The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-25
sy"ops,. Of Reports on L.eomp,on Com
slit tton.

WAsHIsGToy, Feb. l3.--The report made
to-day by Mr. Green, from the Senate Com
mittce on Territories, recites at length
the events that have occurret in Kansas
and asserts that the majority OF the people
may simply, a. in ancient days, assemble in
a mass meeting, and make Constitution, or
they may elect representatives TO make one
for them or they may elect representatives
to draft one ~ be submitted to them for
their approval or rejection. The last meth
Cd has been most approved during the last
few years, though formerly the second meth
I'd was res0rted 10. In calling a Conven-
ton for this case, il was conceded to have
been strictly legal, Us was also the election
Of delegates. Was it too logical to infer
that the Convention so legally called and so
legally elected, and clothed with authority
to make Constitution, can no more he in
tertered with than the Governor, Judge or
Legislature, either to increase or diminish
its power, or to alter, modify, or nullify the
acts, than that the people could be interiered
with, had they assembled, en- masse, instead
OF by their representatives.
In conclusion, thecommittee say that the
abolitionists 10 X ansas have thus far sought
power by methods unknown TO the law, and
by acts Of violence, and not through the
peaceful agency OF the ballot-box, claiming
to have majority Of the voters in the Ter
ritory, and therefore able to elect legsla-
ture and Convention, they yet ask Congress
to wrongfully do for them what they may at
legal times and legal places rightiuly do for
themselves; that Is, 10 change or abolish
their Constitution and in case Congress
refused to comply with their Constitutional
demands, they threaten to alllict the country
with bloodshed and revolution unless Con
gress will do for them what they assert they
are not anxious to do for themselves.
They threaten to plunge the country into
civil war. This conduct is SO exceedingly
unreasonable as to force the conviction upon
the mind that they are conscious Of being
in powcrleSs minority, and only expect to
he able 10 attain their unwarrantable ends
by departing from the general ways of peace
and quiet. II your committee are not greatly
mistaken, these reckless men misjudge the
American people and will be required to
seek peaceful methods Of redress for all their
grievances, whether they be real or imagi-
nary
The bill rccitcs that the people Of Kansas
have framed for themselves q Constitution
and State government republican in form,
and that the Lecompton Convention has, in
their names and behalf, asked Congress TO
admit her therefore, il is declared that
Kansas be- admitted into the Union on an
equal footing with the original States in all
respects whatever.
The bill also prescribes the boundary, con-
tains the usual regulations relative to grants
Of public lands, as in the case Of Minnesota,
and gives Kansas for the present, one repre-
sentative in the House Of Representatives.
Mr. Douglas, in his report. dissents from
tho views oil the majority, for the reason,
among Others, that there is no satisfactory
evidence tina. the Constitution framed at
Lecompton is the act and deed Of the peo-
pie of X ansas or cmbodies their will.
He shows that the Convention was not
clothed with competent power to establish
the Constitution without the assent of Con
gress which has been expressly withheld in
this case hence the convention only had
such power as the Territorial Legislature
rightiully could confer. which was to form
constitution aud send it TO Congress as a
memorial for admission, which could be &C.
cepted or rejected according as il embodied
the popular will; that all the proceedings Of
the convention should have been held in
strict obedience TO the authority Of the Ter
ritorml government that the only lawful
election held on the adoption of the consti-
tuition, was that OF the 18th of January last
which was in obedience to the law passed by
the Territorial Legislature. established by
Congress with full legislative power on all
rightiul subjects within the Territory.
Messrs. Collainer and Wade submitted
their views. They say that the Territorial
government Of h ansas was never organized
~ provided for 10 the organic act--that is
by its own peope-but was usurped by
foreign force and conquered and subdued by
arms, and tina. the minority was installed in
power, which has ever since been sustained
by the general government instead Of being
examined into and corrected. This has been
done TO establish and perpetuate slavery.
The Iecomp,on Constitution is the result
of these proceedings, contrary TO the will OF
the people legally expressed aud for Con
grJss in its discretion TO coDsummate this
protracted a,rocity, and especially for such
a purpose, is violation Of the fundamental
principles OF republican government, and
can produce no permanent peace and salts
faction to the people in the Territory.
In the late Territorial election they have
reclaimed their rights, aud the Territorial
Governmen; is fr the first time now moving
pcaceably in its legislative sphere Of pro-
missi frcesiom
The Iecompton Constitution in its adop
ton was connected and executed T. super.
c,de and to triumph over justice, and to
admit il by Congress is bat to give success
TO fraud and encouragern,nt 10 iniquitie>,
and 10 turn over that people, not TO an cleo
ton fairly and legally conducted. but TO
such State officers and legislators AS General
Calhoun shall hereafter proclaim, and on
such contingency Us he shall determine; and
his long mysterious and inexcusable iniccis-