The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-02-27
Reports on Kansas Affairs in tho
Senate.
WASHINTON. Feb. Is

WAsHINToN, Feb. Is.
The report made, to-day by Mr.. Green
from the Senate Committee Oh Territories,
rectes at length the events that have oc-
CURED in Kansas, and asserts that the major
ity Of the people may simply, as in ancient
days, assemble m mass meeting and make a
Constitution, or they may elect representa-
tiyes to draft one to be submitted for their
approval or rejection. The last method has
been most approved during the last few
years though formerly the second method
Was geGerAlly resorted to. In calling con-
vent,On for this case it was conceded to have
been strictly legal, as was also the election of
delegates. Was it too logical to infer that
the Convention so legally elected and clothed
with authority to make Constitution, can
no more be interieIed with by the Governor,
Judge or Legislature, either to increase or
diminish It's power, or to alter, modify or
nulliy It's acts, than that the peope could be
mteriered with had they assembled en- m.asse
instead of by their representatives.
In conclusion, the Committee say that the
abolitionisls in Kansas have thus lar sought
power by methods unknown to the law, and
by acs OF violence, and not through the
peaceful agency of the ballot hot. Claiming
to have majority Of voters in the Territory,
and therelCre able to elect Legislature and
Convention, they Yet ask Congress to wrong
fully do for them what they may at legal
times and legal places rightiully do for them
sclve,-that is to change or abolish their Con-
stitutiOn-and in Case Congress rcfus d to
comply with their Constitutional demands,
they threaten - afflIct the country with
blOodshed and rcvolution unless Congress
viii DO for them what they assert they are
not anxious to do for themselves, they threat
en- to plunge the country into civil war
This conduct is So exceedingly unreasonable
as to force the conviction upon the mind that
they are conscious of being in q powerless
minority, and only hope to be able to CON-
pare their understandable ends by departing
from the general ways of peace and quiet
Ii your Committee are not greatly mistaken,
these reckless men misjudge the American
people, and will be required to seek peaceful
methods for the redress of all their grievan-
ces, whether they be real or imaginary. The
bill recites that the people of Kansas have
framed for themselves constitution and State
government, republican in form, and that the
LecOmpton Convention has in their name and
behalf asked Congress to admit her there
fore it is declared that Kansas be admitted
into the Union on an equal footing with the
original states, in all respects whatevcr.-
The bill also prescribes the boundary, con-
tains the usual regulations relative to grants
of public lands, as in the case of Minnesota,
and gives Kansas for the resent one repre
sentative liz the House of Representatives.
Mr.. Douglas in his report dissents from the
views of the majority, for the reason, among
nf &c 4
the Constitution framed at Lecompton is the
act and deed OF the people of Kansas, or en-
bodies their will. He shows that the Con-
vention was not clothed with competent pow
cr to establish the Constitution without the
assent of Congress, which has been expressly
withheld in this case (; hence the Convention
only had such power as the Territorial Iegis.
lature could riehtfully confer, and no more,
which was 10 form Constitution and send it
to Congress as memorial for admission,
which could be accepted or rejected accord
ing as it embodied the popular will that all
the proceedings of the Convention should
have been held in strict obedience to the au.
| thority Of the Territorial Government. as well
as with the consent of Congress that the
only lawful election held on the adoption OF
the Constitution Was that on the fourth of Jan
uary last, which was in obedience to the law
passed Ly the Territorial Legis AZURE, estab-
lished by Congress, with full legislative pow
er on all rightful subjects within the Terri
tory.
Messrs. COllamer and Wade submitted
their views. They say that the Territorial ora,
| government OF Kansas was never o'sai'iZeu
as provided for in the organic act, tnat 's' oy
its own people, but was usurPed oy Iore'sn
anS ~ ,bst the 'niu,rtv was installed in power
which has ever since been sustained by the
General Government instead Of being exam
med into and corrected. This has been
done to establish and perpetnatc slavery
The Ieconp,o on Constitution is the result
these proceedings, Contrary to the will of the
ureat majority of the people legally express.
I'd. for Congress in its discretion t. consum-
mate this protrac'ed atrocity, and especial
" for such purp se as violation of the
fundamental principles of Republican Gov