Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-03-31
The Kansas Bill.


Kansas into the Union, under the Lecompton
Constitution, passed the United States Senate
on the Esd inst. Mr.. Green withdrew his a.
mendment, in regard to admitting Minnesota and
Kansas together and Mr.. Pugh withdrew his,
which asserted the right of the people of Kan
sas to "alter reform, or abolish their form of
Government" without regard to the time and
manner of doing it prescribed by the Constitu-
ton. Mr.. Houston voted for the bill in accord
ance with the views of the Legislature of Texas,
and Mr.. Pugh voted against it in obedience to
instructions. The vote being taken the result
was announced-yeas SO, nays Gas follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Allen, Bayard, Benjamin,
Biggs, Bigler, Bright, Brown, Clay, Evans, Fitch,
Fitzpatrick, Green, Gwin, Hammond, Hender-
son, Houston, Hunter, Iverson, johnson of Ar.
kansas, Johnson Of Tennessee, Jones, Kennedy,
Mallory, Mason, Pearce, Polk, Sebastian, Sill
dell, Thompson Of New Jersey, Toombs, Wright
and Yulee-33.
Nays-Messrs Bell, Broderick, Chandler,
Clark Oollamer, Crittenden, Dixon, Doolittle,
Douglas, Durkee, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Hale,
Hamln, Harlan, King, Pugh, Seward Simmons,
Stuart, Sumner, Trumbull, Wade, and Wilson
20.
Absent or not Voting-Messrs. Bates Cam
eron, Davis, and Reid.
We are not surprised to find some Of the most
Jealous advocates of the bill now occupying our
position on the subject-that of total indfter-
ence. Mr.. Iverson, Of Georgia, stated in the
Senate immediately before the passage of the
bill, that he regarded this as victory entirely
without fruit, and as such he cared little OF
nothing about it." Weeks ago we expressed
the same sentiment. The Richmond Wing also
on Wednesday last, said, eve have no partieu-
lar wish to aid, in any manner, in hurryiDg
Kansas into the Union--unless, indeed, we
should be convinced that her immediate admis
sion would crush out agitation and give peace
to the country, which we do not and canno
believe will be among the results of admitting
her under the bill now before Congress" The
immediate cause of dissatisfaction with both Mr.
Iverson and the Wing, is the proclamation o
Mr.. Calhoun that he would issue certificates o
election in such manner as to throw the gov
ermnt of Kansas in the hands of the Republican
party but the same result, sooner or later, ha.
ticipated Why, therefore, should any South
ern man get into an excitement and insist upol
the acceptance of the Lecompton Constitution
when the only effect was to hurry two Blacl
Republican Senators and Black Republican
Representative into Congress2
We fully concur in the remark of Mr.. Critten
den, in his speech of the 18th inst. He said
81 would vote for the admission of Kansas upoI
almost any terms that would give peace ani
quiet. If thought this bill would do so,
should vote for it." We make no objection tc
the Lecompton Constitution on legal grounds
and should have no scruples about voting for il
if its acceptance would accomplish the object
indicated by Mr.. Crittenden but it comes in
no such imposing form as to make its accep,
lance obligatory. The question is not between
the North and South, or at all sectional in its
aspects, but merely, what is best for the inter.
ests of the country at large2 Upon this ques-
ton there is room for diversity of opinion, and
therefore we have no censures for persons on Ell
Their side who seem to be actuated by enlarged
and patriotic sentiments. But, as usual, the
hot-bloods of the South have magnifed and dis
torted the question into sectional issue. They
have sought to make it test of fidelity to the
South, and denounced all men who oppose the
bill, or are indifferent to its fate, as hostile to
our institutions. For ourselves, we submit to
no such test When the rights of the South
are invaded we shall be true to our own section
but we accept no issue at the hands of either
Southern disunionists or Nothern Abohtionists
This whole Kansas controversy has been mis-
cradle affair. Mr.. Hammond, of South Carolina
declared in the Senate few weeks ago, tina
the history Of Kansas was disgusting one, ant
he had avoided reading it as much as he could
he presumed there were frauds on all sides, anC
any investigation into them would end in moth
ing but disgrace to the country. Shall the
South link her fortunes and honor to cause
like this2