The Washington union., 1858-02-06
KANSAS IN THE HOUSE.

arose on the resolution of Mr. Harris of Illinois 10
refer the Presidents message enclosing the Lecomp
ton constitution to a committee of 6fteen with pow
to send for persons and papers, upon which he
moved ihe previous question thus cutting off all de-
bate. The committee thus proposed are instructed,
among other things to inquire whether said con
stitution is acceptable and satisfactory to ma
iority of the legal voters of Kansas
1t is manifest that Mr. Harris and his republican
associates are laboring under the impression that
Kansas is TO be admitted into Congress and not
member Of nily-Union We desire to contrib
ute to a removal of this at Through the
territorial authorities of Kansas, the people decided
about two years ago, that they would like to be
eeiyed into the confederacy On the strength of this
decision the local Legislature authorized them TO frame
a State constitution. That constitution is before
the House by virtue of democratic Legislation and
the action of the people thereon. II is most remark
able that it is met at the moment of its reception,
by movement, headed by prominent supporter
and defender of the act of 1854, which disavowed
the authority of Congress to control the action Of the
people of the Territories by which it is proposed
that the House of Representatives shall intervene in
offensive mode known to our history.
This movement is unquestionably intended to de-
grade and defeat the great principle of nonnterven-
ton, upon which the democratic party met the
publicans and conquered them in 1856 The prop
ositioni to descend by committee into inquiry
concerning elections and election returns in Kansas
similar to that of the republicans in the case of
Whitfield, when the contest concerned the right of
that gentleman to his scat in the House, and is &C
companied by motion for the previous question
thus sitting debate. The House is thus put npon
its endurance II has had about Twelve hours ses
sion being near l2 o'clock we write.
It is an appropriate hour, that of midnight, to risk
aword of comment upon this dark proceeding on
the part of few democrats in the House. The work,
too i'd by stealth. BY trick it is sought to reverse
the Judgment of the American people upon the sub
ect of their right in States and Territories through
their own local authorities to establish and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way II is
now found that Congress can do the work in purer
and more satisfactory manner! The people may not
be intrusted even with their elections may not
determine who shall represent them at home!
LAS
Mr. Douglas, in reply to Mr.. Green the other day,
explained two or three points upon which he thought
the Senate and the country had misapprehended him
in reference to the effect of enabling laws and the
right of the people TO establish State constitution
without submission. We understand Mr.. Douglas
to maintain that neither submission permissory
laws necessary preliminary acts to justify the
admission of new State into the Union. Such be-
ing his opinions find ourselves unable to appre-
eiae his anxiety to provide the people of Kansas
with a congressional passport to enable them to
come here and ask to be received. While we are
very far from maintaining that is the right or the
duty Of Congress to interpose mere captious obec-
tons to the admission of members into our fam
lily Unionto look down into matters of purely local
concern--to run over po-books, township and dis
trct returns--to act clerks and show legisla
tive skill in arithmetic and petty faufnding-these
being matters beyond our reach, beyond the legal
authority of Congress-we admit the possible exist
ence of extreme demanding exclusion. We are
quite certain for instance that the people of Utah.
who have assumed to organize under territorial laws
live in point of fact under purely thoocratic gov
tTHlneHl NOW, we nave no luea tnaI, with or With
out enabling acts, Congress would be justified by the
letter spirit of the constitution in permitting such
people to become party to the federal compact
Their Prophet and Seer by the very law of their So
cety, is their political chief their director and their
dictator. The tenure of his Office is rooted wholly
in the assumption that he is Prophet of the Lord
the recipient of his special grace and wisdom
and not at all upon popular rights, which are put
into absolute subjecton to his WILL And yet, it is
seen, such people can put the garments of rep
resentatve democracy and invoke the protecting
shield of the constitution to maintain their bigotry
and anatcism. We note this case, in order that we
may not be considered holding to any principle Of
fatality upon that most important of all subjects-the
admission of new States into the Union We may
add that, 80 far AZ the republican, are concerned
they expressed themselves last year in favor of The
admission Of Kansas and thus committed their party
to the proprety of the act now proposed.
Then Mr.. Douglas maintains that the submission
of constitutions to the people in the ohrysas work
of passing from territorial into State system ia
not necessary to give them validity and force. Con
ceding, too as we understand he does that terrific
rial governments, authorized by Congress- are legal
bodies, and the only proper mediums by which the
viii of the people can be expressed, we have to ask