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

weight in determining him to vote on the bill.
bis opinion was, that the bill was before them
| with Constitution that has been regularly
adopted, and is republican in form, and, look
ing to the recorded votes of the people, reg
ularly taken at legal election, he contended
that it reflected the sentiments of the people of
that Territory. In his opinion, there was no
clearer way of obtaining the views of that peo-
Pile than by submitting the Slavery question by
itself. 1t seemed to him, that if q State asked
admission, with Constitution republican in
form, it was their duty to receive it.
Mr.. Parrot, of Kansas, said be was not the
representative of purely sectional party, and
when he stood here to day to plead for the
night OF the people of Kansas to embody their
own fundamental law, he claimed that he rep
resented the whole people of Kansas, with a
few nconsiderable exceptions. The ground of
all the complaints of the people of Kansas was,
that none of the pledges made to them in refer.
ence to the formation Of their Constitution had
ever been fulfilled. He contended that the
Territorial Government never had been organ
lied, and that the attempt to organize it was a
failure, because of the introduction of non-res-
ident voters, and the intervention of Federal
executive power. The iudignity of offering the
Lecompton Constitution to the House was
spared the representative of Kansas.
Mr.. Niblack, of Indiana, endorsed both the
premises and the conclusions of the Presidents
Kansas message.
Mr.. Thompson, of New Yoik, asked the
reporters not to take down his remarks, as hehad
document in his hand which he would hand
TO them after he was done, together with several
suggestions he had to make to the Committee
He said he should vote decidedly against the
Lecompton swindle, and urged that the organic
act conferred no power on the Legislature to
call Constitutional Convention.
Mr.. Ward, of New York, cordially endorsed
the policy of the President and the Admins
tration in regard to the admission of Kansas
under the Lecompton Constitution.
Mr.. Groesbeck, of Ohio, said in q very few
hours the roll OF their names would be called
to take their votes on the admission of Kansas
under the Lecompton Constitution. He should
vote no, tor the reason that he had so deter
mined. de had deferred to express his opinion,
IN the hope which he had entertained, at the
last hour that there might be some modifca-
ton in which he could CO. operate with his partv.
1t would give him great pleasure to sustain the
President in this and all other measures. and
far be it from him to say one hard word of him,
TO impeach his motives, or to doubt or cast the
slightest shadow of suspicion upon their purity
or integrity.
He took it to be admitted, on the Democratic
SIDE as well as the other side, and by all, that
the known and expressed will-he would not
cay the legally known and the legally expressed;
be should come to that hereafter-but the known
and the expressed will of the great maioritv
of the people of Kansas was against the Cor.
stitution which they now propose to yitalize.
de commended that the people could not change
their Constitution prior to 1864 without reyoiu.
hon, and that the Federal Government woud
have right to resist the attempt, should it be
made, by force Of arms; and if blood should be
spilled, it would not be manslaughter. He made
his argument on the ground that the Constitn-
tlon does not express the will of The people. He
affirmed that this Congress ia bound to respect.
and act By the known will of that
people, as given to them on the 4th day of Jan
uary.
Mr.. Trippe, of Georgia, should vote for ,ba
admission of Kansas under the Lecompton
Constitution. He knew the question was asked
Constitution upon people, m atotty &c e ~So,fi
were opposed to it. Under other circumstance,
he should answer emphstically, No; but, as the -
had refused TO vote at the proper elections-the
ime they should have settled their difficulties
hey had no right now to raise shout Of viola
ed rights.
Mr.. Morse, Of Maine, contended that the Lee
compton Constitution was not an emanation
iNH ZIG peOPle Vi haEeha. nor OF any legal
body of the people of the State. He also op-
posed the extention Of Slavery.
Mr.. Hatch, of New York, briefly referred to
the circumstances preceding the application of
Kansas for admission, to show that the Consti-
tuition was such as TO entitle that Territory to
admission as State. He found it sufficiently
regular for the vote he was about to give; and
that the Free State party, by the vote they gave
On the 4th of January, recognised that Consti-
tuition.
Mr.. Marshall, of Illinois, opposed the admis-
sion of Kansas under the Lecompton Constitu-
ton. He looked upon those who framed that
Constitution as conspirators, and would not vote
to sanction fraud and gross outrages upon the
rights Of the people. He said it was indecent
to ostrsciss and brand ss traitors and rebels
those who would not bow their knee to power,
and lick the hand raised to whip them into sub
mission,
AS the vote was to be taken next day, the
debate went on nearly all night.