Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-04-16

UF =
ON THE ADMISSION OF KANSAS UNDER THE LIE
COMPTON CONSTITUTION.
OF TENNESSEE

The House being in Committee Of the Whole on the
state of the Union-Ir. READY, Of Tenn, said
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: / propose to discuss the
pending proposition for the admission of Kan
sas. und T the LecOmpton constitution. In
doing so, il Is not my intention to go into
labored offence of slavery, or TO elaborate
the question as to whether or not. it can law
illy exist under the Constitution of the
u lited States. as erroneous as believe TO be-
the opinions expressed by many gentlemen
on the subj ct. For my present purpose,
an content to find the Constitution Tccogni-
g the lawful existence of slavery, by pro-
v.diug for tn, reclamation of fugitive slaves;
that three-fifths of the slave population are to
b. estimatad in apportioning the representa-
tiv to Congress. might add the 9th sec
tio1 of the lst article, in regard to the i'm
ltion of slaves. Suffic il to say, ''Id Ter
sTtptI est l plant myself on thu Constitu-
tol, and there l intend to stand. With its
provisions am satisfied, and intend to main
tain ther and the Union under them, as long
as it may be done consistently with the
landmarks of this great American chart If
the day shall ever come when it shall be trOd
den und r foot; the Union dissolved and brok
en- into fragments, neither patriot nor traitor
shall have cause to say to me ''Et III Brte?'
Nor is it my purpose to indulge in harsh
cpl bets towards those who differ with me, or
to draw invidlOus comparisons between the
morality, intelligence. or prosperity of the
different sections of the country, as they may
be affected one way or the other by their local
laws. | thought the admonition of the N m
her from Connecticut. (Mr BEHOP,) upon
this point was wholesome and appropriate;
aud wish that Northern as well as Southern
gentlemen would reflect upon, and act in ac-
cordance with it, Having said this, must
add. that | am sure there are few if any in
stances in which Southern men may have been
BETRAYED into the use of remarks of the char
acter indicated, except in refponse to dispar-
aging and offensive arguments applied to their
section. But drop this now, and [ trust
forever Standing have just said, upon
the Constitution whose platform is broad
enough for all the North, and all the South.
for myself as a Southern man ito tie manor
born,r | am willing to meet there, the men Of
the North and greet them as political bro
Tiers, as long as they are willing to stand
with me, on terms of harmony and political
equality.
Without further preliminary remarks |
come directly 10 the discussion of the impor-
tant measure which has occupied SO much OF
our time. Under law passed four years
since, Kansas was organized as a Territory.
Her organic law was founded upon the assCT-
ton of great fundamental principle-the
non-intervention Of Congress on the subject of
slavery in the Territories; to give effect TO
which, ii was necessary to repeal the Missouri
Compromise. Finding in the Constitution no
grant of power to Congress to restrict slavery
in the Territories, or elsewhere believe the
Compromise was unconstitutional. ], al o,
believe il was a violation Of our treaty stipu-
lations with France, by which we acquir,
the territory; and that it was unjust TO the
South. was, therefore, i'll favor OF its repeal,
aud of leaving the people of the territory
perfectly free TO form and regulate their
domes tic institutions in their own way, sub
iect only to the Constitution of the United
States
Whatever difference of opinion NAV have
existed in regard TO the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise when the act was passed believe
IA very large majority Of the United States
finally came 70 the conclusion that Congress
sional non-inrervcntion, a. declared in the act,
was the true doctrine on which the question
of slavery was to he settled | was of that
opinion; and believed, in common with the
friends of the measure, that II would har-
monte discordant elements, and give quiyt
to the country on the most agitating sub
ject.
In the progress Of events, n difference OF
opinion was developed rs to the construction
of the clause d clarlng that "the people of the
Territory were left perfectly free to form and
own way, subj ct only TO the Constitution OF
tn United States"
Oue SIDE asserted the right Of the people oi
the Territory, III their territorial capacity, 70
establish or prohibit slavery; = doctrine
which has generally been call ii ''sgu.Itier sore
re,qat,J" The other side h Id, rs IN believe
correctly, that neither the people in III. II
territorial capacity, nor the territorial leSislr
ture hav. power either TO establish or pruhIb
ii it. / distinctly announced this position in
sp,,cl | made III this House, in the d.sCGs.
sion o the Till for the organization Of the
Ten rios OF Kansas and Nebraska; ard no
friel OF the bill, North or South, controvcrt-
ed sOundness. This conflict of opinion, nj
least as between the supporters Of the bill
ment ON d. must have assumed "A distinct an
tagon SIN after its passage. They have since
ent, rcd largely into the crecds of political
part e., have now been held by different Ine III
b,rs of one of the great parties, aud have
been dement's in the political contests of The
time. Immigrants have Hocked into Tho
Tor tory with extraordinary rapidity, and
und, extraordinary auspices, for tue purpose
of giving the ascendcncy To each SIDE Of this
di puted question OF power. They have been
ur ed on Nv partZans in the States, until ar
rlyvd in deadly hostility against each other.
Tie narrative OF scenes OF violence amongst
them tho doubt often eNaggerat,d) has but
served To arouse their respective friends IN the
States, until the excitement has perVadtd al
most every portion of the country such Is
a % ief history of the progress and present
sta OF affairs in regard to Kansas.
She now presents herself with constitii-
ii N, aad axis tor admission into the Union.
/ view of her history. il is not matter OF
Irprise that she is embarrassed at every step
ken to divest herself of her territorial pupil
age, and assume the character of a severe gn
State. But. We should rem mber, she IL asking
u high constitutional privilege which should
not be denied her, except on weiGh'y and coa-
clusive reasons Sail she be admitted
answer in the ali, native.
It is conceded by all that she has suificit nj
population To entitle her to admission; aai
hive not heard il doubted that her consttu'
ton is republican in form. Was IL legally
70 med? If il was, there can he no valid OBJ
je ion 10 her admission. In July, 1880, the
T .Titoral Legislature passed AL act, submit
Il z il to the vote of the people 10 determine
" ether they were In favor OF holding con-
walton TO frame State constitution, prepar-
asocy for admission into the Union. An cleo
Ilon was accordingly held, IN October, lS56,
the result Of which was an almost unanimous
vote in favor of the measure. In accordance
Herewith, the Territorial Legislature Oh the
18th of February. 1857, passed law Tor
making an enumeration OF the Inhabitants;
for reg siering the qualified voters; aud for the
election of del ;gat,s To u convention. The
theafGovernor, Mr.. Geary, vetoed the bill, he
cause u uid not require that the constitution
to b. framed should be submitted TO popu-
lar vote for adoption or REJECTION. Opoa a
r, con liberation OF the hill ia each house oil
the legislativee ass .mbly. il was pass-d over
the Governors vote; by two-thlrds vote
AMI c ms quently, II became valid law: IL
wa, regular y, fairly. aud legally enacted, as
far "a, :. Ave any know led sc "a Information.
1t is unusually guard in all It's provisions,
with the vi W oil protecting the rgL,s oi eve y
les gal voter; u guardins the bailot-box u. ain {