Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-05-01

That bill was laid on the table on the last night of
the session--the third Of March, 1853. General
Pierce, on the next day, in his inaugural address
congratulated the country the restoration of peace
and harmony, and true to his former pledge he sol
EMMY promised that he would do nothing during his
| administration TO disturb the condition of things
then happily existing in the country In his first
message, on the meeting Of Congress in December
following he renewed this pledge; but in less than
two short months from the date Of that message the
whole political heavens, then beaming brightly and
sending Joy and cheering 10 the hearts OF the people,
the whole scene, itwere, in a twinkling, andas by
the agency of some diabolical magic, was changed
The political skies were suddenly overcast by dark
and portenious clouds, out OF which storm arose
which, in the language of the President has con-
vulsed the Union, and shaken il to its very centre
now ask the attention. Of the Senate to the effect
Of the experiment Of ocalizng slavery agitation in
the Territories, made in 1854, in changing the COM
try. In the. Congress which passed the KansasNe e.
braska bill we have that there was at the COM
mencement Of the session, in December, 1853, Dem
ocrac majority of eighty -four in the House of Rep
resentatives and only four FreeSoilers, and in the
Senate like number--so small, yet so distinct in
their principles that neither of the two great parties
then known to the country knew well how to arrange
them on committees.
| Mr.. HALE. You left them of.
Mr.. BELL The Wings were afraid to touch them
| Mr. Chase Democrat, and was so recognised
by his brethren in the Senate and taken Of
| by them in arranging the committees; yet he was
one OF the gentlemen whom have designated as Free
Sellers. Now, let what the effect of the
Kansas Nebraska act on the elections which ensued
in the fall of 1854, Just the heels of the adoption
ofthat measure. One hundred and FreeSoilers
were returned to the House of Representatives,
and the Democratic party, instead OF having ma
jority OF eightyfour in that House, found itself in
minority of seyenty-six and in the Senate the num-
Der OF FreeSoilers was increased 70 thirteen. Such
the complexion Of the two houses of Congress in
| the SD Congress, which assembled in December,
1855. Now, we find in the Senate twenty FTeeSoil-
oW mar u fpprn thnV may N
Congress, will depend upon the disposition we make
Of the question non bore TIE Senate call upon the
Senator from Georgia to say whether he viii have at
number limited or not. Does he want sufficient
number to prevent the ratification of any future
treaty Of acquisition? How long will it be before we
have that number, il the Southern Democracy persist
! in their present course? They would seem to be
deeply interested in adding to the power of the Re
| publican party
| consider tlat the most fearful and portenous of
all the results Of the Kansas-Nebraska act was to
create TO build up great sectional party My friend
from, Ohio, who sits near me, Mr.. WADE must al
low me TO say, that regard his party as sectional
one. "'"
MrWADE. Is not the other side a sectional party
Mr. BELL. So far as they are confined TO the
South they arc, but they say that they lap over.
Mr. WADE. Lap over farther South still Laugh
ter. g..
Mr. BELL. consider that no more ominous and
threatening cloud can darken the political horizon
| at any time How formidable this party has already
become may be well illustrated by the fact that its
representative candidate, Mr.. Fremont was only
beaten in the last Presidential election by the most
desperate efforts; and feel warranted in saying,
that but Tor the imminent prospect Of his success
which shone out the close Of the canvass, Mr..
Buchanan would not have attained his present high
position.
Such have been the trophies of the victory--the
triumph achieved in the passage of the Kansas-Ne-
braska act in 1854 II is with all this sad experience
Of the effects of that experiment in localzing the
slavery agitation in the Territories, that we are now
ca1ia al M IL a he ri told the
circumstances not the same. They are not identi
CAL admit For instance we are told that If there
is any wrong done by accepting the Lecompton Con-
sttuton the people of Kansas can easily redress II.
