The Van Buren press., 1860-09-21
How was the Kansas-Nebraska
Bill Understood PA Glance at
the Record. A tt


Secessionists assert that Douglas is pla
cling new Interpretation upon the Kansas
Nebraska act. Let us see how it was in
terpretea by both northern and southern
statesmen before Ito passage. Here are
some scraps from the record
:" 1t is the right of the people to govern
themselves, and they alone shall exercise it
as well in a territorial condition as in the
position as n state.
GEO. w. JONES, of Tenn"
&c The great and leading feature of the
Kansas Nebraska bill was TO transfer the
slavery question and all other subjects to
the territorial legislatures
JAS L. ORR, of S. c."
=" I am willing that the territorial legis-
lature may act upon the subjec: when and
how they may think proper
A. II. STEPHENS, of Ga"
81 am connected with no party that has
for its object the extension of slavery, nor
with any to prevent the people of State
or territory from deciding the question Of
its existence for themselves.
JOHN &. BRECKINRIDGE."
"The principle of aelf-governmsnt in
the territories enables us to banish from the
halls Of Congress another fertile source OF
discomfort and excitement.
j. p. BENJAMIN, of La"
"The people oe the territories are cx-
clx nth zaA
subjects whatsoever, slavery included.
They may either establish or abolish it at
/, pleasure. j. PETrrT. of Ind"
'selieve that under the Provisions of
this (kans,s) bill, and the Utah and New
Mexico bills, here will be perfev carte
blanche given to .he territorial legisl.. urss
to legislate as they may think proper.
A. p. BUTLER, of S. C."\
1.-The bill (Kansas and Nebraska) pro
|yiies that the legislatures of these terrific
ries shall have power to legislate over al
rightful subjects of legislation.
r. NJ. T. HUNTER, of Va"
The citizen of Virginia is as much en-
titled, In the common territory, to the pro
tectlon OF his property as tho citizens Of II
iinois but both are dependent upon tn
legislation of the territorial government 70
laws to protect their property, of whateve
kind it may be.
] WA. RICHARDSON, of ILL.,"
80 would leave the people of the terri
tories who are to be affected by the institu
tion OF slavery to determine the questio,
Tor themselves in their own way.
5. A. SMITH, of Tenn"
:" am sincere believer in the doctrin
OF "squatter sovereignty - in the fullest
broadest and deepest sense, and support thi
Kansas bill because it is return to tn
sound principle of leaving to the people Q
the territories the right Of determining fo
themselves their domestic institutions.
A. g. DODGE. of Iowa"
Ihe democracy hold that if o man i
not capable Of self-government he is no
capable of governing others. We hold tba
territory Of people know what is best 10
them better than community three thou
sand miles off. The people of the terrific
ries do not derive their rights of self gov
eminent from men but from God-not fror
congress or parliaments but from above
DANIEL s. DICKERSON, of N. ""
HE people Of Territory, like thos
OF State shall decide for themselve
whether slavery shall or shall not cxis
With n their limits.
JAMES BUCHANAN"
here is an extract from the Kansas. Ne
braska bill, and if it does not pla;nlv !,