The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-03-11

Reports ON Kansas Affairs I'm the
Senate.
WARRINGTON, Feb. 18.-The report made
to-day by Mr.. Green from the Senate Commit
tee on Territories, recites atlength the events
that have occurred in Kansas, and asserts that
the majority Of the people may simply, as in
ancient days, assemble In mass meeting and
make constitution, or they may elect repre-
sentatives to draft ono to be submitted For their
approval or rejection. The last method has
been most approved during the last few years
though formerly the second method was gene-
rally resorted to. In calling convention for
this case it was conceded to have been strictly
legal, as was also the election Of delegates
Was it too logical to infer that the Convention
solegally elected and clothed with authority to
make Constitution, can no more be inteffered
with by the Governor, Judge or Legislature,
| either to increase or diminish it's power, or to
alter, modify or nulliey its acts, than that the
people could be interfered with Lad they a..
sembled en- mos.e instead Of BY their represen-
tatives.
In conclusion, the Committee says that the
abolitionists in Kansas have thus FAR sought
power by methods unknown to law, and by
acts Of violence, and not through the peaceful
agency OF the bsllot-box. Claiming to have
q majority OF voters in the Territory, and
therefore able to elect Legislature and Con-
vention. they yet ask Congress to wrongfully
do for themselves-that is to change or abol.
| ish their Constitution-and in case Congress
refused 10 comply with their constitutional de-
mands, they threathen to aflict the country
with bloodshed and revolution, unless Congress
will do for them what they assert they are mol
anxious to do for themselves, they threaten to
plunge the country into civil war. This con-
duct is so exceedingly unreasonable as to force
the conviction upon the mind that they are
! conscious OF being in powerful minority,
and only hope to be able to compare their un-
warraptable ends by departing from the gem
eral ways Of peace and qnite. II your Com
mittee are not greatly mistaken, these reckless
men misjndge the American people, and will
be required to seek peaceful methods for the
redress Of all their grievances, whether they
be real or imaginary. The bill recites that the
people OF Kansas have framed for Themselves
a constitution and state government, repubh-
can in form and that the Lecompton Conpsn.
| ton has in their name and behalf asked Con.
gress to admit her; therefore II is declared
that Kansas be admitted into the Union on an
equal footing with the original States, in all
respects whatever. The bill al.o prescribes
the boundary, contains the usual regulations
relative to grants NJ public lands, as in the
case Of Minnesota, and gives Kansas for the
present one representative in the House Of
Representatives.
Mr.. Douglas in his report dissents from the
views Of the majority, for the reason, among
others, that there is no satisfactory evidence
that the Constitution framed at Lecompton is
the act and deed Of the people of Kansas, or
embodies their will. He shows that the Con-
vention was not clothed with competent pow
| er to establish the Constitution without the
| assent of Congress, which has been expressly
withheld in this case; hence the Convention
only had such power as the Territorial Legis-
lature could rightfully confer, and no more,
| which was 10 form Constitution and send it
to Congress as memorial for admission, which
could be accepted or rejected according as it
embodied The popular will; that all the pro-
ceedings Of the Convention should have been
held in strict obedience to the authority of the
Territorial Cove. nment, as well as with the
consent Of Congress; that the only lawful
election held on the adoption Of the Constitu-
ton was that on the fourth OF January last,
which was in obedience to the law passed by
the Territorial Legislature, established by
Congress, with full legislative power on all
rightful subjects within the Territory.
Messrs. Collamer and Wade submitted their
views. They say that the Territorial govern
ment Of Kansas was never organized as provi-
ded for in the organic act, that is, BY its own
people, but was usurped by a foreign force and
conquered ard subdued BY arms, and that the
minority was installed in power, which has
ever since been sustained by the General Gov
ernmsnt instead Of being examined into and
corrected. This hsi been done to establish
and perpetuate slavery. The Lecompton Con-
stitution is the result Of these proceedings.
contrary to the will OF the great majority Of
the people legally expressed, Tor Congress in
ito discretion to consumate this Protraoted At
trocity, and especially FOR such purpose is a
violation Of the fundamental principles Of Re-
publican Government, md can produce no per-
manent peace and satisfaetion to the people in
the Territory. In the late territorial electioa
they have reclaimed their rights, and the Ter
ritorial Government is for the first time now
moving pesceably In it, legislative sphere Of
promised freedom. The Lecomp.on Constitu,
ton and It's adoption was concocted and exc
cuted to superceds and to triumph over JUS
tiee and to sdmit Il BY Congress IL bat to give
success to fraud and encouragement to iniqui-
ties and to give over that people, not to an
election fairly and legally conducted, but to
such State officers and Legislators as Gen. Call
hoan, shall hereafter proclaim, and on such
contingency as be shall determine and bis long
mysterious and inexcusable indscision and re-
ssrve, but encourages expectations in both par
ties, one OF which is certainly doomed to dis
appointment.
.