Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-12
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer.
W,autScros MIpcu Q lS5S


WAsHisGroS, MARCH 9, 1858.
The great feature in the Congressional proceedings
of yesterday was the speech Of the Hon. Thomas s.
Bocock, of Virginia. on the Lecompton Constitution
and Robert j. Walker, in which he did not leave
grease spot of the latter, completely did he er0po-
rate him and all his metaphysical doctrines OF popular
sovereignty. Mr.. BOcock promised BY saying that
Congress could enquire, lst: If Kansas had the re-
quisite population for State; 2ndy Was the 60.
vernment republican; and 3dly, was the Constitution
submitted to Congress- the Constitution of the people
of Kansas. On the fret two points there was no df
ference of opinon-and he proceeded to prove
the affirmative of the last proposition by one
of the ablest, most logical, and at the same
time most liberal arguments ! have ever
listened to in the Congress OF the United States.
lie assumed that the Legislature of Kansas calling
the Convention legal body. This is not deried
by Governor Walker or any of the Douglas Demo-
Gratis. lie admitted Governor Walkers propositions
that sovereignty in the whole people, was unit,
ndivisble, and could not be delegated; but contend.
ed that it was self.evdent that sovereign power"
could be delegated and wac every day exercised 6y
Congress. Sovereignty was a unit and could not be
divided il existed in the people, and every individual
was possessed Of part of that sovereignty Ii fol'
lowed ss necessary consequence that in q commu'
nifty of one hundred persons, ninety nine could not
exercise the sovereign power-the hundredth man
possessing part and Withholding his sanction.
Again, Mr.. iBocock admitted that government
must derive its just powers from the consent OF the
governed, But the governed are not the voters. Ne
groes do not vote aliens just arriving in State do
not yote-nor do women and children vote; and yet
these all constitute a part and large part of the
governed. The simple truth, said Mr.. Bocock, was
that the body of votcrs was but another body OF rep
resentatives those voting representing those who do
not vote; and a proposition that the Convention
Of Kansas should have referred the Constitution to
the people for vote, is in substance that one body
Of representatives. legally authorized to speak for the
people should refer their action TO different body
of representatives not 30 authorized to speak.
This being go, what becomes of all the clamor
Of Gov. Walker for popular soveregntyP Ii ls
estimated that about one.tifth of a community are
voters. If Kansas possess population of one hum
dred thousand-she would possibly cast twenty thou
sand votes. Of these, eleven thousand would con.
stitute majority and exercise the sovereign power
not for themselves only, but as the representatives OF
the one hundred thousand people. Are these eleven
thousand representatives any more that "indVsiole
soyereignty," OF which Gov. Walker speaks, than
were the representatives in the Constitutional Con.
vention, who were specially entrusted with making
and proclaimng Constitution for the new State7
have aimed to state only one point in Mr.. Bo
cocks able speech, but suffice it 10 cay that every
body was charmed with its beauty OF style, manner OF
delivery and sound statesman.like views advanced
In his conclusion he alluded to Senator Douglas and
his present political associations; and he entreated
him TO rerace his steps and return to that flag, under
triumphs. A great man could afford to acknowledge
An error-a small one dare not Mr.. Douglas, he
thought, could hope for TO preference among those
who bore upon their persons so many scars inflicted
by himself He hoped he would yet return to the
folds of the Democracy.
The impression to-day among the Lecompton Demo-
Gratis is that the proposed amendment in the Senate
will defeat the Constitution in the House. This
amendment declares the right fthe people Of Kansas
TO amend their Constitution a: any time prior to 1864
by convention called Tor that purpose. All admit
this power to exist, but Am assured that the amend
men if voted on in The Senate will lose the Constitu
ton several votes in the House. Should this be 80,
and should the Senate insist on the amendment, then
is the bill defeated in spite Of the efforts Of the friends
of Kansas. am inclined to think that several of the
South Carolins members will bolt if there be any
amendment 10 the Senate decaratory of the right OF
the people to alter or amend their Constitution. AZ
the amendment is wholly unnecessary and s mere
surpuassge why will senators, who are honestin their
professions offrendshp for kansas insist upon adding
difficulties to those which already exist