Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-04-08
LecOmpton in the Senate.
WASHINGTON, April 2

LecOmptOn in the Senate.
WASHINGTON, April 2.
Mr.. Green submitted a motion without
comment to disagree to the House amend
ment to the Kansas bill.
Mr.. Bigler considered the amendment as
clear violation of the Democratic princi-
pie, that Congress would not interfere with
the right of the people of the territory to
govern themselves under that principle
He had hoped to see the fraternal right of
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 al
ready done.
The amendment provides that if the
present Constitution be voted down, the
people of Kansas shall call Convention
to frame a new one on which the President
may admit her by proclamation. She
thus becomes State without coming be-
fore Congress at all; what guarantee
against abuse is there in this )? Who knows
if the Constitution that may be framed will
be republican in form OF may not contain
inadmissable features. There were many
insidious features about this measure of
the House, which pleased the public eye;
but he trusted that We were near the close
of the Kansas turmoil. The agitation OF
slavery was spreading like an upas, poison
ing the 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 the Union
under the Senate bill.
Mr.. Douglas had hoped with the Senator
from Pennsylvania, that the question would
have been settled in accordance with those
Democratic principles which had been the
rule of his (DouglasO life. He thought
that if the amendments were concurred in
by the Senate it would be the triumph and
of those prinesples and bring peace and
quiet. The Senators On the other side
urge as reason for the admission of Kan
sas, that it will bring peace-why not then
admit her-we can do it in one hour by
asserting to this amendment. Concur
with the House and the action is final and
Kansas is in the Union with right to
make Constitution TO suit herself. Let
men of all parties and sections unite in set
tling the question.
After replying to MIR. Bigler's opinion of
violation Of Democratic principles, Mr..
Douglas referred to the presidents Message
alluding to Kansas and Nebraska, and ask
ed if the President had abandoned the De-
mocratic parts. The object of the reference
of the people is simply to ascertain if it is
an embodiment of their will; if it is their
act and deed; it is the duty of Congress
to see that it is the embodiment of their
will before making it their fundamental
law.
The Senator from Pennsylvania had
cited the case of Florida. Florida was no
precedent, and proves nothing except to en-
graft upon the action of Government the
principle that there is no need of Cons,i-
tuition 10 be the will of the people. Such
reasoning strikes at the root of all free Gov
ernment; strikes the props from all par
ties, American, Democratic and Republican.
The House had amended the bill which
accomplishes tive great points. One is
that it settles this Kansas excitement, an
other, that it recognizes the right of the
people of Kansas to frame their own insti-
tutions. Why not then all unite and vote
for the amended bill, and thus settle the
the Kansas question. Vote for it and the
right of the people is recognized. Vote
for it and States rights and sovereignty is
preserved. Vote for it and there is peace
in the country.
Mr.. Pugb explained the reasons which
would influence him to vote against the
House amendment His instructions from
Ohio did not cover the present junc;ure.-
Hence he would exercise the right of pri-
vate Judgment.
He then addressed himself to the various
legal points, showing the inapplicability
of the provisions of the amendment TO the
circumstances in the case. The amendment
submitted the Constitution to more con-
tracted circle of voters than has already
voted on the slavery clause. 1t is howev
er futile to submit it to votes. The free
State men having majority cannot ap-
prove the slavery clause; hence they would
vote the Constitution down and protract
the excitement of framing new one. The
bill would precipitate the people of Kan
sas into new condition of anarchy. He
was opposed to it in every shape and FORM
He considered it the most Objectionable
proposition yet submitted.
No other Senator offering any remarks,
Mr.. Green's motion was adopted-yeas 50,
nays %.
NAYs-Messrs. Bell, Broderick, Came
ron, Clark, Chandler, Collamer, Crittendon,
Dixon Dooliitle, Douglas, Fessendon, Foot,
Foster. Hale, Hamlip, Harlan, King Sew
ard, Simmons, Stuart, Trumbull, Wade,
Wilson-23.
ABsENT-Messrs. Bates, Durkee, Hen
derson, Ried, Summer, Toombs.
The Senate was crowded, but not much
excitement manifested.
After several calls for the yeas and nays
To prevent Mr.. Douglas from taking up the
Minnesota bill, the Senate adjourned till
Monday.
The Missouri SpuRGEoN.-Rev. ]. B.
Fuller, the aBoy Preacher" from LaGranee
Mo-, has been preaching at the First Bap-
fist Churcb ~ n,,,xa.,~ III r