The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-02-05
The Admission of OREGON.

The Admission of Oregon.
In the U. S. House of Representatives,
Mr.. Grow, of Pennsylvania, from the Com
mittee on Territories, has made the fol-
lowing report
Keacs of minority Of the Committee on
Territories on the application Of the people
of Oregon for admission into the Union
By Sec. 3, Art. 4 of the Constitution ii
is provided that "new States may be ad
mitted by Congress into the Union" The
time, mode and manner Of admission are
therefore left by the Constitution wholly
at the discretion of Congress. In the ex
ercise thereof States have been admitted,
some with, some without a previous act
of Congress authorizing the people of the
Territory to form a Constitution and State
government. The Territories of the Union
have thus been transformed into States
without uniformity in the mode of pro-
cedure, and without any uniform rule as to
the number of population, the whole sub
iect of the propriety Of admission having
been left to the discretion Of Congress
at the time of the application of the pro-
posed States.
The two Houses of Congress, however,
at their last session, declared in their &C
ton on the application for tic admission
of Kansas as a State, that its then exist
ing population was sufficient for its imme-
diate admission into the Union as a Stare
State, but if its people were unwilling to
como into the Union with such Consti-
tuition, then they were authorized to cleo,
delegates to form a constitution and State
government preparatory to their appllca-
ton for admission whenever, and not be-
fore, it is ascertained by census duly
and legally taken, that the population Of
said Territory equals or exceeds the ratio
of representation required for member
of the House of Representatives of the
Congress OF the United States" That
restriction upon the action Of the people
of Kansas received the approval of the
President, and is law upon the statute
book to-day.
The President not satisfied with his
official approval of the act at the time of
its passage, takes occasion in, discussing
the Kansas question in his annual mes
sage at the opening Of the present session
of Congress; to say, relative to the ad-
mission of Kansas as State, that
"ISurely it is not unreasonable to require
the people Of Kansas to tcait before making
the third attempt, until the number Of Their
inhabitants shall amount 10 ninety-taree
thousand four hundred and ta0enty."
Had the reasonableness of this require
ment suggested itself to the President in
his message transmitting the Lecompton
Constitution to Congress, much valuable
time in the legislation of the country
might have been saved and dangerous
sectional agitation avoided.
The President, in the same annual mes
sage, further declares, that any attempt by
the people of Kanses to form State con-
stitution before the number of their pop
ulation reaches the required amount
would be sin express violation Of the pro-
visions of an act of Congress-" and in the
judgement of the President therefore
could not lawfully be made. Should il
be attempted, judging of the future by
the past conduct of the Executive TO-
wards the people of Kansas, the Presi'
dent would declare it case of rebellion
or treason, and the armies of the Repub
lie would again be employed to suppress
constitutional liberty in Kansas under the
plea of preserving law and order.
This is the first instance in the history
of our. government where Congress hal
declared that the same population which
is recognized as sufficient for slave Stat
was not enough for q free State; and thu
Chief Magistrate of the Republic not only
sanctions such discrimination, but avow
his readiness to insist on it in the execu
ton of the laws so far as they affect tn
people of Kensas.
With this law on the statute book, ant
with these official declarations of tn
President. it is proposed to admit Oregol
into the Union with population les
than the number required by this Law
and from the best sources of information
!. within the reach Of your Committee, No
exceeding, if equal to that Of the Teritor,
, of Kansas.
The undersigned minority of your Com
mittee are unable to appreciate the fair
ness or Justice of this kind of Legislation
toward the people Of different Territories
/ and are unwilling to give their sanction i
/ any way to a discrimination as to th
+ amount of population required for FIRE
/ or slave State, and much less as to th
controlling political character of the pre-
: posed State.
r The application for both Kansas an
/ Oregon to be admitted into the Unio
, was presented at the last session of Cor
: gress. Neither had been authorized by
: previous act of Congress to form Cor
stitution; so in that respect they wei
} both alike. As nearly as could be ascel
! tanned Ono census having been taken
$ either, since 1856, there was little or 4
5 difference as to the number Of their popt
: lation. Each had elected "a State Legi
lature and other officers" and SO far the
' were alike prepared to enter the Union
d The only real difference that existed
: the two cases prior to the application f
. either, was that Oregon had Territori
l government not unsatisfactory to b,
people, and Legislature chosen by b
own citizens. while the Territorial orgal
izatien of Kansas was an usurpation
fraud and force, and its political powe
. were welded by usurpers and despots.
Without expressipg any opinion -