The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-08

editor, can afford to indulge in such reckless
assertions, but it is difficult to understand how
any member of the United States Senate can
hazard his reputation upon statement so utter
y groundless. The amendment of Mr.. Mont
gomery having been read, Mr.. Quitman then
moved, as a substitute, the Senate bill, with
the following words stricken out:
and that nothing in this act shall be con.
strued to abridge or infringe any right OF the
people asserted in the Constitution of Kansas at
all timesto alter, reform, or abolish their form of
government, in such manner - they may think
proper, Congress hereby disclaiming any au-
thority to intervene or declare the construction
OF the Constitution of any State, except to zee
that 1t be republican in form, and not in con.
hiet with the Constitution of the United States"
This provision is the unmeaning thing called
Pugh's amendment, which seems TO give coGn-
tenance to the idea that the People may alter
their Constitution before the year 1854, bat dis
claims at the same time any intention to author
ize them to do 80, or to e6frm that their Con-
stitution authorizes them. But the slavehold-
ers were anxious to put themselves on record
against even the shadow of an idea favoring
such q heresy. The vote was first taken on
Mr.. Quitman's proposition, which received
only u votes, while l60 were cast against it.
the seventytwo, we believe, we're all from the
South, and they are the true interpreters of the
purpose ard policy of the Lecompton Constitu.
ton. ls
The question was then taken upon the
amendment of Mr.. Montgomery, and it was
adopted-yeas l20, nays liz. This was the
decisive vote. On the next question, the pas
sage Of the bill as amended, the vote was pre-
cisely the same. Ninety-two Republicans, twen-
ty.two Democrats, and six Americans from
the Sooth, voted in the affirmative eighty.one
Democrats and Americans from the South, and
thirty-one Democrats from the free States, voted
in the negative.
Thus did the House by decided majority
rebuke the policy Of the Administration, and
reject its great measure, which for months it
had been laboring to carry by every means at
its disposal. 1t will be observed that thirty.
one Democrats from the free States voted
against allowing the People of Kansas to de.
termine their own institutions, and this, too,
after their Southern associates, with few ex.
ceptions, had pronounced against the right of
the People of Kansas to alter before the year
1864 the Constitution which the President is
striving to force upon them. Democrats for
soothi advocates of popular sovereignty cham.
pions of the right of selfgovernmentl Their
constituents will have an opportunity to pass
Judgment upon their acts-to say whether they
have represented them, or obeyed the slave
holders.
The bill, as amended, was sent to the Senate,
taken up in that body, and Mr.. Green moved
that it disagree to the amendment. Mr.. Pugh
grew quite indignant at the unjusti6able char
acter of the amendment-he could tolerate, in
most Catholic spirit. the abominable frauds
perpetrated by the Lecomptonites in Kansas,
and admire their Constitution, fastening Slavery
upon the new State in contempt of the known
will of majority, but their project of submit
ing the Constitution to fair vote of the People.
and, in the event of their rejection of it. author
| izing them to form another, shocks his sense
of right-he is afraid that they MAY not frame
a Republican Constitution 1t is great thing
| for Ohio to have so vigilant sentinel stationed
on the watch.tower of Freedom.
The motion of Mr.. Green was agreed to
Messrs. Bell and Crittenden, Broderick, Doug
las, and Stuart and the Republicans, voting
fFs pacy n 8 aR re- ETS E hs obSon,
enough. By assuming an inAexible position
in the Senate, it hopes to bring the House to
terms. A Committee of Conference will be
asked, and we suppose, if granted, the Speaker
will constitute it as he did the Select Commit.
tee-so as to give the control of it to the friends
of the Administration; and then we may ex-
pect some miserable, delusive compromise to
be recommended.
Meantime, every effort will be made to dis.
organize the opposition-by exciting distrust,
jealousy, apprehension-by appeals to pride of
opinion, old party antipathies, traditional pre-.
JUDGES. South Americans are reminded of the
peril of alliance" as it is called, with Black
Republicans" Disafected Democrats are ap.
pealed to, against further utilization with a
Party whose triumph in this crisis will be the
overthrow of the old, time-honored Democracy.
Black Republicans are denounced for hay.
ing abandoned their principles, and threatened
with the vengeance of their constituents. Ave.
The Washington Union is full of anguish at
| their backsldings, tells them that their conduct
has already aroused the Indignation of the hon.
est Republicans of Ohio, will not rest till they
come back to their first love, adopt old formulas,
aud leave the Administration at full liberty to
conquer Kansas, and plant Slavery among its
People.
We pray the Union and its master to mind
their own business, and take care of their own
consistency. Less than a year ago, they were
in favor of submitting the Constitution to be
formed by the Lecompton Convention to the
People: now they are resolved to thrust it upon
them, not only without any previous submission
to their judgment, but in notorious opposition
to their will. We have always said that that
Constitution was framed and adopted in utter
disregard of the sentiments of the People, and
that, if submitted to fair vote, it would be re.
jected, challenging the Administration to try
this test.
Ascertaining that we had not the power to
annihilate the vile imposition in Congress, we
found out that we could destroy it, by sustain.
ing proposition to submit it to that very judg.
ment to which all parties had appealed. Did
| the Union suppose we would be fools enough
to neglect such an opportunity of accomplish
ing our purposes, of carrying out our policy
Did it suppose that we would give the lie to
our repeated assertion, that four-6fths Of the
i uotera of Kansas wonld vote DOWN thu T. aooy,n