The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-03-11
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS


| WASHINGTON March 10.-&nute.-A resolution
passed providing for the payment. to the legal re
personalities of the late Senators Butler, Bell and
| Rash, compensation up to the respective days OF
| the decease of those gentlemen.
The resolution to print ten thousand copies OF
the Patent Office Mechanical Report, was discus
| sed. An amendment was adopted limiting the
| book to one volume of 500 pages.
| The consideration of the Kansas hill was re-
sumed, and Messrs. Hamiu and Sebastian occu-
| pied the floor till the adjournment.
HOHSe.-Mr. Stephens asked leave to present a
minority report from the investigating committee
on Kansas affairs. Objected TO. Mr.. Stephens said
he should print the report, Notwithstanding the
objection
1t is understood that the report is in substance
| as follows
to which attention should be directed. was.
Flrst-The law for taking the census Of the PEG
pie.
second-The law calling the convention. ,.
Third-The registry OF the voters. and the appor-
tonmeDt under it.
Fourth-The assembling of the convention, and its
Journal.
Eifth-The constitution so made,
Sixth-lhe official vote on the ratification OF the
Seyenti1-The committee filed not deeming il ma
teral the of December lest, providing for vote,
tor a.. ainst the slavery clause the ith of Jan
nary.
Eighth-The official announcement of that vote.
aud
Nnth-The written statement of Gen. Calhoun in
Tela ion tn tho registry OF votes, etc tbut which
sheds no light on the subIect)
The report says that these facts show great reSu
ianty and strict conformity to law, and that uo
state heretofore applying for admission bias shown
No objection to the admission OF Kansas arises ON
the usual inquiresbTst as to the Application; sec
ondy 10 The regularity of the proceedings; and
thirdly. whether the Constitution Is republican IN
form.
The report then answers the objections going very
fully into reply to Gov Walkers argumc Mt, found
ed on his assumption that the vatIdity OF every
State Constitution depends on its having rec,iyed
the sane zion OF popular vote. This assumption Is
denied. as not being su taintd by principle
thority. Sovereignty, Goy. Walker says, is in
ienable aud rests exclusively in the people. This
II granted butthe report says It does not follow that
sovereign power cannot be delegated. The forma'
ton o. Constitution requires the exercise of SOW
ereiga power; but does the coHmonest act OF he
gisiature- Ii the one eau be delegated, can the
other. All the Constitutions of the old States were
made by conventions, without ratification, except
ted States was ratified by State Conventions; and
never by the popular vote. The amendments 10 t
to pe concurred in by State Legislatures, and
not by The popular vote to give them validity. II
Gov. Walkers doctrine is correct, we should be with
ont State Constitutions or laws in half the States Of
the Union The objection that enabling act is
ceesary is also answered, aud shown to be untena-
BILE, both in priacipe and authority.
.ionInent is very full treated The charge that
ninetee counties disfraRchised IS com pietely
answered. There are iut thirty-our organized eoun
ties in Kansas. Twtnty-one of these were repre-
sented- Vine of the thirteen unrepresented conn
ties have very little population. In seven of them
not vote was cast at the January election against
the Constitution. In two others of the nine, less
than one hundred votes w+re thrown and ia the
four remaining, Notwithstanding, Anderson, Cot
fee. and Breckenridge, there were but eleven hun
bred and thirtyive In these four counties the Of
hcers were prevented from making a registy
The +. port also shows, from the registry and ap-
rortonnient together with the official returns that
at the attn OF January election, the hve counties OF
Asehlson Deoslas, npnirhs han si aa
teen votes, which is majority of the Whole vote
cast throughout the territory against the Consitu.
ton. And yet all these coHntiss were registered
and represented in the Convention, having thirty
six OF the sixty delegates of which the Convention
was composed. If it be true that the opponents of
the were 40 largely in the aiorty in
those counties, and SO violent in their opposition,
why did they not elect men TO form q institution
more to their kiIgf They had within four votes of
two-thiras Of the Convention why. then, did they
fail to act at the proper time? Their refusal there
fore did not invaiate the jnst tair and legal action
of the Convention.
The resolution under which the Committee was
appointed, directed them to inquire whether the
Lecomptan Constitution is acceptable and satisfac
tory TO the people? The reply to this is that the
only correct test is the ballot-hox aud such an ex
precision Of the popular will there given, at the
,roper time and place, according to law. by this
test the Constitution was adopted by an oyerwhel-
ming majority Of those who joined in ,he election
These only can be considered aH the bona e eiti
Gems of Kansas. Others, who abstained, Bsaia
is residsnfs, who went TO Kansas for mischief aud
strdt They are solfaeknow lodged outlaws, and are
not to be considered constituent elements ofcom
nunlty or society, az sihst which they are in open
rebellion. But on the 4th of January, at the cleo
ton Of state officers under the Constellation. more
Than 400 voters in Hams dad go TO the polls aud
thus showed conciusytIy that az least four-fths of
the voters OF that Territory we're willing TO sotef
the election of State officers under the Consti ution
This shows that the Constitution not only nc
cep'ahe. but that it has been accepted by at least
four-fths of the voters Of that Territory, though
not entieeiy satisfactory tp all of them.
The committee declined t. go into an investisa-
ton of the alleged frauds at the January election
for State officers for want of Jurisdiction Ut the House
over the subject. They say they can nomore inves-
tigate frauds relating to thu election of State OH
GERS in Kansas than 10 any other state Those mat
trs TO be inquired into by other appropriate fe
Ultimate tribunals. Ut the seat OF the member of
Congress elected TO this House be contested on the
ground Of alleged frauds. the House would have ju
fisdietion that question. but not ~ 10 frauds
IN the election of Governor or mesabers OF the Lc
gslature Of Kansas.
The Report concludes with recommendation fot
the admission vi tho State Of kansas. in pursuance
OF the views at the President, believing that the
welfare ADD prosperity of the people OF Kansas. as
wei AZ the general welfare peace aud harmony Of
the whole Union. will thereby be promoted.
The liouse, In committee Of the whole, discussed
Mr. Qaitman's army increase bill and the Kansas
bill aatii rhs Adjournment. ~