Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-07

as they are euoTenteeu 10 esluDllsn ull
their domestic institutions for themselves.
On this principle the whole Constitution
must be submitted TO ascertain whether or
l. o !, meets with their appreciation. %
Mr.. ID. contended that the people Of
Kansas ought to have an opportunity to
vote against the Constitution if they choose
to do so. He compared the freedom al
lowed by the Lecompton Convention to
the freedom at the election in Paris when
Louis Napoleon was elected President.
The reason assigned why the people Of
Kansas we're no, allowed to vote on the
acceptance of the Constitution prepared
was, that if they had tho chance they
would vote i, down by an overwhelming
majority. lie believed they would, and
thought that it was clear violation OF the
organic act thus to force the obnoxious
Constitution upon the Majority. when
Mr.. Douglas concluded there was ap-
plause in the gallery asva14H oar
Mr.. Bgler replied to Mr.. Douglas, say.
ing that the Convention was called accord
ing to law and had been recognized by
the President and the Governor of the
Territory. II was their right 10 submit
the Constitution to the people or send II to
Congress without submission. IL il was
right in itself, repubbcen in form, and the
people had fairly decided the slavery ques-
ton, it would not be wise TO keep them out
of the Union simply because The whole
Constitution had not been submitted to
them. To do 70 would be inconsistent
with the doctrine Of non intervention. =
There was nothing in The past, history Of
the country to, justify such o course. II
would be the duty Of Congress TO look
al the question as it came before them,
and do the best they could, looking q, the
happiness of the entire country, He had
long been under the impression that IL
would be best for the Union and Kansas
that the State should be admitted at the
first favorable opportunity In order to To-
calize the strife. He would have pre-
ferred that the whole Constitution had
been submitted to the people, but persons
outside Of the Territory have no right
to interfere with the slavery question
there. t..- .i..... .r....
He believed the people of Kansas now
had / opportunity to decide whether 10
have free or slave State. He could not,
however, determine his entire course un-
I'll they shall make such decision. He
said the position Of Mr.. Douglas to-day
was in utter deogation of that which he
occupied when he voted for Mr.. Toombs'
bill which proposed TO make a State Con-
stitution and put tinto operation without
submitting il TO vote of the people. and
this only short time ago. He could not
understand how Mr.. Douglas had so read
lily become sensitive regarding the rights
of the people after having attempted such
an infringement, upon them. y---.,-- '--ff-
Mr.. Douglas--I am certain Mr., Bigler
did nat speak for the President. ! know
that the President has just spoken for
himself in his message, in which he con-
demns the Convention for not submitting
the Constitution to the people, and refus-
ed to recommend them 10 receive it. The
President is bold, frank man, and if he
intended 10 give US an administration
measure, he would say SO. Ii is not res.
pectful to assume he wil no, do what he
will not recommend Us 10 do. OF course
know the Senator from Pennsylvania did
not speak by authority. " .'''' '''
Mr.. BiglerAI think I am safe'in say.
ing and think the Senator from Illinois
will agree, that the President appeals in
the message TO the dociripe that lhe Con.
veniion had a right 10 form a Consutu-
lion and submit II to the people Tor approv-
al or send !, up TO Congress for approval.
think il Is deducibls from the message
that the President does not hold that be.
cause the entire Con stitu,ion is not sub
lnitted to the people Kansas should be kept
out of the Union. .-
Mr.. Douglas-I infer from the message
that the President does hold that the Con-
vention had right 10 form Constitution
and send ii here, but that was only the
right to petition for redress OF grievances
under the Federal Constitution. and be-
cause the Legislature had the power to
constitute that legal convention. s.s1.
Mr.. Bigler-Where did you &c,
that. 'fl s.....irsl ,i4'i.a. ... .s. 30 st
Mr.. Douglas replied-A gentleman
(meaning Mr.. Trumbull) yesterday read
from speech made by Mr.. Buchanan
that Legislator had no right TO create a
convention to supetsede a Territorial
! Government aud TO attempt il wonld bs
gross usurpation. The Demoeratc party
has held that doctrine ever since, and as
serted il year ago by indorsing hi
: (Douglas) report from the Commillee OF
Territories. Three hundred thousanS
| copies were circulated as party docu
, ments. He himself paid for a hundre,
thousand Of them. tLaugh'er.l
.