The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-04-22

/ The Montgomery Amendmens-Shoultl
u not Receive the support or every
Democrat!
We desire TO cali the attention OF our
Democratic readers, to the amendment
adopted by the House Of Representatives,
to the Kansas bill, as ii came from the Sen
ate As we understand the great principle
Of Popular Sovereignty, as enunc lated a,
the Cincinnati Convention, the existence or
nonexis,ence Of slavery in an inchoate State,
is no valid objection TO its admission into
the confederacy. The only points in the ap-
plcation of new State for ADM ssion, that
Congress can legitimately inquire into, are
does the constitution embody the will OF the
people, and is it Republican in form. The
MONTGOMERY amendment makes no objec-
ton to the admission Of Kansas under the
Lecompton Constitution, because that in
strument tolerates slavery; but, on the con-
trary, admits Kansas as slave State, with.
out further Congressional action, providing
the people of the Territory, at legal cleo
ton, endorse the constitution. II they do
not, under the operations OF an enabling act
they are permitted to form new constitu
ton, and present it to Congress.
1t is not question with any Of the anti
ecompton Democracy, whether Kansas is
slave State or tree State, for the MoSr-
emery amendment expressly admit Kansas
as slave State, if her constitution il ap-
prayed by re peaple. Int what We & de.
mand, is that the principles Of popular SOW
eregnty shall be vindicated-that the per
petrators of election frauds shall be rebuked
that the Cincinnati Platform shall be
maintained in its integrity and the pledges
of Mr.. BUCHANAN before and after election
fulfilled.
The following is the first section of Mr..
MosrdoMERY' 8 amendment. 1t admits Kan
sas-admits her as slave State--if her pso-
pie approve the Lecompton Constitution
That the State Of Kansas be, and is hereby.
admitted into the Union on sn equal footing
with the original states IN all respects whatev.
er; but, inasmuch As II is greatly disputed
whether the constitution framed ut Lccompton
Oh the It'll day of November last, and now pend.
ing before Congress-, WAS fairly made, or ex-
pressed the " Ill vi the people OF Kansas, this
admission OF her into the Union a. a State Is
here declared to be upon this fundamental con
diton precedent, namely that the said constl.
tutionai instrument shall be hrst submitted to a
vote OF the people OF kansas' aud assented TO
by them or a ma jority OF the voters, at AL cleo
ton to be held for the purpose; and as soon AZ
such assent shall be gwen, aud duly made
known, by q majority Of commissioners herein
appointed, TO the President Of the United states
he shall annoence the same by proclamation
and thereafter and without any further pro
ceedings on the part Of Congress, the admission
of SAID State VI Kansas into the Union upon al
equal footing with the original states, IN all re-
spects whatever, shall be complete and abso-
lutte. At the said election the voting shall be
by ballot, and by indorsinR on his ballot, -
each voter may please, "for the constitution,
or against the constitution. should the said
constitution be rejected at said election by
majority OF votes being cast against IT, then,
and in that event. the inhabitants Of said Ter
rltory are hereby authorized and empowered
TO form for themselyesa constitution ana state
government by the name OF the State OF Kan
sas, according to the Federal Constitution, and
10 that end may elect delegates 70 convention
as hereinafter provided.
When this amendment was returned TO
the Senate, MIR BiGLER made "A speech in
opposition to it. lie was promptly answered
by senator DoUGLAs, who vlndlcated the
principles involved in the House bill, IN the
following forcibe remarks:
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Mr.. President, ! had
hoped that We could vote on this question
without any further debate aud shall not
protract it to any considerable length. Lake
The Senator from Pennsylvania, had hoped
tina, we should have disposed OF thls ques-
ton in a manner that would have given
complete triumph to those great Democratic
principle. to which my life has beer devoted.
j had hoped that the principle OF sei''goVcrn-
ment in the Territories the great principle
of popular sovereignty which we all profess
TO cherish, on which all our institutions are
founded. would have been carried out IN
good faith in X arlsas believe sir. that
II the amendment inserted by the House Of
REPRESENTATIVES be cOncurred IN by the
Senate 10 day, and become the Ia" OF the
land. tie grca, principle Of popular sover-
eighty on which all our institution. rest w',i
receive complete triumph ana there vii
BE- peace and quiet and ira'erua feeling all
over this country
Weare told ,ha, this yeSei question ought
to be .ettIcd that the country IL exhausted
with strife and controversy and That peace
should he restored by the a1miss'on Oh Nan
sas. Sir Why not adm, 1t! foH can ad-
mi, il in one hour and restore peace 70 the
country, if you will concur with The House
Of Representatives in what is called The
Crit,end.n ameniment Ths amendmeut
provides that Kansas Is admitted into tbe
Union on the fundamental condition Ireoe-
dent, that the constitution be submitted TO
the people for ratification, ami il asstnied 10
By them, il becomes Their constitution u
Il - L.. WA We