-
tive was left to the friends OF the Adminis-
traton but to respond.
In his opinion, the great speech oil the
Senator with all due respect, was, alter al,
huge structure resting on very unsounu
aud insufficient foundation; and what was
still more extraordinary, it was sustained 10
no nconsiderabe extent by the same autnor,
tiles and ideas which, to his MT; biglet =
understanding, had been used on former ana
similar occasions against him by the enemies
Of the Democratic party.
Mr.. Douglas Uliinois) replied, saying tnat
he had no fault to find with the senator
from Pennsylvania for making series oil
attacks on his consistency while omlttDg 10
answer bis arguments. Some persons hau
furnished him with the records of the votes
of the Senator on the Wimot Proviso, and
some former speeches relative TO hahsus
matters. lie knew not whether they were
true or false. but what had they to 40 WIN
the question now presented. lie dld not
understand the motives for ransackng the
public records and newspapers, and picking
up every little scrap to see what his course
had been for twelve years past on tie snplect
of slavery. Suppose it was true thai IN 1910
he was in favor Of extending the MlssourI
Comnromise to the Pacific ocean. as recoih-
mended hy Mr.. Buchanan in his letter the
year preceding, and supposlng 1t ls true ,nat
in 1854. he introduced bill for the repeal OF
that Compromise, Of which the iresideht
says he now approves. All these things are
not material TO the argument Inc true
issue was whether popular sovereignty TO
which the President ard himself were pledged
should be violated in Kansas.
lie thought the Senator from Fennsylva-
nia showed q want OF caudor aud fairness in
quoting from his Springfield Speech and
omitting to quote what he said on the same
subject the other day-whieh was perfectly
in harmony with his previously expressed
,r2inions lie thought Gov. Walker was
anthorjz,l to say what he did in his inangu-
rol address be rTc instructions Of the Pre-
sidant and his cabinet-t? demand that the
Constitution be submitted, ana G9ieSs II was
submitted, ii should be regarded as nrL ,.Nu
void lie was not aware that Gov. WALKER
had intorlered, in the slightest degree, except
in pursuance Of these instructions. lie
never supposed that the agent was to be de-
nounced for obeyiug instructions, aud the
principal applauded for giving them.
He admired the manliness of the President
in assuming the responsibility to give them,
and only regretted that the President pro-
J,usus from motives Of eypediency, to accept
the Constitution without ratifcation.by the
people, although he admits it ought TO be
submitted. fit is right to submit it, let it
be submitted. Let policy and expediency
take care Of themselves. He complained
that Senator 3. from Pennsylvania seemed
disposed to put him in a false position. The
true test is, the Constitution must be en-
,dlrsed by the popular will. If not, it must
be rejected. Tie only true way of ascer-
tanning whether the Constitution is acceptable
or not, is to submit it to the people.
Mr.. Bigler explained, that he did not say
that Mr.. Douglas maintained that the era
bling act was necessary in all cases, but that
he had taken ground that it was necessary
in the case Of Kansas The Senator from
Illinois has disposed OF his own argument, by
saying he was not always consistent, and
that wise man will change his views when
ever he thinks himself wrong.
Mr.. Douglas wanted to know hy what
authority Mr.. Biglcr said the Lecompton
movement was an Administration movement.
Had he any higher authority on which 20
base his argument than that document?
Mr.. Biger replied that he had made the
deduction fIom the Message, and from what
he knew. Iu addition, he did not assert in
terms that the Lecompton movement was an
a Administration measure, but said the Ad-
lniujstratioa held the movement as legal, so
far as If had progressed. How could the
President make such recommendation
prior to the result Of the vote, which, as he
says in his Message, be is waiting for
Mr.. Douglas repeated that be should like
TO know what other source Of information
Mr. Bigler had, as that Senator had that
much advantage Of him.
Mr.. Biger said he was not at liberty to
cav this was an Administration measure, and
allow Mr.. Douglas to define what it is.
Mr.. Douglas again wanted TO know what
those other sources of Information were
which authorized the Senator to read men
out of the party for not sustaining that mea-
sure.
Mr.. Bgler denied that he said one word
about reading men out OF the party. l;d
Dir. Douglas mean TO make no issue with the
Administration When he makes an issue,
cannot he tell what it isl
Mr.. Douglas-The Senator did not use the
words but he intimated strongly to that
effect. He seemed to be carrying ont the
system which has beel pursued for the last
fewweeks by every pensioned writer, intma-
ting that douglas had deserted the Demo
cratic party, and gone over TO the Rep lbli-
cans"
MI Bigler-I deny any such accusation
said that the Senator's position excited q
momentary qualification on the other side of
the Chamber and regret on this side.
Mr.. Douglas replied that he had been de-
nouuced by men who were willing to sink the
Administration for the purpose of killing of
Northern men. That every press which can
be controlled, is thus controlled, is undeniable.
But look at nineteen. .twentieths Of the inde-
pendent press-those which do not depend
on the Government for support; they are
with him in sustaining the Democratic party
and the Cincianati platform. But the few
who are not allowed to speak for themselves
are endeavorng to drive him where they
could not drive him-to desert the principles
averred and maintained by the Democratic
party. He wanted to know whether every
man is to be driven out of the party because
he does not coincide with the President OF
the question of the Pacific Railroad, and the
Bankrupt Law, as applied to BanksI
Mr.. Bigler responded negatively.