Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-02-13
Congressional Ne1s.
CoNoREssIoNAL PROCEEDINGS

SHNArr.-Mr. Pugh, OF North Carolina
asked whether Mr.. Brown believed that the
people Of Kansas could alter the constitution
prior to 1864. He merely desired 10 ascer.
tain the Senator's opinion.
Mr.. Brown admitted that right, even II 1t
had been declared on every page OF that
INSTRUMENT that it should not be altered. All
he demanded was that, this right should be
exercised under the forms OF law and not oy
mob violence.
Mr.. Trumbull asked whether the Senator
would admit that the Legislature could pass
o law to change the constitution,
AIR. Brown replied that he had not ex-
pected to be asked 10 point out to the Re-
publicans how the constitution could be
changed, but would tell them. If they have
not already secured majority in the Legis
lature, when the next election comes on let
them 70 to the polls like quiet, peaceabe
citizens, and elect their Legislature and their
Governor. Then let the Legislature appoint
a day when the people themselves can elect
delegates to q convention which shall change
it. The Legislature has no power to change
a word or syllable of the Constitution, but
can appoint day when the people can
assemble under the forms Of law and elect
convention which can change the constitution
even against the words Of the constitution
itself.
Mr.. Wilson Mass said that Mr.. Brown
told them in his speech yesterday, that he
loved old wine better than old speeches, but
he and that Senator differed in their tastes
lie (Wilson) loved old truths more than old
wine. lie was led to suppose, from the
declarations of that Senator, that they we're
to bave nothing old, stale and threa6bare in
his speech. They were to have something
original racy aud brilliant, which should
thrill the Senate and bring down the galle-
rles, and carry that name oil over the
country. He had listened to his speech and
found it an assertion of old errors oft repeated
in this chamber. There was only one decla-
ration which had originality about it. The
Senator said he did not expec. to make any
converts on the opposite side of the chamber,
and Mr.. Wilson thought the result was pre-
cisely in accordance with that expectation.
II e called attention to what he characterized
ms palpable historical mistakes made by Mr..
Brown, aud in reply to tie latter's assertion.
that the Republicans are sectional, asked
what principle they had avowed which was
not in the constitution, the Declaration Of
Independence and the grand old ordinance Of
1881 which had received the sanction of
Washington Jefferson, all the fathers OF the
Republic, and all the great men of the
country, Doth North and South. He liked
them sound in principle correct in sentiment,
and accurate in facts so that he could refer
to them with safety He referred to the
statement of ii. 9. Pate, regarding Kansas
affairs, saying that, in eleven lines there were
twelve absolute lies, and the law books IF the
Territory would show it. AS to Juo. CAL
houn, God never suffered to walk his green
earth man more richly deserving TO die the
traitors death and to leave a traitors name.
Mr.. Toombs (Ga.)--Tell him SO to his
face.
Mr.. Wilson, would on any proper
occasion, and would rather say 60 to his race
than behind his back. ! am not afraid of
border rutfiansm. l can take care of myself.
Ill Try it, at any rate. Mr.. Wilson alluded
To TIE various Governors who went to Kansas,
like the prophets Of old who went out OF
Israel they went out cursibg the people but
came back blessing them. He would like to
have the President so there, who would, no
doubt, come back, like an honest man, de-
claring that the people of Kansas had been
much abused and oppressed. In an eXami-
nation Of the election frauds, MIR. Wilson
read a list os fictitious voters at Kickapoo,
embracing Seward, Denever, Benton, Greeley,
Fremont and Buchanan among other distin-
guished names. This caused much laughter.
Mr.. Green (Mo.) wanted to know how
Buchanan had voted. Laughter.
MIR. Wilson--He voted for the constitution
with slavery. The Senator. need not have
asked that question.
A voice-lIow did Seward vote!
Mr. Wson-Tbe count does not say, but
We all know how William Il. Seward would
have voted on that occasion. rLaughter.l
He said, TINT as to the votes cast at Kicka.
poo. Marysville, Delaware Crossing and OK
ford, out Of 1900, at least 200 were fraudulent.
These were the votes that carried the Le-
compton constitution. Were Senators pre-
pared to sustain an instrument based on such
noustrous frauds?
Mr.. Green, in reply, said that he would
ueyer make use of his position to employ
slanderous words against any citizens Of the
United States. TO make charges of frauds,
without proof was slander and calumny. lie
deprecated further debate, and desired that
th. Message should be referred.
Mr.. Fessenden (Me.) wanted to know
whether it was the design Of the Committee
on Territories to make testimony in respect
to these charges Of frauds.
Mr.. Green replied, that ns one of the
members OF that Committee, he could not
state what they will definitely do, but under
took to say that they will do justice to the
whole subject, and would be guided by any
directions the Senate might think proper to
give He had sat still from day TO day
hearing these charges against the people of
Missouri, when those who make them dare
not attempt to sustain them. Let the facts
be investigated. We are begging for an in-
vestgation. If the Committee shall not
believe that right, law, justice, and consti-
tutonal Government, would not justify the
admission of Kansas under the Lecompton
constitution, so far as he was concerned he
would report against it. 1t had been repeated
again aud again, that the people of Kansas
do not desire admission into the Union. He
had lorborne much, but there was a point
beyond which forbearance ceased to be a
virtue, and that point had well nigh heen
reached. In allusion to the list of fictitious
Kckapoo voters, be said the reasonable sup
position was that the Black Republicans
committed the fraud. That party which is
not content to abide by the forms of law,
but desire admission as Free State, right
or wrong.
Mr.. Wilson said that threats, whether
made by voice, tone or manner, by the Sena.
tor from Missouri, or any other gentleman.
had no terrors for him. The Senator talked
about charges made against his State. and
said that when the charges are made, unless
they are supported by authority, they ore
calumnies aud ISLANDERS. He agreed with
that Senator. He had said nothing about