New-York tribune., 1880-06-29
THE "ENGLISH" BRIBE TO TIE PEOPLE
or KANSAS

or KANSAS.
AS the claim of Mr.. William II. English to
the nomination for the Vice-Presidency dates
back to the adoption, in 1858, Of what was
and ia still known as the English bill" it is
important that the public should have clear
idea of that act
March %, 1853, the Senate passed n bill
admitting Kansas into the Union under the
Lecompton Constitution, Which established
slavery in that State, after ratifying the or
dinance attached to that instrument. April
! the House passed the Montgomery substitute,
which provide for the submission to the bona
fide voters of Kansas of the LecOmpton Con-
stitutOn, and that the admission of the State
should be dependent on the approval or re-
lection of that instrument at a free and fair
election therein provided for. If the Constl-
tuition should be rejected, the voters were
then authorized TO form for themselves new
Constitution and State Government, and the
State should be admitted within twenty days
after the adoption of the Constitution by the
people. It also rejected the ordinance at
tached to the LecomptOn Constitution. The
majority for this substitute was eight, Mr..
English voting for it.
The Senate disagreed to the substitute by n
majority of nine votes. The House voted by
n majority of eight votes to adhere to its
amendment ThereupOn the Senate insisted
by majority Of six votes upon its disagree
mcnt, but asked for q Committee Of Confer
ence upon the disagreeing votes OF the two
houses. Upon the fato of this motion dc
pended the fate of the measure. Mr..
Montgomery, on whose motion the House
adopted the substitute which emascuated
the Lecompton prO-slaveIy scheme, asked
ON tho 14th of April, 1853, that
the House should maintain its ground.
He moved, instead of agreeing to the appoint
ment of committee Of conference, that the
House adhere to its substitute. This, if
adopted, would have closed the controversy
adversely to the entire Lecompton movement.
At this critical moment tempOrlzers came upon
the scene, and Mr. English, inspired by Mr..
Alexander II. Stephens, who was the most
sagacious of the prO-slavery leaders, moved
that the House agree to the conference asked
by the Senate, which was agreed to by the
casting vote of the Speaker, Mr. James L.
Orr. of South Carolina.
Senators Green. Of Missouri, and Hunter. of
Virginia, and Representatives English, of
Indiana, and Stephens, of Georgia, repre-
sented on the Committee Of Conference the
pro-slavery element Ill Congress; and Senator
Seward, of New-YOrk, and Representative
William A. Howard, of Michigan, repre-
sented the ant-savery element. This Com
mittee, on the 23d of April, reported, as the
result of their conference, the English billD
which Mr.. Alexander II. Stephens now
claims was his suggestion. This bill proposed
to admit Kansas into the Union upon this
fundamental condition precedent, namely:
"That the question Of admission with the
"follOwing proposition, in lieu of the OIdi-
nance framed at LecOmpton, be submitted
Ito vote of the people of Kansas and as
"sented to by them, or a majority of the
"voters voting at an election to be held
"for that purpose, namelyi That the
"following propositions be and the same
"are hereby offered to the people of Kansas
" for acceptance or rejection, which, If ac-
"cepted, shall be obligatory on the United
Estates and the said State of Kansas"
: These conditions were:
First-Tbat two sections OF land in every Township
shall be granted for schools.
SeeoHd-That seventytWO sections should be granted
for Il State University.
Thrd-Thst ten sections should DO applied TO public
buildings.
FourLt--salt Spring., not exceeding twelve, shall be
sranted TO the State for It's use.
FFve per cent Of the net proceeds Of the Biles OF
public lands after admission shall be paid for public
roads and internal improvements
II these propositions were accepted, the State
was to be at once admitted. II rejected. 1t
should not be admitted, and the people OF the