The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-04
CON CIR ESSION AL.
SPEECH OF HON. G. M. sTRAUB,

state of the Union t
Mr.. STRAUB said fft
is one which has been debated until entirely exhaus ted
threadha4e. There has been probably no subieo
discussed IN me halls OF Congress uponwhch elo
qnence-forensic eloqucncehas been displayed 1t has
been so kicked aad cnied and beat that every bone In
its body II II had any has been broken Its vitality has
been extmgushed AS well might you expect TO press oil
out OF stone with your hand, remove the Rocky noun
tans from their base with your finger qench the fires of
volcano With drop OF water bail the dry with
spoon, as 10 shed any light by further discussion
But sir nproporton as the material for argument has
been exhausted the great principle the soul of the bill
has grown increased, and strengthened.
Mr. Chairman, some fifty winters have passed over my
head and with the knowledge and light gained in that
time ha Aerome partial believer in the n,or~i scnt-
mcn that San open confession is good for the souo HUI
man nature must free to confess that am not
exception to the general rule; and should in what
may say on this occasion upon the subject under
sderation, commit any errors in the facts which shall
state or in the arguments shall advance it is not at
all improbable may do hope that my fellow-members
will do the justice to believe that they errors Of
the head and not of the heart.
Some months prior to my arrival the metropolis Of
the country promised mysef-how well have kept it
gentlemen will bear witness--tha would seldom
the patience OF this House with unnecessary motions
solves harangues Fit be wrong occupy the time Of
the House in useless debate attcr myself that with all
the faults human nature is subject to- have fortunately
escaped this and safely appeal to record to
sustain me in this assertion
Until the present time in regard to the great and vital
question pending before the committee, have been
bate in the House and out Of have said but little
less nterrogated by the subject But although
have been thus quiet have been not the less mindful Of
my duty nor have neglected to pay strict attention to
all that has ranspred pro and in this and in the
other branch OF Congress- from the Introduction of the Ne
bill into the Senate up to the present day
have given the subject full candid, and far have
been able, unprejudiced consideration have either
heard read all the speeches made in the Senate and
many Of those delivered in the House. relating to this meas
ure and, from anything have yet heard read,
able TO divine any sufficient for the feeling the
pleasant and bitter feeling which exists among this
subject Why this continued hostility? Why should
ocean be into tempest tossed, to watt feather drown
fy2n a#rsl
Mr. Chairman shall not so presume as to believe that
have power to change the mind of single indi-
vidual here by nything which may say No, sir no
not vain that but sir it is sufficient apology
for occupying the time of the House that the question
called upon to decide is most vital which
involves the greatest privilege that God has in His mercy
given TO This give for occupying the
time ofthe committee but have another II is that the
people who sent here have right to demand the
which actuate me in determining my upon
question Of so much magnitude
Sir am one OF the few, perhaps the only one here
whose education is very limited having been within
the walls OF college, and for this reason the few remarks
which shall make will necessarily be plain simple and
deultory a close well-digested argument
nate from ADLER heads than mine.
There to be but question in controversy and
of the simplest and planest kind which my mind
ever introduced into legislative body Yes plain
the at noonday or to homey expression just
plain TO the mind as 10 the mans face 1t
encompassed within nutshell Such is the question that
creates much trouble What, Mr.. Chairman-what is
the question: 1t is nothing nor less than that
tained in the following sentence Shall the people of
Territory have the right to make laws 70 govern them
scyes." asftN
Now sir you may turn IL and twist it, cut IL and carve
IL ystfy and color it, with all the languages found In the
vocabulary Of all nations but when stripped Of all extra
neous matter IT stands in its nakedness "Sha the people
of Territory have the right 10 govern themseyes Sir
apprehend that the question, categorcaly put would
doubtless receive affirmative reply from all do not
ouc N the M one
win deny this right 10 the people when stated in plain and
unmysthed terms The doctrine Of denying 10 the people
this right suppose worked well and indeed il was the
only practical in the dark benhted and feudaI ages
Ii existed here when liberty proclaimed In America
bat IT had TO be fought against There lived among
many at that day and there those who be-
leye is incapable Of selfgovernment but Jefferson
and Franklin and their eompee diyested the minds Of the
great Of the people Of the United States of this dcu
sion since which time have had full knowledge Of
its practical workings Il alright for which our fathers
fought and bed and conquered ia the days Of the
luton It's the cornerstone OF your constitution and
you sir sworn TO support IT, II right this day
oyed by every State in the Union and has been since the
British yoke thrown off; and trust in Providence It
win remain be vet enjoyed by unborn millions The
good old glorious Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania-
bless herhas prospeed and grown rich under IT, Would
II not ask be equally unjust and cruel to rob her OF t
And If so would II not be equally unjust and cruel to deny
IL to Others
Sir that right is The polar star Of democracy and the
adamantne rock which your principles Of State
rights and i for one will support IL regardless Of dcnu-
bic gentleman from Missouri, TMr BESToS II necessary
would support IL solitary and alone Should ever the
day arse-which may God forbid-when the people are
deprived OF this right then farewell the land OF your pa
riotc fathers farewell to the land Penn of Washington
OF Jefferson and of Jackson farewell your stars and
stripes farewell 10 your Declaration Of Independence and
your bill of rights farewell liberty liberty farewell when
that day arrives instead Of your Washngtons your Jeer
sons and your fathers Of liberty guide you you will
have your Cromwes and your Robeporres your George
Ill and Charles and this garden of Eden viii be trod
den with the iron heel OF despotism II is beautiful
Election TO think that has the power Of sefgpvern
ment The example Of free institutions is working
wonders in other lands and If ever in the providence
God liberty should be proclaimed throughout the world
auspicious day which is devouty prayed for-the
ample by the United States win have fully contributed
you might we'll expect cannon ball from a rose bud
OF a thunderbot from the rainbow Of Heaven that the
people Of the States and Territories viii their
prerogative 70 govern themselves.
But IL is argued that by the passage OF this bin you
settle principlea principle that should be held nvio-
latethat II Is murderous politically change law that
has stood the test of hirtyour years When such
guneni is urged upon mewhen 4 is proposed change
an old law, or 10 enact orcthe only answer have
to make Is TO ask myself the question will its passage be
beneficial to the country Will its moral effect he of ben
eft TO mankind And finally, but above a other consid
eraons win 1t be in accordance with the letter and spirit
Of the constitution Amy radical change Of principle of
government whether be to repeal law in existence
to establish new one always affects one portion Of the
people benecaly whilst Il operates njurously TO the other
The question which shoula first be settled s will its ben-
chs and advantages be greater to the country and the
pie than the evil II viii produce IL after cool and calm
consideration you satisfied that the former will obtain
the latter then II Is tho duty OF the TO
oip rSsfcn