The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-02-24
Ihe Repor. gof the senate Committee
M ION Territories.
W1sIIINdroN. FEB. rs, 1858.

A ION ferritor,es. q 81
WAsIuSdroN, Feb. rs, 1858.
4 The report madoSto,day by Nj Green,
rom the Scnate Qommittee on Territo-
ries, speak int lsneth of the events ID
Kansas.
-. .It.asseEtsz zthatu.a maierityS4ofst peo-
pie may simply as in ancien, days in a
mass meeting make a: constitution. They
may elect Representatives. TO make one for
them. or elect representatives 10 draft one.
to be submitted for approval or rejection.
The last method had been most spnroved
of during the past few years, though fer
mcrly the second method was very gener.
ally resorted 10.
The calling Of the Convention in this
case was conceded 10 have been, strictly
legal, also, the election Of delegates.
6 Wasait not logieafto infer that Con-
vention legally called. and clothed with
to make CONSTITUTIONS, can no
more be intcrfercd with by Governor,
Judge or Lesis,atares either to increase
or diminish its d,ower, or alter, or modify,
or nuliify its acts. fhun the people could
be iRtcrfered with had they assembled en-
mass instead Of by Representatives!
In conclusion, the committee say that
the Asolltionists in Kansas had thus fa.
sought power byia method unknown to
law, and by violence, and not through the
peaceful agency Of the ballot Claim
ing that they gave a majority Of the votes
in the Territory, and therefore able to elect
asLegislature aud : Convention, they yet
ask Congress to wrongfuiiy do 70. them
what they may az legal times and legal
places rightfaIly do for themselves; thatis,
change or abolish their constitution, and
in case that Congress should refuse to
conply withatheir constitutional demands.
they threaten to afIliet the eoantry with
an attempt At bloodshed and revelation.
Unless Congress will do for them what
they9assert they are anxious not to do
for themselves, bat which they wiIlfnily
refuse to do. they threaten to plunge the
country into civil var. This conduct is
SO exceedingly unreasonable as to force
the conviction on the mind that they are
conscious sef being q Poweriess miaority,
and tnly expect to be able to compass
their onwsrransable ends by departing
from the general way of peace and quiet
If your committee are not greatly mis-
taken, those reckless men misjudge the
Americaii people, and will be required to
sests for peaceful nethods Of redress Of ell
their grievances, whether they be real or
: sss gKs++si
The bill recites that the people Of Kan
sas have framed for themselves a consri-
tuition and State Government, republican
in form, and the Convention at Leconp-
ton has in their name and behalf, asked
iCsng:esssto admit her into the Union;
.therefors, itse declared that Kansas be
into the Union upon an equal
fseting with. the originaI States, in slf re-
spects whatever sss ssss - 9.
j The bill prescribes the boundaries, and
contains the usual regulations relative to
grants5of public lands as in the case
OF Minaeeota saad gives Kansas for the
present one Representative in the House
|of Ieprssentatives. = Fsss
: Mr.. Douglas in his report, rdisseats
fronlrths views Of the majority, for reasons
among others, that thsre is'no satisfactory
evidence athat the constitution framed By
the zLecomptofS convention Is an act and
decd Of the psoplesof Kansas, or smbod.
t les theitwill He shows that the Con-
Iventios wasaot clothed With the compe.
tent powerto toestablish constitutioii with
lout'she assent Of Congress. which has been
Iexprsssly withheld In this case. Hence
tths convention only had such power ..
she Territorial Legislature could right
fully confer, which was TO form con
stisutioa and send it to Congress as .
memorial for admission, which could bs
accepted sr rejected according as it EN-
bodisd tho popular will That I'LL Ii,
proceedings or the Conven,ion shonlt
have been held In strict obsdicace to the
authority Of the Territorial Government
while, il TACT, it was declared to be ii
tfsrce Land 70 take effect in defiance Il
the authorityof the Territorial Gr vern
ment, as well as wishoht the consent Q
Congress. That the only lawful election
held On ths ado opticn Of the constitutions wa
/ that of the 4th day of january last whic1
WAS in obedience TO q Law passed by tn
Territorial Legislature, established b
Congress, with full Legislative power o.
all rightfat subjects Within sthe Terrific
Try. lssr ssA ssie $3.50 -f e''s 81
/ Messrss Collamsr aud w sde, in sub
hitting their. .Siews, say that the Terrific
riats Government of Kansas vas neve
organized as provided lin the organize act
[that iseby its own people, but ussrf ed b
/ fereiga force, conquered and subdusd b
arms, and the minority installed iaspowel
/ which. has ever. sinse bsen sustained b
4 the Gsnerale 4o vernmsnt, instead of bein
lexanined into and corrected. This iha
been, done to establish and perpetual
slavery. The daccomptoa Constitute
| was the result OF those proceedings an
contrary stosihe will Of the great majorit
of the people, legally expressed; and fo
Congress ins lis discretion to eonsnmmA,
this oprotrscted atrocity, espeeialty fc