The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-06

FfHfny Ipru Zd ISoS, Me Htft0H 10
amendment of ne House n Representatives. 10 he bill admit
Kansas u,o the Union
REMARKS OF HON. WILLIAM BIGLER.
Mr.. BIGI.ER. Mr.. President i am not prepared 10
vcss on this question without first submitting few re-.
marks explanatory of the views which entertain do
not intend 10 delay the Senate by attempt mt an
mcnt, ut length against the House amendment shall
be content ~ state, very briefly of Che points
which l think involve conclusive objections to the
ia the first place, the adoption of this amendment in
wolves utter and violent abandonment OF the doctrine
OF non-interventon 1t presents the broad question
whether doctrine which the party to which belong
have cherished doctrinc which is found in the organic
law Of Kansas and which was enunciated in the demo-
cratic platform at Cincinnati is to be abandoned and we
arc to look for other system Of legislation with
gard to the Territories.
had hoped, sir that when the wise men of tNb yonn
try, with Clay and Webster, and Chss in the lead pre-
sene and adopted this new mode of settling the slavery
questionable enlarged aud liberal doctrine that when
t*c people of the Territories prepared for admission
AZ States, they should come in with without slavery
as the constitution presented by them might provide
the time would have proven finaity this ques-
ton In the liberal doctrines maintained by the demo-
cratic party that the people of the several States ay go
into tho Territories with Whatsoever property they
POSSESS including slaves and when there, and when
about to ersahze government, preparatory to admS-
sion AZ State on terms Of perfect equality the other
States being left perfectly free not only as to the Kind
Of government they viii have, but to the mode and
manner of making it, had hoped were to find sim
pic and satisfactory solution of this unhappy difficulty
which seems to arise the application Of each State for
admission
When this doctrine was proclaimed it was at variance
with and superseded the former practice of the govern
ment But it was one which commended itself to the
Judgment and patriotism of the people 1t was prope
ston to settle the controversy a-nt sivery upon high
principle sacred s..titfplc n principle that was cock
tensivc IN lis operation with the entire country with all
sritorics possessed them possess and
mI'erisiabc the government itself, equal to every
emergency that may arise An essential element in that
doctrine Is that Congress shall not interfere with the do
aestc affairs OF the Territories that ~ 10 the mode aud
MANNER d making 9uvgtnent the people of the Ter
litorcs should be nestraincd that Congress would de-
eide only upon the question of admission under the OBJ
legations of the constitution, and that would be the
single point whether the government presented WAS
publican in its FORM and not as to te mode of making
the constitution leaving That work with the people.
had holNd that we about to witness a beautiful
illustration of the wisdom of this doctrine by the ams
sion OF two States the one slave and the other ec under
tlB principle. Thus its beauties would be illustrated
and Illuminated; and tell you, Mr. President that in my
humble Judgment no act Of Congress would 60 further
toward restoring those relations of fraerna feeling which
in the younger and purcr days Of tho republic EXISTED
between the people OF it's cxtremihes than the cons
nation Of siich b work, Nothing, in my humble udg-
ent would tend give peace this great country
10 promote its future progress and prosperity to give pros
pey aud peace to THE people of the various Territories
Sir that il the doctrine of the democratic party, held by
ssent with the true interests Of this great country and
with the rights Of all classes Of the people, aud all sections
Of the Union
Now sir, regard The House ffcposton as direct and
violent intervention because it proposes to discard what
the people have done and to institute mode of pro-
cceding 1t proposes to set aside what the people of
Kansas have done in the of changing their govern
ment from territorial to State form, and 10 prescribe
to them how they shall proceed hereafter in mixing
government wish 10 mark the distinction between
case where the people of 1sstory have not acted at all
and especially where Territory may not possess the
usual population for State, where their powers have
rested in abeyance and where Congress volunteers to Of
fer TO those such invitation to into the Union
That did in 1856 TO tho people Of Kansas under The
Toombs bill They could hardly pre- sumo, with the
population which they then possessed that they would
be admitted as State Congress extended an invitation
to them they having taken proper legal action the
subject IT is dhercrs now. They have acted; they
have presented themselves here with republican form
of government which has come up to through legal
channels and iegE'ar steps They have exercised the
power which you gave them in the organic law, when
you said their legislative power should extend over all
the rightfu subjects of legislation and that the people
should be left perfectly free to form and regulate their
domestic institutions in their way.
But Mr.. President if 1t allowable principle
for Congress to remand to the people this government
which they have sent here and insist upon revision of
what they have done colld not agree to the mode and
prescribed in the House bill. The objections
make ought to he specially unpleasant to those who
have opposed the admission Of Kansas under the Lecomp
ton constitution than TO those who have favored it and
why so Because the people required to vote under
form which dcpriycs the free State party of fair
opportunity TO exercise their WILL IN the early part
Of this discussion much made out Of the form
OF voting presented by the Iccompton convention. It
was said to be unfair. 1t WAS said that the elcctor
In order to vote for against slavery, bound
to vote for against the CONSTITUTIONS that those there
fore who not for that constitution had oppor
tunity Of voting the slavery question do not
now to inquire whether that view and alowa
bic not but do say that the presentation Of the