They have it is said an nalienable right to change
their Constitution when and how they please, and
that they are not fettered by any restrictions con-
tanned in this Constitution. was sorry TO hear the
honorable Senator from Virginia, Mr.. HUNTER,
whom regard as one Of the odfashioned supporters
of strict prnciples-to whatever Inconvenience they
sometimes lead-say, in his late speech, that he was
inclined to think the provision in the Lecompton
Constitution which prescribcs that after the year
1854 il may be amended in the way therein pointed
out does not prevent any alteration or change of it
which the people may think proper to make before
that time nay, may say that was astonished TO
hear such declaration coming from that Senator
when we all know that the only purpose of that pro-
vision in the Constitution to prevent any amend
mcnt before 1864 This is the very restriction relied
upon TO give color TO the change already made and
prupagated in some of the slavehoding States that
those members of Congress from the South who may
by their votes defeat this measure, will have pre-
vented the establishment of slave State in Kansas.
But the President takes the holder ground that the
restriction in the Lecompton Constitution, though I'M
tended to prevent any amendment before 1864, is
altogether unavailable. He asserts the doctrine that
the people of State change their Constitution
Mt any time; and this says is fundamental prin-
ciple of American freedom. He refers TO the second
clause Of the bill Of rights in the Lecompton Consti
tuition show that the people of Kansas have rec
co9nsed this fundamental principle In that clause
Il hat all pOlitca inherent
the people and all free Governments are founded on
their authority and instituted for their benefit, and
therefore they have at all times, nalienable and
indefcasble right TO alter, REFORM or abolish their
form of government in such manner they think
proper" This language is identical with that en-
poyed in the bill Of rights to be found in the Const
iuttons of Connecticut New jersey Tennessee, Ala.
bama, and Mississippi, and probably in those OF
many other States, for / have not had time to ex-
anime them all What is meant by this declaration,
TO be found in the bill of rights Of most or all Of our
State constitutional Nothing more is meant than TO
assert the right Of reyolutionthe antagonstc doc
trine TO that of passive obedience, at one period so
strongly maintained in England.
II viii be difficult TO maintain Ivy any sound pro-
cess of reasoning that this recognition Of tie right
Of the people 10 change their farm Of g,UerRDaeRt has
any reference TO a change Of their C6nstntionsj for
in all Of them their right 30 do that il not only fully
recognised but the mode in which il can be done is
distinctly prescribed. The principle asserted in
bill of rights in any State Constitution, is that the
are trodden down, when their dearest interests are
disregarded and sacrificed by an unjust, arbitrary
and oppressive Cover ment, they have right 20
change or abolish il by resort TO the sword if found
necessary. They have right, under the circum-
stances 1 have described, to establish pure Democ
racy, and dispense with the use of all organic laws
or Constitutions, II they choose. They may even es
tablish monarchy, If they believe that their rights
and interests would be best protected and promoted
under such form Of governments but the right 10
do all this is clearly revolutionary one There Is
no danger in the recognition Of this right but there
is danger in the admission Of the doctrine ayowed by
the President that majority Of the people Of State
may set aside all the guards in their Constitutions
against sudden and caprcious changes Of its provis
IONS and change il as often and when they please.
Such doctrine reduces all organic laws 10 level
with acts of the Legislature II such doctrine shall
come TO be generally admitted and practiccd upon,
il cannot fall in the end, TO lead to oppression and
anarchy and make resort 10 revolution and a
change Of the form Of government the only means Of
safety.
had supposed that the chief merit Of the great
American invention of written Constitutions and or
ganic laws in the protection they afforded TO the
rights Of the minority against the tyranny an arbi-
brary and caprcious majority. The doctrine Of the
President strikes down at blow the whole system
of defences and guarantees intended for the security
Of minorities. Majortes can always protect them
selves.
But il is said that the great State Of New Yoik and
Maryland have practiced upon the doctrine Of the
President in changing their Constitutions IL that be
true maintain that they actedupon a revolutionary