The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1858-04-17
CONGRESSIONAL.
PASSAGE OF THE KANSAS BILL IN THE
SENATE.


SENArg.--U Washington March %, 1858
After some importan, morning busiRess
the consideration Of the Kansas bill was
resumed.
Mr.. GREEN proceeded to reply to the
various speeches that had been made NJ ains'
this bill II had been said on the other side
that the friends Of the bill had been driven
from tho positions assumed in the report
which he had the honor to submit bat moi
a sinele position in tia, report had been
mentioned which its friends had abandoned
These general charges aud general alleges
tons would not do for the Senate OF the
United States they would not do for a
court of Justice they would not even do
for the stump aud tho busIings. In dis
cussipg n measure. il should be met on the
true questions involved, and not prejudlced
by broad and unsupported assertions. It's
had not heard any argument which would
lead him to change single one OF his pos
siilons; not point 10 that report had been
called in question by any senator who had
spoken in opposition, and the only objection
which had been made was by the senior
senator from Vermont, Mr. Collamer, ]
who took exceptions to the language as
harsh and censorious, because the opposi>
ton party in Kansas were characterized y
rebels aud contumacous, aud as standing
in opposition to the government, II me
facts would not justify that accusation, Mr.
G.. said he would take /, all back ; hut every
charge with regatd TO tho character OF the
opposition in Kansas was sustained by o'>
fetal evidence presented Ia the report. lrom
which there could be no escape. IL was
wortho of remark, however, that while the
senator from Vermont was condemnlng the
language OF the repor, ms harsh. his own
colleague had made speech IN which shere
was more denunca,ion and severe language
than had occurred in tho whole OF this de>
bate beside.
The senators on the other side have told
US over and over again that the constitution
ought to lmbody the will OF the people,
Well, nobody Disputed that, either IN Cons
press or out ui every one agrees
that all constitutions ought to lmbody The
will Of the people, but upon the questions
how that will should be asceftained, and
what steps are u be ,aken to express ihss
will in legal manner, have arisen all the
difference between the friends aud oppo,
nent. Of the bill. he friends OF the bill
con,eud that the will Of the people Is legally
expressed by the delegates whom the people
elect and clolhe with power to act Tor them
and bv the popular vote taken IN acoor'
dance with tina, action; but, on the o'hef
nauw, 80 ~""sss'"e" '''''- -"
people is to be learned by ,hc action o an
irresponsible mob, o. u vote taken without
legal authority, and all on one side Mr.
G.. replied In fotcible aud conclusive man
ner to the allegations respecting the as
OF half the counties IN Mans
sas. and the vote agains, the constitution
on the i,h OF January There were the
strongest reasons Tor believing mat lafse
mar, oil the ten thousand votes cast on TIE
iourlh OF January were spurious hnu hc>
ttiou.; but even il we assume that ms
was + OF so, and that they we're all real votes
il would he suhyersive OF all the principles
upon which our government rests 10 FFeoS'
Mise that vote as having any effect upon
consolation which had already been com
pleted and iiualy acted upon. The dem,
ocrsts in the Territory reifained rom Young
because tho matter was settled, aud they
determined to stand upon their rights o",
this principle OF taking vote over ana
over again, as recommended by the senator
from kentucky, Mr. CRirrtNpsN,l wo"in
no, do, No doub, Colonel Fremont would
like To have the vote taken over again on
the Presidential election no doubt every
defeated party would like to take the vote
over again but when matter is once de-
cided. il ia the duty Of all good citizens 10
acquiesce Ia the result until another oppof'
tunity is legally presented for s@.iing Tue
question lie showed that There hah De'h
no frauds to such an extent As to nui'hy
these elections ia Kansas, frauds, to some
extent, we're committed at every election
aud were TO De expected AZ long AS human
nature was imperfect lie also eon'eHaea
that senators had no night to CONSIDER
vhether tho free.Slsie ticket or the pro-
slavery ,icke, had beer elected they we're
only TO look at the constitution to see
whether it WAS republican in form, aud not
TO inquire into the result oil elections.
Mr.. CRlrrE\DE\ briefly replied to
some illusions which had been made TO
him in the speech OF Mr.. Green. lie dis>
claimed any desire to build up the repubil'
can party, but he thanked God that he had
reason and conscience to potnt out Tue
path of duty, aud courage enough 10 pu>
sue tina, path.
Mr.. GREEN withdrew the amendment
of which he had foruperly given notice, IN
regard to admitting Minnesota end Kansas
together, saying tina. although he was
friendly to the admission OF Minnesota, he
ihoush, /, would expedite the publio busl,
ness TO psss upon each case by itself MI.
G.. then moved to strike out the preamble,
aud lesser, tho following
Whereas the people OF the Territory oil
Kansas did, by convention OF deiessses
9 .ll.d aud assembled at Lecompton On the
a,h day Of December, 1881. Tor that papose,
firm TO themselves constitution and state
Government, which said constitution is re-
publican, and tho said convention having
ask cd the Admission Of said Territory into
tho Union ~ State on an equal footing
with tho original slstss."
The motion Nas aFseed 10.
Mr. & thea mo,sd 10 smaud tne blil by
adding after section two, line nine, the ioi'
lowing
Aud tina, nothing in this &C, shall he
construed to sbridge OF in'fiogs any night
of the people asserted in the constitution OF