Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-16


ton OF the kind would not i've binding after The or
ganization OF Stale government. lSee ID How
ard, pages 212 aud $50; also, 10th Howard, page
o2 Even my respected colleagues. VINO nave
spoken against this bill Messrs- MACE and CHAM-
BERLAlN. do mol Object 10 that clause which de-
clares thai these Territories, when they apply Tor
admission as States shall be received into the
Union, with or without slavery, as their conslilu.
tons may prescribe at The time 81 their admission.
AS far as know, the eaire delegation concur IN
IL nor 10 believe il is objected TO by any consid-
cradle number upon this hoor.
Forever then, as used in the Missouri re-
striction and The WIlmot provlso, even according
TO the views OF these gentlemen, does not mean
Jo,ever in legal or literal sense; but only nniil
such time as the people shall iorma Stale govern
ment aud decide this question iorthemselves.
Now leavelo my worthy colleagues, ana those
with whom they act UPON This occasion, 10 show
why the people, through Their representatives. In
Territorial legislature, are not as competent and
as mnch entitled 10 legislate upon ihis subject
to-day as the same people would be to-morroW, IN
the capacity of State legislature. Here are Two
neighbors, living within lew rods oil each other,
but on the Kansas side and the other on the
Missouri; they are endowed with equal intelIi
gence, and alike interested IN all that pertains 10
government and society. Now. what kind OF JUS
lice is that which denies 10 one that voice III iran-
ing the laws OF his country which Is freely enjoyed
by The other?
Sir portion of my constituel IS WILL no doubt,
desire TO enligraie 10 these TcrrItores-many OF
them. perhaps, should the homestead bull, which
we have passed, receive the sanction oil the Senate
and the President Why will they leave the home
OF their fathers and sever The ties OF early assoc-
atoms, To endure the prvatons OF frontier lie /!
Why, sir, they will go with the praiseworthy mo-
tive of lettering beirconduon--ot securing homes
for themselves and their children. Does that make
them less intelligent, less patriotic, or less entitled
TO participate in the affairs Of the government I'M
der which they TO live, then they were before
With what propriety can say TO a constituent,
whose vote perhaps aided in sending ne 10 this
hall, that if he goes into Kansas or Nebraska he
shalt no longer exercise all the rights of free
American ciiizen? Shall deny him voice in
framing The laws and institutions under which he
is 10 llve2 Shall deny to him the privileges
which he and have heretofore exercised IN com
mon? Shall lend my aid TO further that policy
which King George attempted in vain towards the
people of the American colonies! Shall he be
taxed 10 support the government, and yet moi
have full voice in that Legislation which is to
govern him
know, MIR. Chairman, that in certain quarters
these frontier men are not held in the highest re-
pute. They are conlemptuousy called squat
ers,n and have never received much consideration
from the leaders of certain party in this country.
They have been denominated land pirates - and
their right 10 form their own institutions is now
sometimes spoken OF. In terms Of derision, as
"squatter sovereignty" Such men are especially
in bad odor with the Goldfish arslocracy. They
are not sufficiently cultivated and refined 10 suit
the exalted notions OF these gentlemen, who prob
ably regard them as The connecting link between
savage life and civilization as the orang-outang
is between man and The monkey tribe; and am
not sure bur a few years ago they were inIhe
habit of sending out missionaries TO christianize
and civilize these hardy of the . far west"
they are now presuming to dictate 10 the Repre-
sentatives Of The people, IN ME name Of the Al
mighty, how they ought TO vote on this question.
\ a.. I -, AZ.
feeling. | have abiding faith in the honesty Of
purpose and soundness OF judgment of these rug
ged men of The frontier They may know little OF
books, and still less of the cold forms and refne
ments of what is termed fashionable society," but
they have knowledge of far more practical and
useful kind They have read the great volumes
of nature they have studied men and things, and
after all, sir, Pope was not far wrong when he
said
.The proper study of mankind is man.
The gentleman from Ohio Mr.. CAMPBELL well
said
II have known in the west sir, who were born In
ogcabins rocked augar-troughs and educated by the
light Of hickorybark torches in winter evenings who
here and made their mark this and have been
recognised their talents virtue satesmanship,
and patriotism all the world over In due time viii
and Nebraska
Yes, sir, these men of,he border. these pioneers
these "squa,ters." u you so choose 10 call them.
who have gone forth 10 subdue the wilderness
with the rife and The axe have done much 10
advance the prosperity and glory ofthe republic
any other class OF society:
Princes and lords may flourish and may fade
A breath make them rs breath has made;
But bold yeomanry--our country's prias
When destroyed can never be supplied"
L is this class Of men, more than any Other, who
are developing the resources Of the great west-a
region, sir, which will probably one day govern
America, and possiblXthe world A region, con
tenplating the future, of which the eloquent Web
ser said, with prophetic words:
Nobody can overlook the face of this country Mt the
the and growing without being ready to admit
and complied TO admit that ere long, 1me,Icd ou DC IA the
ratey Of the Mississippi"
Mr. Chairman do not choose, upon this occa-
sion, TO express any opinion as 10 the power OF
Congress 10 Iegislate for the Territories. because
the Improperly Of exercising such power is so
clear 10 my mind as 10 make the consideration Of
the constitutional question entirely unnecessary.
am willing, as i said on a previous occasion,
10 trust The people with the power Of regulating
their domestic institutions in their own way, mol
only under state government, but through their
regularly constituted territorial legislature. hold
that, If The peop, are of sufficient numbers and
importance 10 merit territorial government al
ALL they capable of governing themselves. A
man who has exercised the attributes of free
citizen in Indiana, or any other State, loses none
of his powers Of self government by emigrating TO
territory. Is he less virtuou>, less Intelligent.
less imbued with the spirit of patriotism and love
of country because he resides Territory and
no, in State is he less an object OF govern
ment regard because he has gone into the wilder
ness TO endure The hardships of frontier life, in
preparing way for that tide OF population, civil
cation, and empire, which still flows 10 the west?
Sir, such men can be trusted! | would refer the
question Of slavery and all other. questions, 10
them-to that best and safe-t OF all tribunals-the
people to be goreraed. They the best judges OF
The soil and climate and wants of the country they
inhabit; they are the true judges Of what will best
suit their own condition, and promote their welfare
and happiness.
And, sir, / am surprised that in this republic, in
the year 1854, any party should be found TO deny
the privilege to each organized State and Territory
of the Union of. regulating their domestic insitu-
lions in their own way subject 10 the Constitution.
and more particularly that such .antirepubcan
doctrines should he advanced by any one claiming
TO be a member Of the democratic party
My respected colleagues, who have spoken
against this bill. Messrs. CHAMBERLAIN and MAcE,l
took occasion 10 let this Hous. know that they
were active partcipators in The great contest OF
1913. We were told that one "canvassed The State
10 lis fartbest borders in favor Of the Cass plat
form; and the other took the stump in behalf OF