Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-02-28
ADMISSION OLE KANSAS.


the United ststes transmitting copy Of the Le-
compton constitution, submitted report aoeOmps-
MED BY bill for the admission Of the State Of Kan
sss into the Union; which Wss read and passed to
second reading, and the report was ordered to be
printed The report is a very elaborate document
It goes at length into history Of the movements in
Kansas, from the inception Of the territorial gov
eminent down TO the present time. After summing
up the evidence, mostly derived from official sources
the committee say that it appears to them from the
official evidence addueed, "thst the opposition in
Kansas 70 the LecomptOn convention consisted Of
persons engaged in instruction, rebellion, and rev.
olution Some few are known to be citizens Of the
United States Whether others are citizens Aliens
whether in allegiance or not, they are all known to
be enemies Of the government, and openly engaged
in attempts against law and order in the territory
and against the peace aud quietude Of society
Many Of them have been shown BY Gov. WALLER,
to be hired mereenares sent out by abolition sOeie-
ties Of the East and all working in concert to &C
oomplish in Kansas what the Supreme Court and
public sentiment have decided Congress has no pow
to do that is to prohibit slavery in the Terrific
~ Of Kansas; and more than that, 10 prevent the
people Of the Territory from exercising the priv
leges Of deciding that question for themselves in
their own way; to do which they have gotten up
military organisations o. q rebellious character,
have committed the most revolving Outrages against
persons and property threatening to deuge the land
in blood, alternating section Of the Union from
the other and endsugering the existence Of free
government
Such are the coaracters such are the objects and
dangerous results Of the opponents Of the LecOmp
ton constitution. But without regard to these in
surrectonary movements, the regular legal conven-
ton Of Kansas in pursuance Of law, assembled and
adopted the constitution now before the committee,
which is thoroughly republican in form. Out of
Difference to those rho might be opposed to African
slavery and to avoid sll preteIt Of complaint on
the part Of opponents, the convention submitted
the question Of slavery or no slavery to a direct
vote Of the bona ds inhabitants of the Territory
Thst election was ordered for the 2lst of December,
1857, when 1t was accordingly held and resulted
follows:
Constitution with slavery 226 votes
Constitution without slavery ....-.... $50
Making aggregate Of. ..........6,795 q
An opportunity has consequently been afforded to
the people Of Kansas to decide this question Of sla
very for themselves, and that decision is before
us with all the sanction Of law. No real or valid
exception can be taken to any other part Of the
constitution. On this subject President Buchanan
has well said in his message: In fact, the general
provisions Of recent State constitutions after an
experience Of eighty years, similar and excel
lent that it would be difficult to 60 far wrong at the
present day in framing new constitution The
constitution conforms precisely to what Gov. Walk
sr said would meet his most cordial approval, and
that be should devote his whole time in addresses
every day to the people of every county in the Ter
ritOry, to insure its adoption.
The committee further say that they do not ap-
prove the ordinance accompanying the constitution
and report against its acceptance but they do not
regard it as any part OF the constitution, nor will
ats approval or disspprOvsl by Congress affect the
validity Of that constitution if the State be admitted
into the Union as recommended. In conclusion,
they express the opinion that when constitution Of
newly formed State created out Of terrific
~ is presented to Congress for admission into the
Union, it is part of the duty privilege Of Con-
Eress either approve disapprOve the constitu-
non ITSELF and its various provisions, or any Of
,hem but simply to see whetherit be the legal con-
situti0n Of the new State whether it be republican
10 form, whether the boundaries prOposedbe admis-
ole. and whether the number of inhabitants is
sufficient to justify Independent State organization.
believing that the paper presented is the legal con-
tuition Of Kansas that it is republican in its FORM
rlat the boundaries proposed by it are admissible;
saI oonoedng the suficienoy Of its population, the
,5mmittee recommend the admission Of Kansas into
the Union upon the constitution presented, and re-
port bill accordingly.
Nr. D0UCLAs presented written report, giving, at
considerable length the reasons which induced him
io dissent from the conclusion Of the majority Of
the committee. He states thathe has seen salts
factory evidence that the LeOompon constitution is
ba act and deed OF the people of Kansas, that it
rub0dies their will He takes the ground that the
lecomptOn convention was not clothed with compe-
lgnt authority 10 establish constitution without the
sosent Of Congress, which had been expressly with
held in this case; and hence the convention only
had such power as the territorial legislature could
rig.,lully confer, and no more. That was, the
power 20 form constitution and send It 10 Congress
ia the form Of q memorial for admission, which
could be accepted OF rejected according ii limbo
died OF did not imbody the popular will. He argues
that all the proceedings Of the convention should
have been held in strict obedience to the authority
Of the territorial government while in fact they
were declared TO be in force and to take effect in
defiance of the authority Of the territorial govern
ment as well as without the consent Of Congress.
Tie believes that the only lawful election which has
been Leld on the adoption Of the constitution was
that held the 4th of January, 1855 which was
held in obedience 10 a law passed by the territorial
legislature that legislature having been established
by Congress with full legislative power over all
rgbtful subjects within the Territory. The people
or Ksusss having repudiated the LecOmptOn cOnsti-
tuition at that election, he cannot consent to tie
passage Of bill, imposing that constitution upon
them az aiust ;heir will
MIR. CJLLAvER submitted a minority report, i'm
bodvinr the views Of himself and Mr.. WADE, which
expressed the opinion that admit Kansas into the
Union under the LecomptOn constitution would be
'but TO give success to fraud and encouragement to
iniquity, and turn thatPeOpe not 10 an cleo
zion fairly and legally conducted, but such State
officers anal legislators as said CALHOUN shall here
after proclaim, and on such contingency he shall
determine, and his long, mysterious, and inexcuss-
bic indecisjon and reserve but encourage eEPecta-
tions ia both parties one Of which is certainly doomed
20 disappointment "
The several reports were ordered to be printed :;
and Mr.. GEuES gave notice that on some early day,
after senators should have had al opportunity to
read the REPORTS he should call up the subject for
consideration.
TIE OPENING TRADE.
Commercial interests are beginning to ealize the
spring movement ami the conclusion is pretty gen
orally accepted that there UU Be a spring trade
Indeed. we have the evidence in our own city that