The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-01

like Kentucky without constitution and be rermitted
to settle her affairs for herself
MI MILES, OF South Carolina, advocated the admis-
SION OF haists IL was not only question of espedi-
fncy but question Of principle That was what made
'he So"'a overlook minor points aud technical argu-
n'eh's was principle upon which she believed the
existence OF the government depends She honestly be-
eSed that the question involved In the admission of
Kansas IL simply-shal another slave State into
this confederacyS No minor question Of irregularities
could produce the excitement which this question has
produced IL was contended than the Lecompton const
tuon DID not represent the wishes OF the people Of Kan
sas because it had not been passed upon by popular
vote and this stand taken in view Of the fact that
the old States of the confedeacy had been admitted with
constitutions that had not been ratified
Mr.. BrRLINGAME, Of Massachusetts said ii had been
shown in the great debate they hal that the people Of
Kansas never authorized the Lccoinpton constitution
that they never made IT, never ratified it, and that it did
not reflect their will III had been shown that both egs
atures frauds that test oatbs and gag law were
put upon the people, that they could not vote and
when they could not vote they held responsible for
the crimes of those who did vote. They attempted to
force that constitution upon the people, and than
that they had declared through the lips of their boIdes
and abest senator that it involved the grave question
union or dsnnion For his part he ready TO meet
that issue He accepted the ISSUE and a repre-
sentative from Massachusetts, he would not shrink from
his duty in the presence of such threat He contcnded
that they could not dissolve the Union II would not be
legal and it would not be safe to do it, On the banks
OF the Santec itself it would not require federal army
to do it it would be done by the descendants Of Stump
ter and Marion He ready to sustain the substitute
OF Mr. CRrrsSDEN, because he knew il would make Kan
free State
Mr. zOLLICOFFEI, Of TENNESSEE, was compelled with
regret this question to separate himself from some of
his most highly respected political friends and great
diversity Of views had been expressed by its friends
well its opponents he felt that might be well for him
to state the considerations that had the weight
determining him to vote the bill His opinion was
that the bill before them with constitution that has
been regularly adopted and is republican in FORM and,
looking to the recorded votes of the people, regularly taken
at legal election, he commended that it reflected the
tments of the people of that Territory In his opinion,
there clearer way Of obtaining the views of that
people than by submitting the slavery question by itself
1t seemed to him that il State asked admission with
constitution republican in FORM it their duty to
ceive it,
Mr.. PARROT Of Kansas, said he was the representa-
tive of purely sectional party and when he stood here
to-day to plead for the right of the people Of Kansas to
imbody their own will in their fundamental law,
he claimed that he represented the whole people of Kan
sas, with few nconsiderable exceptions The ground
OF all the complaints of the people Of Kansas that
none of the pledges made to them in reference to the
formation of their constitution Ind ever been fulfilled
He conendcd that the territorial government never had
been organized and that the attempt to organize it
failure because Of the introduction Of onresdent voters
and the Intervention of federal executive power The
indgny OF offering the Lccompton constitution to the
House was spared the representative Of Kansas.
Mr.. NIBLACK, of Indiana, endorsed both the prem
Uses and the conclusions of the Presidents Kansas
sage lie agreed with the friends OF the administration
this question: and whatever might be said to the
trary be insisted that the select committee had been
ry constituted in conformity with parliamentary usage
Ho regarded the report Of that committee of the
ablest arguments that had been made the subject
He then earnestly advocated the admission Of Kansas,
and declared that his vote should not be given for the
purpose of benefting the freedom shrickers.
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Nav York, asked the reporters
not to take down his remarks, he had document in
his hand which he would hand to them after he done.
together with several suggestions he had to make to the
committee. He said he should vote decidedly against
the Lecompon swinde, and argued TINT the organic act
conferred no power the legislature to call cOnstitu-
tional convention
Mr.. WARD of New York, cordially endorsed the pol
icy Of the President and the administration in regard to
the admission Of Kansas under the Lccompton consttu
ton. Whilst his immediate constituents bad confdcd in
his Judgment he not unmindul of the fact that the
democratic party of New York the regular organization
the members of the legislature and the leading OF
the party all approved Of that policy, and il might be
said that they presented unbroken front for the first
time in many years. The commercial manufacturing,
and agricultural prosperity Of the whole country We're
involved in all public questions that agate the people,
and in that he found sufficient reason aside from party
store peace and harmony The alleged grievances OF the
people of Kansas arising out of the nonsubmsion of the
whole constitution not such authorized them to
reject it, and they could not reject 1t without oyerturning
all law and order and the forms Of government But the
constitution legal and republican in FORM and there
for its rejection
MIR. GkOESBENk, OF Ohlo said in very few hours
the roll of their would be called TO take their votes
the admission of Kansas under the Iecompton consti
tuition He should vote no. for the that he had
80 determined He had deferred to express his opinion
in the hope which he had entertained at the last hour
that there might be modification in which he could
corporate with his party 1t would give him great
pleasure to sustain the President in this and all other
measures and FIR be it from him to say hard word Of
him. to impeach his motives, TO doubt or cast the
slightest shadow of suspicion upon their purity ntcg
rty He took 1t to be admitted on the democratic side
well the other sidc and by all that the known and
expressed will he would not say the legally known and
the legally expressed he should come to that hereafter
but the known and the expressed will of the great major
ty of the people of Kansas against the constitution
which they proposed to vitazc He commended TINT
the people could not change their constitution prior to
1864 without revolution, and that the federal govern
ment would have right to resist the attempt should il
be made by force of arms and if blood should be spilled
it would not be manslaughter He made his argument
the ground that the constitution does not express the
will of the people He affirmed that this Congress is
bound to respect recognise, and act by the known will
Of that people given to them the 4th day of jan
| uary.
Mr.. TRIPLE of Georgia thought If they had grateful
hearts they ought TO be willing 10 render thanks to the
Oliver Of NIL Good at the promise before them that this
harp Of thousand strings" which had long given
such dscorant notes. would at last be broken forever
The slavery question not question for discussion here
Ii it right, portion Of the country exercised IL
if wrong, portion possessed the wrong and he who
sandered and vied half because they differed from
him unworthy of his seat his constituents and the
God who made him. He should vote for the admission
of Kansas under the Lecompon constitution. He knew
the question asked of them whether they would vote
to force constitution upon people majority of whom
opposed to it. Under other circumstances he should
| ,hutf M lint they ad rer IN