The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-03-25
burned tn Monday next.
Monday, March %, 1853.
SENATE

Mr.. Stuart, of Michigan, reafirmed his oppo
sition to the admission of Kansas under the
Lecompton Constitution-an opposition which
he based 'singly and solely on the fact that that
instrument was a trick and fraud practiced
upon the people of the Territory. The question
OF Slavery formed no element whatever in de.
termining his decision.
Mr.. y. then reviewed the recent course of DO
ltcal events in Kansas, and defended the lie.
gality OF the election held on the 4th of Jsnu.
airy, under authority of the Territorial Leeisla.
ture, submitting the whole Constitution to a
popular vote. To the declaration of the Pres.
ident, that Kansas is now "as much slave
State as South Carolina and Georgia be re-
piled by adducing the fact that it was now gov.
erned by Territorial laws, and presided over
by officials who held their appointment from
the Federal Government Are these the rnarks
of StateF sa
The speaker then sdverted to the conduct of
John Calhoun, the President of the Leconpton
Convention, who, as Acting Governor Denver
states under oath, had said that he intended 10
canvass votes and count returns of the late
elections up to the day that Congress shall
have finally disposed of the pending question.
and that too, in the face of the Lecompton
Constitution itself, which, by its schedule or.
dams that all returns shall be made within
eight days after the election. How had This
man executed his trust? In way which not
only inspired suspicion, but compelled con.
tempt by Its transparent baseness. He had
never believed that this gigantic fraud could be
successfully carried ont, and he now reioiced
to know that the defeat of the Lecompton Con.
sttution was assured. n.
MIR. Bayard, of Delaware, feeling it his duty
TO assign the reasons which would coutrol his
nrn 3oe1f m =. 4. = -.
Kansas into the Union under the Lecomnton
Constitution. .|rI.l i =
In regard to the question of submitting Con.
sltutons to a popular vote, he approved the
wisdom and policy of the general principle.
But, as the people cannot vote on eyerv provis.
ion OF Constitution in detail, he held it wise
in the present case to submit the single oues-
tion IN conference.-the question of Slavery.
And this Constitution, even as adopted, merely
tolerates (not establishes) STRENGTHENING It
in the power of the Legislature to abolish the
institution at will, on compensation paid to the
present owners. ID Is
Mr.. Bayard next criticised at great length
the Topeka Constitution, with the view of show
ing that It was revolutionary or rebellious in
its origin and purport. Examining the effect
OF the vote taken on the Constitution BY au-
thority of the Legislature, he held it null and
void in point of law; and it's effect, moreover
was rebutted by the fact that on the same day,
in the election for State officers, twelve thou.
saad votes were cast which recognised the Lee
compton MISUNDERSTANDING two thousand more
than purport to have been thrown against it.
The instant admission of Kansas would To-
caize the agitation of Slavery, while her rejec
toi would create the impression in the South
ern States-an impression, however, in which
he did not share-thst she was rejected simply
because her Constitution tolerated Slavery, and
because dominant majority in Congress was
ALREADY pledged to resist the future admission
of any more slave States.
Mr.. Broderick, of California, spoke in oppo-
sitisn to the admission of Kansas under the
LeSompton Constitution.
Referring to the passage Of the Kansas-Ne-
brslka bill, he argued to show that it was a
measure which could not but enure to the
bens6t of the free States--opening as it did ell
the Territories of the Union to the competition
of freedom and Slavery, competition which
the latter was unequal to wage. In reply to
MrIHammond, he asserted that Gold, not Cot
ton, was King, and that California produced
the Eormer to an amount sufficient to buy half
the whole crop of the latter. he hoped the
tint would soon come when such speeches as
thof OF Mr.. Hammond, in disparagement of
the laboring classes, would rouse the working
mel of the whole country, not excepting South
CaDlina, to sense of their rights and dignity.
discussing the pending bill, hs character