The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-19


The report of the Committee on Public Buildings in
relation to the assignment of in the north wing of
the capito was taken up and agreed TO-
fnfTJ $3.50 INTRODUCED.
Mr.. HUNTER asked and obtained leave to introduce
Joint resolution to provide ice boats the Potomac river
which read twice and referred 70 the Committee on
the Post Office and Post Roads
Mr. HARLAN asked and obtained leave to introduce
bill to establish additional land district in the State of
Iowa also bill making grant Of lands to the State Of
Iowa in alternate sections to aid In the construction of
railroad in said State which severay read twice
and referred to the Committee on Public Lands
Mr. BlGLER asked and obtained leave to introduce a
joint resolution for the compensation Of X H. Richards
late chaplain TO the United States penitenary for his
salary up to the 30th of June, 1857 which read
twice and referred to the Committee the District of
Columbia,
PASSED
The following bills were considered and passed
Bill for the relief of William b. Trotter
Joint resolution to authorize certain officers and men
engaged in the search for Sir John Franklin receive
certain medals presented to them by the government of
Great Britain
KANSAS.
At clock the special order called up, being
the subject of affairs in Kansas, which Mr. HALE had
the floor Mr. II. remarked that he did not think this
debate either premature or ILL timed but he had refrain
ed from participating in it hitherto because he presumed
the public more anxious to hear from some other
senators than to know what humble individual
himself might have to say this allabsorbng topic
And among these the whom there was the most Gu
riosity to hear from the distinguished senator from
Illinois, mr.. DOUGLASS That gentleman had spoken,
and his speech had fully met the public expectations
Mr. H, said he agreed with Mr. ID. in opposing the Le
compton constitution but not because 1T was in contra
venton with the principle and policy OF the Nebraska
bill. He opposed it for just the opposite reasonbe
he considered 1t In conformity with the Nebras
ka bill He looked upon it part Of the original pro-
gramme and carrying it out in its letter and in its
spirit He inclined to think that in the controversy
between that senator and the President of the United
States the palm of victory ought to be awarded to the
President When he undertakes to bring in the federal
to force this obnoxious constitution down the Threats
of the people of Kansas it is because he understands the
Nebraska bill just well if he in this country at
the time that measure became law. But Mr.. H de-
clared himself opposed to the whole thing from begin
ming to end He opposed to planting the seed he
opposed to the tree and the foliage and he
opposed to plucking the ripe fruit He proceeded to al
Jude to the object Of passing that bill and he could only
judge of that object by the natural and inevitable conse
quences which must result from such That
object could lie nothing else than to break down the bar
rer which separated free territory from slave territory
and to bring Kansas in slave State-legally and
peacefully if they could but to bring in slave State
any how Some of the advocates of that bill the senior
senator from South Carolina Mr. EVANS among tho num-
ber had avowed that it their purpose to extend sla
very into Kansas at the time.
Mr. H. proceeded to alude to the history of the pro-
ceedings In Kansas under the Nebraska bill The cleo
tons there carried not by mob from Missouri but
by invading army who went the line with drum
and fife and banners flying and carried everything their
way, and returned the river openly avowing
that they had conquered the Territory SO matters went
on, in this sort Of perfect freedom and popular SOW
eregnty, and ut length the convention assembled to
form constitution for the future State of Kansas And
what did they dor They adopted the very best plan that
could possibly be devised to make Kansas slave State
The people very gracousy permitted to vote for the
constitution with slavery, for the constitution without
slavery but it somewhat singular fact and might
perhaps go far to explain the vote the constitution
that the constitution without slavery stringent
tbA tnttn cla
very If the constitution adopted with slavery there
were means provided by which, at future period
the slaves might be emancpated but the adoption of the
constitution without slavery made slavery perpetual 1t
had been said that this matter in the hands Of the
people, who could at any time change their constitution
and abolish slavery, if they fit but he contended
that they had no such power.
Mr.. II. went on to remark that he had heard great
deal said about popular sovereignty but he thought there
two kinds the genuine and the other spurious
This kind of popular sovereignty which it was now pro-
posed to establish and maintain in Kansas not the
genuine article but he would mention two three
of what he regarded real popular sovereignty In Jan
uary 1873 eighteen months previous to the declaration
of independence the people of the State of New Hamp
shire together, and ignoring the King and Pnrlia
men of Great Britain altogether they adopted written
constitution mbodying the great principles OF civil lib
erty. That was genuine popular sovereignty Then the
declaration of independence by which fathers de-
cared that they henceforh would regard the people Of
England enemies in war; in peace friends, was an
other example of genuine popular sovereignty But
England which he had regarded with profound ad
miration. That when the House of Commons of
England, ignoring the House of Lords useless APP
pendage of government and ignoring also the old doc
trine of regal sovereignty, determined to bring King
Charles the First before their tribunal and try him
criminal They did try him, and found him guilty of
high crimes against the State; and for those crimes
his head severed from his body. This event
had cast shadow the crowned heads of Europe
which has since rested upon them and liberty is
safer oday in England and in this country consequence
of that Allusion made to remark OF
Mr. BRoDERIcK that Mr. Buchanan and his cabinet were
to blame for the excited state of Kansas Mr.. H. dis
scented from that opinion He thought that neither the
present Executive his predecessor were the men to
guide and control public events but they were mere
set in high places to show the direction of public
Buchnnans former speeches where he declared that all
Chrisendom is leagued against the South this ques
ton of domestic slavery Of course said Mr.. H., the
Christendom. But what does Mr. Buchanan say in the
next sentence "They have other allies to sustain
their constitutional rights except The democracy Of the Noyth
the one side, and the democracy Of the North the
other Great laughtcr.] 49,
He went on allude to the bred Scott decision but
this branch of his remarks he gave way 10 motion to
agreed to and, after time spent therein, the
Senate adjourned. @ i#&
ra HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
The SPEAKER announced the select committee author