Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-04-10

delegated to it. and It exercised IL in the only mode
in which it could DO it with justice aud fairness
call your attention to theaW under the eonven-
ton was organized and the delegates were elected.
Section l6 provides that
The delegates thus eested shall assemble in eonven
ton Ct the capitol of said Territory the first Monday Of
September next and shall proceed form its eons tuition
and Sts government which shall be republican in its
FORM for aduiss into the Unon an equal fOOting
with the original Staes in ell respects whatavsr, By the
name Of the State Of Kansas !
That section makes it the duty Of the convention
to form constitution and State government; and,
sir it is q fact, which is known perhaps TO every
member of tbs committee that that law was vetoed
by the governor of the Territory Of Kansas upon
the ground that it did not require the constitution
to be submitted to the people; and passed by
tWo-third vote the veto, and thus became law
It was under that law that the convention acted
The convention formed constitution, and have pre-
scented it here Will any one say that the constu-
ton is republican in its character have heard
no say 30 yet; and, on looking over it. any man
must that il is not only republican in its ehRrao
ter, but that it is couehed almost in the same Ian
guage and in the same terms the most approved
constitutions Of the other States of this Union -
There is nothing Irregular in It; and I ask, where
was the irregulaTity in Fortnight? Before il was
formed an election was held to take the sense Of the
peeple as to whether they would form constitution;
and they decided that they would After that cleo
4 ton, and after that popular vote the Legislature
passed the law, Of which have read part, proVi-
ding for an election Of delegates. Delegates we're
elected; those delegates assembled in convention;
they made constitution; and now it is said that,
because they submitted the slavery clause only, and
did not submit the whole constitution TO the people,
we should refuse to admit the State Of Kansas into
the Union, although her constitution is republican
in form, aud correct and proper in every respect.
ask you, sir. from whom does this objection come?
The people of Kansas have been in an unfortunate
| positIon; aud Why? Because, as soon rs the Kan
Noh,sa haVn hmm raa
members Of this House. in the Thirty Thru Congress-
who determined that that bill should not have its
proper and legitimate effect. 1t is not the people of
| Kansas who to blame. The revolution started
here in the attempt to annul and destroy the effect of
q law passed in pursuance Of the constitution by
majority of both houses of Congress-, and approved
by the President. If are to have laws passed by
sill the legislative branches of the government
thus overturned by fraud and force, such has
been witnessed in Kansas, and their effect de-
feated and destroyed by any partyin this country,
our government will very soon be brought TO an end
Repeal these laws, if you dsApproVe of them, in the
legitimate forum; but, instead Of that, members of
this House, some Of whom are still here openly de-
clared that the Ksnsss-Nebraska bill should not
have its legitimate effect and that slavery never
should 60 into the Territory Of Kansas? We ask if
the law was not constitutional? Gentlemen admit
it was constitutional, that it violation Of the
constitution; but, say they, are much opposed
to slavery that We will defeat the action of the law
will destroy its effect, even if do it at the
pense of our once glorious Union. Such was the
spirit which sent these men to Kansas
Now, what do we see? At the very first election
held in the Territory We find disorders; We find
large number of northern men there, not for the
purpose Of settlement but fOrthe purpose Of shaping
the institutions of Kansas. They refused TO go into
the election; they refused to 90 into any election
affecting the organization Of the Territory into
State government.
Mr. Chairman, have always acknowledged that
principle Of law which says that no man shall take
advantage Of his own wrong. These people went
into Kansas for the purpose Of shaping its instiu
tions peacsably il they could fOrcibly if they
When they failed, they refused to 90 into An cleo
ton, although they were invited to do so. They
fused to go into the election when the people
called to declare their wishes the subject Of
framing State government They refused to vote
in the election of delegates. They refused to vote
when the Article Of the constitution in regard TO the
question Of slavery was submitted to them, And
now they come here, and ask us TO reject the ad-
mission Of the State. And why The reason is
obvious they do not desire to have this question
settled; they desire to keep 1t open If you 60 to
Kansas, you will find small party there-not be-
longing TO the respectable portion Of the free-sO-
ers or Of the abotionists-headed by Lane, with
his marauders his murderers, and his house-hur-
ners. They do not number more than eight hundred
Take them out of the way, and the whole people of
Kansas are in favor Of the admission Of the State
under the Lecompton Constitution
know t has been said here that great fraud is
about to be committed on the people Of Kansas. l
am not astonished at the course of the republican
party They have determined that no State shall
ever be admitted into the Union the constitution Of
which tolerates slavery. Such is the character of
the speeches here. The gentleman from Ohio. [Nr
Tompkins and divers other gentlemen who have
> spoken upon this subject, have declared most IN
eQuvocally that no State shall ever be admitted into
the Union by their votes that tolsrstes the insu.
ton of slavery. l. therefore, say that am not
prised at the of the republican party They
act principle of their creed. Il is that they
live. And yet their course is founded on revolu-
tionsry principle, under which government can
last / am not astonished at them, for hey never
professed anything else. They have always operat
ed the prejudoes of the people. They hold their
seats here by such means. But l am astonished at
another class Of members Of this House who have
f heretofore acted with the democratic party. In
looking at this question, and considering the effect
of its result either the North OF South, am al
! most led to eXclaim,
EWhGt shadows are What shadows We pursued"
hold that the admission OF rejection Of Kansas
can be of no benefit either to the North or to the
South. It principle that lies at the bottom of
this question: and if Kansas be rejected it will be
a triumph Of that revolutionary spirit which origi
mated sl the difficulties in Kansas, which has main
tanned them, and which will keep the State on of
the Union. Il will show to the country that that
revolutionary spirit is strong enough to Cypress one
section Of the Union.
ITO BE CONCLUDED To-MoRROv