The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-03-04
Report OF Senate Committee ON the
President's LecomptOn Message.
DEMOCRATIC bEcoMYroN REPORT.

DEMOCRATIC JEcoMProN REPoRr.
The report made to-day by Mr.. Green, from
the Senate Committee on Territories, recites at
length the events that have occurred IN Kansas,
aud asserts that the majority OF her people may
simply, as in ancient days, assemble in mass
meeting and make Constitution, or they may
elect representatives to make one for them or to
draft one to be su admitted to them for their ap-
proval or rejection. The last method has been
most approved during the past few years, though
formely the second method was generally re-
sorted to. In calling a convention for this case,
it was conceded to have been strictly legal, as
was also the election of delegates. Was it not,
too, logical to infer that the convention so le-
gally Lalled and clothed with authority to make
a constitution can no more be interiered with
by the Governor Judge or Legislature. either to
increase or diminish its power, or to alter or
nullify its act, they assemble en- mdSse, Instead
Of by their representatives. In conclusion, the
Committee say that the abolltoniss in Kansas
have thus far sought power by efforts unknown
to the law, and BY acts Of violence, aud not
through the peacstul agency of the baIlo-box.
Claiming to have a majority of voters i'll the
territory, and therefore able to elect legisa-
ture and convention, they yet ask Congress to
wrongfuly do for them what they may at legal
times and places rightfully do for themselves
that is, to change or abolish their constitution;
and in case Congress refuses to comply with
their unconstitutional demands, they threaten
| to afflict the country with blood shed and revo-
luton Unless Congress will do for them what
they assert they are able to do for themselves,
but which they fully refuse to do, they threat
en- to plunge the country into civil war.
| This conduct is so exceedingly unreasonable
as to force the conviction on the mind that they
are conscious of being in powerless minority,
and only expect to be able 10 compass their un-
wa.rantabe ends by departing from the gene
raj way of peace and quiet. If your commit
| lee are not very much mistaken, these reckless
men misjudge the American people, aud will be
required to seek peaceful methods for the re-
dress 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, republican
has, in their time and bthalf, askel Congress
! to admit her, therefore it is declared that Kan
sas be admitted into the Union on an equal toot-
ing with the original states in all respects what
ever. The bill also prescrib.s the boundary,
contain, the usual regulations relative to grants
Of pubic lands as in the case of Minnesota,
and gives Kansas for the present one Represen
tative in the House of Representatives,.
DEMOCRATIC ANTrLEcoMProN REPORT.
Mr.. Douglas, in his report, dissents from the
views Of the majority for the reason, among 9th
ers, that there is no satisfactory evidences that
the Constitution framed at Lecompton 10 the act
and deed of the people Of Kansas, or embodies
their will. He showed that their Convention was
not clothed with competent power to establish
Constitution without the assent of Congress
which has been expressly withheld in this case
Hence, the Constitution only has such power as
the Territorial Legislature could rightlnlly con.
fer, and no more, which was to form Consti.
tuition and send it to Congress as a memorial
for admission which should b, acce pied or re jec
ted, according as 1t embodied the popular will
That all the proceedings of the Convention
should have been held in strict obedience to the
authority Of the Territorial government. while
in fact it was declared to BE- in force and to take
effect in defiance Of the Territorial government
as well wiihou, the consent of Congrass =
That the only lawful election held on the adop
ton of the Constitution, was that on the 4lh o
January last which was in obedience to the law
passed by the Territorial Legislature established
by Congress, with full legislative power on al
rghifnl subjects within the Territory
REPUBLICAN REPoRr
Messrs Collamer aud Wade submitted thsi
views. They say that the Territorial government
of Kansas was never organized as provided fo
in the organic act. that is, by its own people
but was usurped by foreign force, and con
quersd and subdued by arms and that the mi
was III po"ci, WuiCl cNo
since been sustained by the g-neral govern
ment Instead of being examined into aud cor
rected, this has been done to establish perpet
ual slavery. The Lecompton Constitution i,
the result Of these proceeding, contrary to the
will of the great majority of the people legally
expressed, and for Congress- in its discretion, tc
consummste this practsed atrocity and espe
ciaIy for such purpose, is a violation OF the
fundamental principles of republican govern
ment, and can produce no permanent ace anC
satisfaction to the people of the Territory. Ii
the late Territorial election, they have reclaim
cd their rights, and the Territ rial governmen
is, for the first time, now moving peaccabIe il
it's legislative freedom. The Lecompton Con
stitution and its adoption, was concocted ant
executed to Superceed, and to triumph over jus
tice and to admit it by Congress is but to Civ,
; success to fraud, and encouragement to iniqui
ties, and to turn over that people, not to eec
tion fairly and legally conducted, bui to sucl
!, State officers aud legislators as Gen. Calhoun
shall hereafter proclaim, and in such contingen
cy as he shall determine and his long myste
rious and inexcusab.e inJecision and reserv
but encourage expectations in both parties, on
|, of which is certainly doomed to disappoint
ment.
: THE RUREI Ans EpIPND ThiS hare ;s,