The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-25

sion into the Union, which could be accepted
or rejected, according as it embedded the pop
ular will that all the proceedings of the Con
vention should have been held in strict obedi
ence to the authority of the Territorial Govern.
ment, while, in fact, it was declared to be in
force in absolute defiance of tie Territorial
Government, as well as without the consent OF
Congress (; that the only lawful election held
on the adoption of the Constitution was that
OF the 4th of January, 1858, which was in
obedience to law Of the Territorial Legisla.
! ture.
Mr.. Collamer also submitted the views of the
minority in another document, quite volumin-
GUS, though not as much so IS its predecessors,
signed by himself and Mr.. Wade, the closing
paragraph of which is as follows:
This Lecompton Constitution and its adop-
/ ton was concocted and executed to supersede
| the triumph of justice. To admit it by Con-
gress Is but to give success to fraud and en-.
enlargement to ipiquity, and to turn over that
people, not to an election fairly and legally con-
Quoted, bat to such State officers and legisla-
tors as said Calhoun shall hereafter proclaim,
and on such contingency as he shall determine |;
and his long mysterious AID inexcusable indie
clslon and reserve, but encourages expectations
IN both parties, one of which is certainly doomed
to disappointment"
These reports, with the dissentient opinions
OF the minority, were ordered to be printed,
MIR. Green giving notice that, as soon as that
was accomplished, he should take some early
day TO call them up.
On motion by Mr. Wilson.
Resolred, That the President of the United
States be reques ed to inform the Senate whether
any otficer Of the civil service Ct the United
States in the Territory of Kansas are absent
from their posts 10 said Territory, and, if so,
the reason therefor.
Mr.. Foot called up the resolution submitted
by him on the 10th instant in relation to @
plan for the accommodation of reporters in the
eastern gallery which, after expiration by
Mr.. Foot, was agreed to.
Increase of the Army-The Senate resumed
the consideration OF the bill to increase the
military establishment of the United States,
when the question was taken On striking out
the 4th section, and decided in the affirmative
by the following vote:
Heas-Messrs. Allen, Bell, Cameron, Chand-
Ter, Collamer, Crittenden Dixon, Dooittle, Dur
kee, Fessendeu, Foot, F Foster, Gwin, Hale, Hous-
ton, Hunter, Mason. Seward, Simmons, Stuart
Thomson of New Jersey, Toombs, Wade, and
Wilson-24
Nays-Messrs. Bayard, Biggs, Bgler, Bright,
Brown, Clay, Evans, Fitch, Green, Hsmlin,
Hammond, Harlan, Iverson, Johnson of Arkan.
cas-, johnson of Tennessee, Jones, Mallory,
Folk, Pugh, Sebastian, Siidell, Thompson of
Kentucky, and Wright-23.
A protracted debate then ensued, as to the
relative merits of the various amendatory prop
ositions, In which Messrs johnson of Tennes.
see, Hunter, Hale, Gwin, Simmons, Iverson
Seward, Biggs, and Brown, participated when
the Senate, after resisting several motions to
adjourn, finally, at few minutes before five
o'clock, adjourned, on call of the yeas and
nays, by vote of II to l6.
HOUSE.
The Indian Appropriation BiU-The House
went into Committee of the Whole, mr.. Hop
kins, of Virginia, in the chair,) and resumed
the consideration of the Indian appropriation
bill
Mr. Shorter, of Alabama, addressed the Com
mittee on the subject of Kansas, and called at
tention to certain resolutions of his State to the
effect that if Kansas ia refused admission under
the Lecompton Constitution, State Conven-
ton shall be held Immediately, to consider what
course shall be adopted. He was aware that
the right of State secession was denied but let
Alabama once declare in her sovereign capaci-
ty that she is no longer member of this Con-
federacy, and her sons would be prepared to
defend her in the forum or the field.
There were two parties in his State, the Se-
cession and the Union parties, and the struggle
between them had heen long and warm. They
finally acceded to the compromise measures,
but were pledged to the Georgia platform. so
called, and would consider the rejection of Kan
eas as a measure calling for a dissolution of the
Union. Kansas was before them with Con.
stitution legally adopted and republican in form,
and the only true ground of opposition to her
admission was, that her Constitution recognised
Slavery. There were special pleas interposed
by portion of the National Democracy, but
they were all grouudless. He respected more the
bold and manly opposition of the FreeSoilers
on the ground of Slavery. He defed them, and
babe them Lay on, Macduf"
He contended that if Kansas was refused ad-
mission into the Union, she would then be an
Independent, sovereign State, outside of the
Union.
He was not at all surprised at the opposition
of the Republican party, but he was overcome
with astouishment at the sudden detection of
portion of the Northern wing Of the National
Democracy, who pledged themselves at Cincin-
natl to vote for the admission of Kansas, with
or without Slavery, as its Constitution might
determine. He believed that it was never in
tended by the North to admit Kansas with Sa-
very. The Administration bad appointed all
its Governors from the North, and all Free
Sellers, up to the great Southern traitor, Rob-
ert j. Walker; and all the efforts of Govern
ment had been aimed at sacrificing Southern
rights in that Territory upon the altar of party
If it be true that the admission of Kansas would
light the fires Of civil war, he for one would let
them burn, though the Union should fall in the
confsgration. He would rather see the South
in the deep bosom of the ocean buried" than
to see her remain in the Union as the captive
of the North, her rights irampled upon, and
her institutions perpetually warred against.
He would prefer to see the South a captive of
Old England than of New England If the
Lecompton Constitution were sent back to the
people of Kansas, it would be inviting civil
war. The tramp of armed men would again
be heard in Kansas, her streams would run
blood, and Lawrence might again become a
smoking ruin. If Kansas were admitted the
South would gain nothing to which she was not
clearly entitled; and if rejected, the Democrat
ic party would go down forever. He trusted
that Alabama would take no step backward,
but would become the nucleus Of great
Southern Confederacy.
He had a sovereign contempt for the memory
of the Pilgrim fathers. The religion of Plym
outh Rock was hypocrisy and tanaticism-a
religion whose ministers violated the It'll COM
mandment in going to and from their evening
lectures, and, when exposed, were feted and ca
ressed by the fairer portion of the community.
He wa, glad the Yankees were in tight place,
as had been stated by the gentleman from Mas
sschusetts, Mr.. Thayer,] and hoped the South
would keep them there. He denied, however,
that slaveholding was necessary to secure So
eial position in the South, and asserted that
they had in the South only an aristocracy-
namely, the aristocracy Of color and race-of
the white man over the negro, the Circassian
over the African.
Mr.. Zollicotfer, of Tennessee, took occasion
to reply to the remarks of Mr.. Hatch, of New