American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-04-01
DeuEla., speech--seenes aud .Incideuts.
LNvFIe'I''NvVnV9 - > ItIuuhe.I
WAsHINercN. March % ifha.

eShoVelF uetVtc tFn y rlock, L loun0 IL IN
possession cf mob of both sexes, and OF
all ages, swarming on the stsirways. in
the Rotunda, ard in the veslibules to the
S-nate Chamber. Apparently half the
adult populstion Of the city had poured up
to the Capitol 10 hear Douglas. Making
my way with increasing difficulty towards
sthe reporters gallery. | was arrested at
sthe foot pf the staircase leadlr g to it by a
dense mass Of humanity. whose power OF
resistance not even cannon ball could
have overcome. | could not so much as
get = sight ofthe entrance, much less reach
il. Passing with diff -ulty into the room
in front Of the main door of the Senate,
found il filled with ladies'. sparselsy inter
mixed with distracted Senator's, each o.
whom was vainly endeavoring to convince
half score OF his fair acquaintance Iha,
nothing couIi he got into which was
already over1owing. and that consequently
II was useless TO attempt to get them seats
in the galleries A ew Of the more gal.
lint Senators male an attempt 10 get per
mission granted to introduce ladies ID the
floor for this special occasion; but ohj.c
ton was made BY some crustv oil Lecomp
tonites. who were by no means pleased al
so striking manifestation of the extent o.
Douglas popularity as was offered by thi,
Immense gathering of the people.
Alter Spending an hour or two in vain
attempts to gst within ear shot of the Sen
ate, abandoned the attempt on karning
that an arrangement had heen Just been
made bv which Mr.. Douglas was to with
hol ! his speech until oclosk. Dater
mined not TO b exclude rom the gallery
y seeoni time. | want at b o'clock .tw,
hours before the tins The puhlic gale
.ries were already crowded. AMI the re
porter's gallery was half full During tbt
two hours that interviewed before The oprn
ing of the session. the pressure Of the mul
titud, for admittance was almost frightfu
About six O'Clock, t beea1 impossihI,
to crowd ano'her person into the galleries
That OF the reporters overhowed with ex
.tempOrised members OF the press, who
were so numerous and so closely wrigheC
togstter that the doorkeeper, after vain at
temps to silt hem o 1t and separate th'
wheat from the chatf, gave up the attemp
in despair. At this time Mrs. Doupla
arrived at ths Senate Oh ,mber 1t wa
impossbls to get her seat in the ladies'
galleries. and an order from the Vice Pres
id4nt with diff 'ul'y procured her a1mis
SION into the reporters gallery
A little before 7 o'clork Douglas enter
ed, AMI was greeted with loud applause b,
the galleries. AS soon az The Senate oam
TO order, motion was made and carr+t
to admit the ladies' to the floor. Tho door
wsre Immediately opAnei and grea
throug poured in. Without any prelimi
nary form. except the reading of the til
of the bill for the admission Of X ansss. Mr
Douglas arose. He looked pale and care
worn. and his voice At FIRST was feeble an,
uncertain. As he went on il acquired it
customary ring and force. and he spok
with all his wonted animation.
10 the argument tha the Constitution
could be changed. Mr.. Douglas replied
that made no difference whatevrr IT,
principle involved was the same, whethe
you forced the Constitution IN Kansas 70
aday or fora year or for ten ye.rs. Yo
set precedent which unprinripIed me
heresiter would use to the perverson Nm
destruction Of our liberties But h ar
gned the Constitution con not he chang
ed The clause prohibiting change bslol
1854 W sa sutfi liant bar TO all change be
fore that time But no matter for that. =
You have M right to orce that C,nstitu
tion upon X ,nsss Tor dav; fSr an hou
no, not lor nm instant N. .ither have yo
right TO intervene and rnnstrue or chang
State ConsIiIuli n, IL this privilege b
conceded TO Congress, iare well to Stat
rights, farewell to State Sovereignty, fare
we'll to all restraint upon Federal power
Your States will become Sovinces of n
more 'cronnt than SO many counties.
Mr., DOuylss than went into an elabo
rat, argumsn against the right oI Congrr,
to pl,ce y construction on tha Constitute
that should he binding on Kansas.
Mr.. Hammond, Of South Carolina, il
qulret II Congress had not right to loo
in'o Constitution to construe it, ho
could Congress determine whether or not
Constitution was rrpu 'lnan in form?
Mr., Dou las replied that Congress h
q right TO look into Constitution in ord,
TO govern It's own action, hut not TO COZ
sirue it s. as TO hin the people of n Stat
Mr.. Douglas next entered into an el
animation of Pugh'ss smendment. He W.
At loss TO know what Was to be accon
ptshed by the amendment. He couI
conceive hut one moliva, an that was
lead the pso0le to suppose that they ha
got secured TO them right which the
had not really got. Il was inlenied mer
iy Ia obvate an Objection without r-al
removing that ohjec ion. He bel tn
Congress had no right to make any sue
pTovlso as that contempt tied by Puyh
amendment. lie warned those who Wei
induced TO support that am-nlm-nt
hopes OF calcning little popular favor f
the preparation OF The enorm us fraud
the Lecomrton Constitution.
hr. Douglas next inquired whether Il
pso le 4 Kansas had bern perfectly fr
10 frame their own Constiiu ion. Tie he
ged The Senators from the South TO rrhe
what woull have been their feelings Al
their artion il the ease had been reverse
IL three iourths Of the people we're slav
holders, AMI BY fraud and violence, u Co
ventioa, composed three fourlhs of Ere
soilers. had got together and framed
AMI Slavery Constitution. AMI had sent
TO Congress, and h d attempted force
upon k'nsas, Whist would you have sal
Would YOU h We thought il C.ii and ho