The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1858-03-12
WASHINGTON, March 4.

WASHINGTON, March 4.
SENATE. The Senate at once tool,
up the special order, the Kansas bill.
Mr.. Hammond Of South Carolina,
contended that the Lecompton Con.
stitution embodied tho will of the
people of Kansas, for the Conven.
ton was an assembly of the people
in their highest capacity.
Mr.. Hammond said that he under
stood the Senator from H., to have
declared that he was opposed to the
Lecompton Constitution, only on one
point. viz. z.:-Because he was not sat.
Iisiied that it embodied the will of the
people of Kansas.
Mr.. Douglas replied that that was
not exactly his position. He tho't
there were other Irregularities; but
would waive these, if ho could be as.
surcd that the Constitution embodied
the will of the people of Kansas.
Mr.. Hammond had understood
that Mr.. Douglas maintained that
all the other Irregularities could be
cured by Congress-, and that that was
the sole ground Of difference between
them. But the question is, how can
the will OF the people of Kansas be
ascertained? He thought Mr.. Doug
las in error, in saying that the LIE.
compton Constitution was the crea.
ton of the Territorial Legislature;
and he thought that from that error,
had arisen all his subsequent errors
upon that subject. How was it pos.
sible that the Constitution could be
the creature Of the Territorial Logis.
lature. The Convention was an as
scmblage Of the people, in their
highest act of sovereignty. The
Territorial Legislature was u mere
provisional government,-a petty
corporation, appointed and paid by
Congress, without a particle of soy.
ereign power, and therefore could
not interfere with sovereignty. al
though that sovereignty was still in
violate. Congress could not inter.
fere with tho Convention. 1t could
not confer upon the Legislature pow
or to int -rfere with it; for Congress
is not sovereign. 1t has no power
to act outside Of the instructions o'
the Constitution. They have but to
carry into effect the sepremc will o
any people, it it has not been OK
pressed in that Constitution. There
fore, Congress is not sovereign
neither does it hold sovereignty in
Kansas.-That sovereignty resides
in the 81 sovereign states.
| He then proceeded to argue that
the Lecompton Constitution was a
legal instrument, even il it embodied
but the will ola minority of the peo
pie of Kansas. The Constitution o.
this Union was made by a minority
and in 1910 minority had in thei
hands power to alter or abolish it
for Mt that time, six out Of the q
states held a numerical majority.
Mr.. Doolittlc alluded to threats
, made in certain quarters, that unless
Kansas be admitted under the lie
compton Constitution, the Unior
will be dissolved. lie did not be
lieve such a great national calamity
could follow the rejection o! the LIE
compton Constitution, or that it wa
at all likely. He did not believe
that all the politicians in Washing
ton could dissolve the Union. Re
ferring to the boasts made that hat
Fremont been elected, he woul,
! never have been inaugurated, h
said that the Republicans woul,
atand in the Union. whoever wa
! elected President. He then passe,
a glowing eulogy on the Union.
Without concluding the consider
3 alton o. the subject, tho Senate ad
! journed till Monday.