Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-14
MORAL nrsrosslsIIlry OF STATESMEN.
SPEECH
Mr.. GIDDINGs, OF OHIO,
Bill organizing Territorial Governments.
in Nebraska and Kansas.
on THE

ON THE
Bill organizing Territorial Governments
in Nebraska and Kansas.
In Committee Of the Whole House, May II, 1854.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: The long-pending contest be-
tween Liberty and Oppression, under this Govern
ment, is rapidly approximating distinct issue.
This consideration renders the days in which we
live the scenes which are transpiring in this Hall,
important, indeed, historic in their character. |
look upon them with deep interest--with peculiar
emotions. / have long watched the progress OF
the great question of humanity, now SO suddenly
precipitated upon us; and tender my thanks to
those who have forced us into discussion of the
great and fundamental principles on which our
political fabric has been reared. l. have no dread
Of agitation. No progress was ever made on any
moral political, or religious question, without it.
/ fear supineness and naction on the part of the
people. Quiet submission to Executive dictation
and to congressional usurpations constitute our
real danger.
The time is proptious for an earnest discussion
Of the rights which pertain to different sections
of the Union, and to man in his individual as well
as his political existence.
Old issues have disappeared the line of de-
marcation which separated the former Wing and
Democratic parties has become so obscure, that
no man can trace it and there is now no other
interesting question before the people, than that
of the rights and duties of this Government in
relation to the liberties of the people.
The friends of human rights have long regard
ed all attempts of this Government to uphold or
support Slavery, in any district or Territory I'M
der its exclusive jurisdiction unjust and ancon-
shtutionat. Of course we have always acted, and
must continue to act, in concert with men OF all
parties, whenever they sustain our measures. 1t
therefore follows, that we must act with those
who have been called Wings and Democrats,
in resisting the passage Of the bill under consid-
Grafton.
Before enter upon the subject, however, de-
sire to notice some matters not directly involved
in the bill itself
The gentleman from Florida, Mr.. MAXWELL,
in speaking Of the course Of the minority on a
recent occasion, characterized our proceedings as
factious Sir what are the circumstances? AIDES
potic majority not only attempted to force thismea
sure upon us, abhorrent and infamous as it is but
they attempted to cut off debate when the bill
had been only three days under examination.
We resisted that attempt TO seal our lips by a
resort to the rights secured to us by the Consti-
tuition and by parliamentary rules.
The contest was long and doubtful. For thirty
six hours we had been without rest, and almost
without food, contending for our rights and the
rights of the people. Those who had been called
"Whig,p and those who had borne the name Of
g Democrats and those called the Free Democ-
racy" stood shoulder to shoulder in that memoir
able conflict. 1t was scene Of high moral sub
Unity, never before witnessed in this Hall, nor
in any other Government; and viii constitute an
interesting page in the history of American Legis
lation Our rules were made to protect the rights
of minority on such occasions.
Our opponents sprung upon US this question,
never contemplated by the people who elected
us, and who have the right to pass judgment upon
it. The minority was bound, by every obligation
that could rest on them, to delay and defeat a
consummation Of the outrage, by resort to every
advantage which the Constitution and the rules
of this body had placed in our hands. Gentle
men may term our action "factious" If they
please. reply: Let the people be heard on that
point. The minority are responsible at all times
to the people, and if we abuse privileges, the
people will correct the error. And if the majority
are despotic, the people will rebuke them. In the
present case if / had it in my power, would in
dividually assume the responsibility Of defeating
the BILL by delaying its passage until the 4th of
March shall put an end to the present Congress.
l was proud to participate with gentlemen
around me on the occasion referred to. trust
all who then acted together will hereafter be
found acting in concert beliepe they will. Yet,
sir, truth is due to each and to every member,
and feel constrained to say, deeply regretted
that some of our friends felt it their duty, Mon
day. TO act with the advocates of oppression, by
voting for suspension ofthe rules that savehold-
ing olgarchy might place the gag in our mouths and
cut of debate on Saturday next That, sir, in my
opinion, was an error, mistake, which distin-
guished statesman once declared TO be worse than
a crime. But the record thus far has been made
up, and cannot be amended or altered wish
TO say that while they have felt it their duty TO
81 \ Nm hat mn of baua
intend following the example of a class of mem
bers who in 1850, voted for Slavery all col
lateral questions, and for the compromise acts,
whenever the slave power required them to do
so and when left to the dictates OF their own
consciences, they changed 'front.' and voted for
Freedom, They carried water on both shoulders,
claimed to labor for Humanity and for Oppres-
sion and when the compromises were adopted,
they turned round and tried TO cheat both God
and the devil, by swearing they belonged to
neither. We then established scale TO deter
mine the dement's Of those opposed to Freedom.
First and highest in the scale were the slave
holders Next in the descending line were the
doughfaces; and going down still farther, below
the line of total depravity, were the political
mountebanks," who played traitor to all parties
and to all principles.
Nv friend who has just resumed his seat Mr..
FLAaLER1 has declared, that the honest supporters
OF the compromises OF loo0 nave now tue great
est cause for Indignation for the that they
were deceived, cheated, duped by the slave power.
The remark is doubtless correct. But il is due
to myself and to those who then acted with me,
to add that those who were here at that time
were thus duped and cheated in spite Of the
warnings of myself and friends. We then told
them that those who disregarded the rights OF
their fellow men, who had robbed three millions
of people of their labor, their intelligence, their
humanity, could not be relied upon TO keep faith
on any matter touching the "pecul'dr institution"
Those measures of 1850 paralyzed the Northern
sentiment humbled ourpeople before Southern ar
rogance gave countenance and courage to the
slave power, and went far TO prepare both the
Northern and the Southern mind for the intro
duction Of the bill now under consideration. The
advocates of those measures being thus, in some
degree, responsible for the present condition OF
this subject, ought to feel deep interest; and
am rejoced TO see them standing in the fore
front of the hottest battlep calamity doing their