The Washington union., 1858-02-24

Mr. JOHNSON of Tennessee regretted to differ from
his colleague upon this question but justice to the dem
ocIatc party Of Tennessee required that he should not
remain silent upon this occasion In reply to the state
ment that this rather late day to comment upon
the vote the Kansas Nebraska BILL Mr. j remarked
that In 1854 before the passage Of that b the senate
OF Tennessee passed resolution approving It's principles
and requesting the senators and representatives from
that State to give II their support There only eight
dissenting votes the adoption Of that resolution In
the Tennessee house OF representatives other resolutions
Of similar character introduced by whg, and
voted for by every whg member of that body. He
proceeded to refer TO the for OF the State
in 1855, when he himself was elected and lac claimed
that the Nebraska bill was the main issue which lac
pressed upon his competitor who reained from meeting
him upon it Undoubtedly, his opponent agreed with
the democratic party upon that point but was doncned
to separate from his old party friends upon the question
In the presidential election in 1866 the democratic party
whose platform imbodied unmistakable endorsement
of the principles of the Nebraska BILL victorious in
Tennessee and he thought there could be doubt but
that the minds OF large majority OF the people OF that
State fully made up In opposition to the ground
taken by his colleague Mr. j. further argued that the
Missouri Compromise virtually repealed by the bill
for the organization of the Territory of New Mexico in
850 and yet that bill received the vote of his colleague
He went 10 discuss the question OF popular sovereign
ty and contcnded that all power derived from the
people, Congress could possess power higher than that
which the people had themselves. They could give
more than they possessed and he replied with great
the argument that the people of Territory have
right to form government, but must come to Con-
gress and petition for liberty to do Mr. j. inquired
whether his colleague would vote for the admission of
Kansas into the Union under the ccompton constitution
in consequence Of those instructions, without them.
Mr. BELL replied that he would not in consequence of
any instructions of the legislature unless he should be
convinced TINT those instructions founded upon
full understanding of the subject in all its bearings and
consequences The expressions Of opinion by State
legislature always entitled to certain degree of
respect and the great question with him would be, will
the admission OF Kansas give peace and quiet TO the
country mott He deeply interested in that ques
ton. If it would give peace he was for it.; and il not
he was against it firmly and forever He thought
the speech of his colleague the strongest argument
against the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton
constitution that he had heard in this body.
Mr. JOHNSON asked in the name of common sense,
what mode could be rcsoed to To ascertain the wishes
of the people of Tennessee had not already been
certained The people had spoken the subject again
and again. AS to the remark of his colleague that those
resolutions insult to him. he dsclaimed the
part of those who offered them any intention Of that
sort He proceeded to consider the subject Of slavery in
philosophical point of view necessary result of the
circumstances in which placed and their various
mental and physical organizations, and drew contrast
between the of himself and his colleague tho
questions affecting the rights and institutions of the
South He hoped all would agree North and South, to
have compromises, but to abide by the const,
tion there never could be compromise without sacr
flee of principle and right.
Mr.. BELL rejoined commenting in severe terms
some portions Of the remarks of his colleague and
yielded the floor with the understanding that he should
be allowed to conclude tomorrow.
Mr.. GREEN asked that, by unanimous consent, the
bill for the admission of Kansas into the Union might be
made the special order for clock Thursday
He remarked that 1t would bic well to assign early pc
riod for its consideration it important subject
Mr.. KING objected, and the motion consequently
lost; whereupon
The Senate adjourned.