The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-04-06
Lecompton in the Senate.
WAsH1NeroN, April 2

AU
WASHINGTON, April 2.
sMr. Green submitteda motion without
cdmment to disagree to the House
amendment to the Kansas bill.
Mr.. Bigler considered the amend
ment as a clear violation of the Demo-
cratic principle, that Congress would
not interfere with the right of the peo-
pie of the territory to govern themselves
under that principle. He had hoped to
see the fraternal right of the two States,
one slave and the other free, coming into
the Union together. He was against
the amendment, because it sets aside
what the people of Kansas have already
done.
The amendment provides that if the
present Constitution be voted down, the
people of Kansas shall call a Convention
Ito frame a new one on which the Presi-
dent may admit her by proclamation
She thus becomes q State without com.
ing before Congress at all what guar
tntee against abuse is there in this p
fSVho knows if the Constitution that may
be framed will be republican in form or
may not contain inadmissible features.
There. were mauy insidious features
labout this measure of the House, which
pleased the public eye bat he trusted
that we were near the close of the Kan
,sas turmoil. The agitation of slavery
was spreading like an upas, poisoning
she channels of intercourse between the
great parties of the Union. He had
hoped that the slavery feud would have
been set at rest by Kansas coming into
Ike Union under the Sepate bill.
+ Mr.. Douglas had hoped with the'Sen,
ator from Pennsylvania, that the ques-
ton would have been settled in aecor-
dance with thoss Democratic principles
which hadbecn the rule of his (Douglas9
life. He thought that if the amendments
were %concurred in by the Senate + would
be the triumph of those principles AID
bring peace and quiet. The Senator's
on the other side urge as a reason for
the admission of Kansas, that it will
bring peace-ghy not then admit her
we can do it in one hour by asserting to
this amendment. Concur with the House
and the action s final; and Kansas is in
the Uuiou with The right to make a con-
parties aud sections unite in settling the
question.
After replying 10 Mr.. Bigler's opinion
of a violation of Democratic principles,
Mr.. Douglas referred to tho Presidents
Message abiding to Kansas and Ne
braska, and askedif the President had
abandoned :he DEMOCRATIC party. The
object of the reference of the Constitu-
ton to the people is simply to ascertain
if it is their act and deed it is the duty
of Congress- to see that it is the EN- bodi-
ment of their will before making it their
fundamental law.
The Senator from Pennsylvania ha /
cited the case of Florida. Florida was
no precedent, and proves nothing except
to engraft upon the action of Govern
ment the principle that there is no need
of a Constitution to be the will of the
people. Such reasoning at the ROOT o.
all free government; strikes the props
from all parties, American, Democratic
and Republican.
The House had amended the bill
which aceomplishes two great points
Oue is that it settles this Kansas ex
Ecitement, another, that it recognizes tn,
right of the people of Kansas to frame
their own institutions. Why not theI
Jail unite aud vote for the amended bill
and thus settle the Kansas question:
Vote for it and the right of the people
is recognized. Vote for it and State
rights and sovereignty is preserved
Vote for it aud there is peace in tn,
country.
Mr.. Pugh explained the reasons whicl
, would influence him to vote against TIA
House amendment. His instruction
from Ohio did not cover : the presen
juncture. Hence be would exercise tn
right of private Judgment. :.
He her addressed himself to the va
rious legal points. showing the inapplica
bility of the provisions of the amendmen
to the circumstances in the case. TIL
ameudment submitted the Constitutio
t to a more contracted circle of voter
than has already voted on the SLAYER
clause. 1t is however futile to submit
to votes. The free State men having
majority cannot approve the SLAYER
clause hence they would vote the con
stitution down and protract the excite
ment of framing a new one. The bi
would precipitate the people of Kansa
r into a new condition of anarchy. Fl
was opposed to it in every shape an
form. He Considered it the most oil
: jectionabIe proposition yet submitted
No other Senator offering any II
marks, Mr.. Green's motion was adoptet
yeas 322, nays %.
| NAYs-Messrs. Bell, Brodericl
Cameron, Clark, Chandler, CollameI
Crittenden, Dixon, Doolittle, Dougla
Fessenden. Foot, Foster, Hale, Hamlil
Harlan, King, Seward. Simmons, Sspar
Trumbull, Wade, Wilsoo.
ABsENT-Messrs. Bates, Durkee
Henderson, Reid, Sumner, Toombs.
The Senate was crowded, bat NJ
!, much excitement manifested.
, After several calls for the yeas an
= nays to prevent Mr.. Douglas from tt
king up the Minnesota bill, the Senat
) adjourned till Monday.
--latest from Utah.
, NEW YoRK, April s..