The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-02-24

Eas Question, said that ali the Southern
States were new united on the Georgia
platferm, and were pledged to resist, even
to the dissolution of the Union, the refu-
sal Of Congress to admit Kansas, be-
cause of the existence of slavery there
Ho did not care whether this was con
stitutional or revolutionary, the South
we're prepared to defend it. Mr.. Shorter
confended that the Leeompton Constitu-
tien was legally adopted it vas Repub-
lioan in form. Congress has not the
power to remand Kansas TO territorial
condition-it being an independent, SOW
ereign State by consent of Congress out
side of the Union. Mr.. Shorter expressed
surprise that Mr.. Douglas had abandoned
the principles of the Nebraska bill, fee
ing before the first gun fired, and like the
Parthian, throwing poisoned arrows be-
hind him. He did not want the votes OF
Mr.. d. andhis followers and if thsy did
not reflect Northern public opinion, the
sooner the South knew this the better.-
He commended that it was never designed
to make Kansas a SlaYe State. The five
Governors sent there were all Free s oil
ers, including the traitor Walker.
1t had been said that the admittance
of Kansas wo,sld light the flames of civil
var. If SO, let it como; let the fires rise
even Heaven high. But he thought the
refusal to admit her, would rather engen
der eivil war. Referring the question
back 10 the people would inevitably in
yite this result. The South cau't remain
in the Union OF terms of inequality with
the North, under such circumstances :
Tho Southernors would not be a brave
and gallant people, but mere oaptives,
chained to the victorious ear of the North.
He would rather be a vessel OF Old, than
New England. The word compromise
was offensive TO him-he would make 1t q
penal %offense for a Southerner to use 1t;
it was suggestive to the mind Of surre der
aud base submission. Il sounded, in the
words of MacDuf, like the bugle blast Of
a robber band.
Mr Shorter continued at some length
in a similar strain, closing as follows =
The religion of Plymouth Rock is intol-
ercnt bigotry and fanaticism-northern
clergymen violated the seventh command
ment after evening lectures, gnd when
their crimes were exposed, were courted
and fcted b. the fair sex.
Mr.. ZollicoHer made 9 personal explana-
ton in reference TO Mr.. Hatch's speech Of
Yesterday. h. said that Mr.. Hatch bad
seen proper to indulgeip personal remarks
prciudiciaI TO himself and other members
and had, also read certain obligations pur-
porting TO belong to the American party.
afr. r. was a mem Dor of that party, but
those obligations differed in letter and
spirit from those he took in Tennessee
Mr.. Hatch had denounced tho obligations
as treusonabse aud unconstitutional II
doing SO he had uttered q fnlsehood with
which be branded him and took the re
sponsibility.
Mr.. Hatch rot being present, Mr.
Tompkins made a speech in opposition to
tho Lecempron Constitution. He would
not enou re whether it met the sane
ton of the people, the time WAS when ho
would have felt justified in voting fer thu
admission of a slave state south of 36:39'
that was before the repeal sf The Mis-
souri, Compromise. That repeal had re-
moved all national obligations, Leaving
him to vote as his conscience dictated.
Mr.. Clemens argued the legality Of tie
: Lecompton Constitution centending that
it was unnecessary TO submit it TO the ap
prevail of the people. The President had
perfomed his duty fearlessly aud manfully
Mr.. Burroughs got the floor, and the
House adjourned.
DEMOCRATIC LEooAPToN REPORT.
The report made TO day by Mr.. Green,
from the Senate Committee en- Territories
rocitcs at length the events that have
} occurred in Kansas, and asserts that tn
majority of the, people may simp3y, az in
ancient DAYS, assemble iu mass meeting
2 and make a constitution, or they may elea
! REPRESENTATIVES TO mako ono fer them, O
to draft Que to be sutnitted to them fe
their approval or rejection. Tho las
method has been most approved durini
the last few years, til ugh fonnsriy I'll
0 second method vas generally resorted to
e In calling a convention for this case, l
D was conceded to have been strictly legal
as vas also the election Of delegates
Was it not, too, logically to infer tba
ths convention so legally called an
g. clothed with authority to make a con
siitution can no more be interfered witt
bv the Governor, Judge or Legislature
either to increase or diminish it's powei
or to alter or nullify IT'S acts; they Assem-
HE en- saaSse, instead of by their repre-
sentatives In conclusion, the COMMITTEE
3 saw that the abolitionists in Kansas hav
le thus far sought power by methods III
r known to the law, and by acts ofVlolenc'
ana not IbFGurh 'hS
10 the ballot box. Claiming to have a nj
iority of voters in the territory, au
n therefore able to elect a Legislature ar
10 convention, they ask Congress to WRONG
r fully do for them what they may at leg
If times and places rightfully do for then
n selves-that is, to change or abolish the
Id constitution /; and in case Congress r
r fuses to comply with their unoonstIt
in tioual demands, they threaten to afii
We thescountry with bloodshed and revolt
tiop. Unless Congress viii DO for the
at what they assert they are able to do Il
~ themselves, but which they fully refdt
to do, they threaten to plunge the cou
~ try into civil war.
~ This conduct is SO exceedingly unre
souable as to force the conviction on Il
e. mind that they are concious Of being in
~ powerless minority, and only expect
be ablo to compass their unwarrantab
ng ends by departing from the general wa