Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-04-17
The Position Of the Lecompton Ques-
ton.


The Position Of the Lecompson Cues
ton.
The question in regard 70 tne az
mission Of Kansas seems now to be
further from a settlement than ever.
The House on Wednesday on mo-
ton of Mr.. Montgomery resolved by q
vote of yeas los, nays l07, to adhere
to his amendment, thus virtually de-
feating the proposition for the appoint
ment Of q committee to confer with a
committee Of the Senate and settle
some basis upon which the matter
could be arranged. We have always
sustained the administration in advoca-
ting the original bill as it was intro
duccd into the Senate, and we have as
vet seen no reason to change our
opinion.
The amendment Of Mr.. Green, with
which the bill passed the Senate, we
have always considered as superfiuous'
as 1t no wise changed the effect OF the
bill.
But under this amendment there
can be no question as to the right OF
the people of Kansas, Immediately up
on its admission as State, to alter
their constitution in relation to slavery,
or in any other manner.
We therefore think the course OF the
Democrats in the House, in refusing
to pass the bill unless clogged with the
Crittenden- Montgomery amendment,
unreasonable however honest we may
consider them in the position they
have taken.
They have so bent their minds upon
the idea of a submission of the Consti-
tuition to the people before any action
is had by Congress, that they are un-
able to see that the original bill, would
effect the object for which they are ul-
timately contcnding; or to understand
the detrimental result Of pursuing the
course which they have adopted.
The Senate bill, if passed, would give
the people OF Kansas-if such is their
desire-an opportunity to change
their Constitution in much shorter
space of time than by the Montgomery
bill, besides saving; to the general
Government, the expense Of another
election and, to the country, the inju-
rious effects of prolongation Of the
Kansas excitement.
By the Senate bill the Constitution
could be changed within a month at
ter the passage of the act, whereas the
amendment Of Mr., Montgomery would
necessiate an election, the calling of a
new Constitutional convention and a
second election; which would occupy
at least six months and perhaps year.
During that time the excitements in
the Territory would be renewed, for
political purposes, and the subject would
be fruitful source Of discord upon
every question which presented itself
for the consideration of Congress.
We trust that the two houses will ap-
point committees Of conference, and
that some practicable plan will soon be
agreed upon, which will dispose of the
vexatious question at once.
The people are tired of discussing
the matter-however, interesting it
may be to those who are anxious for
political preference-and they will
sustain any plan which will shortly
and easily settle the matter forever.
The Republicans will Of course op-
pose the measure to the last, as set
Element Of the Kansas question would
"use up their thunder" Kansas has
now "bled and shrieked" during more
than three years, for the benefit Of the
Republicans. Let the matter now be
settled, for the sake of the Territory it.
self, for the sake Of the people.
Since writing the above, we learn
by telegraph, that vote was taken on
Wednesday evening upon motion by
Mr.. English, for the appointment of a
of a conference committee, which re-
suited in tic, of los to los. The
Speaker then voted in the affirmative,
which carried the resolution.
The darkest part of the night is just
before day; SO but few hours before
the vote was taken upon the motion mat
tiers looked peculiarly unfavorablc for
its passage. There is now some hope
that conclusion can be arrived at.
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