Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-02-19

compass their unwarrantable ends in depart
ing from the general law of peace and quiet.
If your committee are not greatly mistaken,
these reckless men misjudge the American
people, and will be required to seek peaceful
methods for redress OF all their grievances,
whether they be real or imaginary. The bill
recites that the people of Kanzas have framed
for themselves a Constitution and slave gov
eminent, republican in form, and that the Lee
compton Convention has in their name and
behalf asked Congi ess to admit her, therefore
it Is declared that Kanzas be admitted into
the Union on an equal footing with all the
original States in all respects whatever. The
bill also prescribes the boundaries anu gives
Kanzas for the present, two representatives
III the House.
Mr.. Douglas in his report dissents from the
views of the majority, for the reason among
others, that there is no satisfactory evidence
that the constitution framed at Lecompton is
the actand deed of the people of Kanzas, or
embodies their will. He shows that the con-
vention was not clothed with comL etent pow
er to establish the constitution without the
assent of Congress, which has been expressly
withheld in the case. Hence the convention
only had such power as the territorial egisla-
ture could rightfully confer, ard no more
which was, to frame constitution and send
which could be accepted or rejected, accord
ing as it embodied the popular will that all
the proceedings of the convention should have
been held in strict obedience to the authority
of the territorial government, while, in fact,
il was declared to he in full force, and to take
effect in defiance of the territorial government
as well as without the consent of Congress ;
that the only lawful election held on the
adoption Of the constitution was that on the
fourth of January last, which was in obedi-
ence to a law passed by the territorial legisla-
ture established by Congress, with full egis-
lative power on all rightful subjects within
the territory.
Messrs. Collamer and Wade submitted
their views. They say that the territorial
government of Kanzas was organized as pro-
vided for in the organic act-that is, by its
own people-but was usurped by foreign
force, and conquered and subdued by arms,
and that the minority was Installed in power,
which has ever since been sustained by the
general government, instead of being examin-
ed into and corrected. This has been done to
establish and perpetuate slavery. The Lee
compton Constitution is the result of those
proceedings, and contrary to the will of the
great majority of the people legally expressed;
and for Congress in its discretion to consum-
mate this protruded atrocity, and especially
for such purpose, is violation of the funda-
mental principles of republican government,
and can produce no permanent peace or
satisfaction to the people in the Ter
ritory. In the late territorial election they
had declared their rights, and the territorial
government is for the first time moving peace
ably III tslegslative sphere Of promised free
dom. The Lecomptan Constitution and its
adoption, was concocted and executed to su-
H. ,,lt II ~. -
it by Congress is but 10 give success to fraud,
and encouragement to iniquity, and to turn
over that people to an election not fairly and
legally conducted, but to such State purposes
and legislations as Gen. Calhoun shall here
after proclaim and on such contingency as
he shall determine; and his long mysterious
and inexcusabe indecison and reserve, but
encourages expectations in both parties. one
of which is certainly doomed to destruction.