Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-03-20
KANSAS AND MINNESOTA.


The bin, before the Senate is not the Kansas bill
reported BY Mr. GREER, Of Missouri, as the repre-
sentative Of the majority Of the Committee on Ter
ritories, but one submitted by him on the 4th inst
as substitute for thst bill sRd entitled ga bill for
the admission Of the States of Kansas and Mime
sofa into the Union" It's frstsection as follows
WHEREAS. The people Of the Territory of Kan
sas bv their representatives in convention assem-
bled At Leeompton, in said Territory, on Monday,
the 4th day of September, 1857, did form for them
selves a Constitution and State government; and
whereas. the people Of the Territory Of Minnesota
did on the 9th day Of August, 1857, by delegates
elected for that purpose, form for themselves Con-
stitution and State government, which was ratified
spd adopted by the people at an election held On the
18th dav Of October, A. D., 1857, for that purpose,
both Of which said Constitutions are republican;
and said conventions having asked the admission Of
their respective Territories into the Union States,
on an equal footing with the original States There
fore,
Bsa enacted b. the Senate and House Of Rsprsss1-
taUes Of the United States Of America IN CORgTesS
ssmBIed, That the States Of Minnesota and Kansas
be- and sre hereby deesredtO be States Of the Uni
ted States Of America, and are hereby admitted
into the Union on an equal footing with the original
States In all respects whatever.
The second section describes the boundaries Of
the State Of Minnesota, those prescribed in the
set Of Congress, authorizing its people to form
Constitution and State government.
The third section defines the boundaries OF the
State Of Kansas, and protects the rights Of person
and property Of the Indians included within them
The fourth section prohibits the new States from
interfering with the primary disposal Of the public
lands, or levying tax upon them or any other pro-
pertv Of the United States within their respective
limits and further declares that nothing contained
in the act Of admission shall be construed as an
assent by Congress to all any of the propositions
or claims contained in the ordinance annexed to
the Constitution Of the people Of Kansas, nor to de-
priTe the said State Of Kansas Of the same grants
which were contained in the act Of Congress enti-
tled sAn act to authorize the people Of the Terri
tory Of Minnesota TO form Constitution and State
government preparatory to admission into the Union
on an equal footing with the original States aP-
proved February %, 1851"
The eth and last section provides that each State
shall be entitled to one representative until the next
general census shall be taken, and Minnesota to as
many more as her population under her recent cen
susshall show that she is entitled.
This is the bill Of the committee now before the
Senate Senator PUGH of Ohio, has offered the fol-
lowing additional section as amendment
SEC And Be Il turtber enacted, That the admission
Of the States of Minnesota and Kansas into the
Union by this act, shall never be so constructors to
deuy. limit, or otherwise impair, the right Of the
people Of ,he said States, with the assent Of their
legislatures severally at all times, to alter, REFORM
or abolish their form Of government, IN such man
ner as they may think proper, so that the same be
still republican and in accordance with the Consu-
tuition of the United States.
F..-t.rr4b s.c4;oD Of fbn gcbadu1p Of the
Kansas Constitution, as our readers aware,
prescribes the mode in which it may be altered
after 1864 With this provision in its schedule, Mr.
DOUGLAS and others contend that the Constitution
cannot be altered until 1864, and that Congress in
accepting it, will force upon the people Of Kansas
fundamental law, which they cannot change or
amend until after the lapse Of years Mr. PUGH's
amendment is designed 8 reply to this argument
Of the opponents Of the Lecompton Constitution.
Many southern members Of Congress, it is under
stood, will sustain it. whilst many Of the leading
Democratic organs of the South denounoe it as con-
stituting lift adopted, an act of open and often
sive intervention by Congress in the affairs Of the
people Of Kansas. The southern opposition to it,
however land this we shall take occasion to notice
bereaferg) does not secure for it the favor Of the
CLARK, Of New Hampshire, has offered the following
of 9 substitute.
SEo. Ind be Il further enacted, That the State Of
Kansas is admitted into the Union upon the further
express condition that nothing contained in the four
teenth section Of the schedule Of the Constitution Of
said State Of Kansas, "done at Lecompton on the
18th day Of November, 1857" shall be so construed
as to prevent the Legislature Of said State, if they
shall think necessary; to amend, alter change said
Constitution, from recommending, prior to the year
1864 by a majority vote, to the electors Of said
State to call convention for that purpose, the
electors from electing such convention, said
convention from making such amendments, changes,
or alterations whatever, they may deem proper.
And upon the further express condition that neither
the admission Of said State with said Constitution
nor said Constitution ITSELF shall be construed or
have force 20 revive, or enact after said admis
sion any law regulation repealed by the Legisla
ture Of the Territory Of Kansas before the passage
Of this act without sre-enactment by the Begisla-
ture Of said State of Kansas after its admission.
Such is the Kansas bill, with the amendments |
offered to it., which is now pending in the Senate