Washington sentinel., 1854-06-02
Waslingtau gentinel.
NEBRASKA AND KANSAS,
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN $. cAsKIE,


III tie House Of Representatives., Nay 10, 1854.
The House being in Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Union, Mr.. OLDs in the |
chair
Mr. CASkIE rose and said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: The field of Kansas Nebras-
ka debate has not only been reaped but cleaned.
Nevertheless, there are reasons why desire to
present my views, and / shall be content if
can find here and there a stray stalk to add to
the rich shocks of argument and illustration
which have already been gathered and given to
the country. As was to be expected, we have
had an arduous struggle, not yet ended, and
its attendant difficulties and excitements Still,
considering the deeply important and exciting
character OF the question, there has been, on
the whole, very gratifying degree Of kindness
and consideration III our discussions And
well it may be so, for-taking the large view of
the matter--we can but congratulate ourselves
upon the happy auspices under which the
grand issue OF the day is before this House
and the country. We are considering and ap.
plying the great principles of our government,
when not only there is nothing which should
veX and disturb our deliberations, but every.
thing invites to calm and patriotic investiga-
ton and decision. Peace and Plenty crown
our country. We are respected abroad and
happy at home Our treasury overhows, and
our industrial pursuits yield rich returns. There
is at least a lull, in mere political warfare, and
noble spirit of search after truth is abroad
Truly this IS fit time to explore fundamental
doctrines, and to correct departures from them.
surely this is most fit time to remove any
cause OF division and dissension among our
selves, to repeal unequal and unjust legisla-
ton, to cast off irritating and odious restric-
fyINva tf, ,b11o Il 4
all It's purity and power, that masterpiece Of
wisdom and justice, that talisman which has
saved us from snares, defended us from evil,
and loaded US with blessings-the Constitution
OF our country.
Inc great measure of organizing large ex
tent OF our talr possessions upon constitution
al basis is before u.s. the representatives of the
People, with the emphatic sanction of the rep.
resentatiyes Of the States. A happy augury
IS found in the fact that this proposal for jus,
tlce to the south is presented from the north,
lnaugurated by a gallant senator, there born,
there living, and there to be buried, who hap
pen what may, has at least, in the language OF
one OF my colleagues in the other wing Of the
Capitol, married his name to a great princi
pie" and ! will add, entrenched himself for
ever IN the hearts Of millions Of his country
men. 1t has found supporters, too, in men
rom The same region who grace the senatorial
dignity, and are imbued with the spirit Of that
brotherhood which our fathers stroye to secure
under the sacred shield of the equality of all
the States and sections of our coniederacy.
IN apProachingthe subject ofthe rights, of all
the people of all the States, in and to Their ter
rtorial property, acquired by their common and
conIoined efforts and means, which is involved
III the creation Of governments for Nebraska
and Kansas, trust | have the spirit and tenn.
lE Ipn oh ti,a, - I
adverted are suited to inspire. Feeble as my
views of this well-nigh exhausted question may
be, hope they are conceived without prciu-
dice, and will be presented without passion
shall try TO .torget the wrongs which believe
the south to have suffered, and to remember the
disposition which is shown to rich, them Nv
aim will be to see the north iii The face not OF
the fanatic, but of the patriot to regard il as
personated by a DoUGLAs, RICHARDSON, and
their worthy compeers, rather than by some to
whom our rules forbid that should more than
allude
Above all shall endeayor to look away from
latitude and longitude, and to keep an eve
single to that Constitution which we have ALL
with our lips and hope with our hearts, sworn
to support and to that country which is the
heritage alike of the Vernonter and Virginian,
of the New Yorker and Caroinian And this
Is really no hard task TO a southerner and
STAKEHOLDER, at any rate after we lose the first
feeling natural npon hearing the reckless abuse
OF our institutions, with which some members
sometimes regalc themselves in this Hall
Anger soon yields 10 contempt!
The south is satisfied with her situation
The south knows what African slavery is she
knows not only that it is exclusively her own
concern, and her own responsibility, but that
she has against interference with it, the solemn
guarantee OF the most sacred treaty ever made
among sovercignties, under which most Of us
were born, and all live. Then she NAV well
not c}tdfe, but smile at tho impotent rage of her
assailants. Her conscience in this matter is
rs clear as her authority is plain, and she dis
Haias to defend herself. She is content with
the LOYALTY and love of her white population
while she looks with no ordinary qualification
on what she has done for the black race in her
midst. Reviled rs she is, it is surely pardon
able that the south contemplates with pride as
well as pleasure her beneiactions to the Afri-
can--that with pride and pleasure she sees how
fitted for obedience as he is, and requiring con-
troll as he does, he has found the necessity Of
his nature in her guardian ownership-that she
views his rescue from brutal baTbarsm, his
christianity and comiort-that, in short, she re-
members how, in her midst and under her
policy, he has attained the very highest devel-
opment to which he has reached at any period
Of his existence
But enough of this, which is but bare allu-
sion. certainly do not mean to discuss the
institutions of the south. Our only business is
to inquire whether there is any warrant for in
vidious determinations against those institu-
tions, or the people Of the south on account Of
them, in respect to property which must be
admitted TO belong to all the States, to the ac-
QUESTION Of which the stakeholder and the non
Shareholder have alike contributed, and hold
the same title. If we could only divest our.
selves of prejudice, and sectional sympathies,
and traditions, | apprehend that, boaSting as
we do of the equality Of our citizens, no propo-
sition would appear more inonstrous than an
attempt to hem a great division Of them within
arbitrary boundaries, and deprive it Of part
cipation in that which has been bought with
their money, or won by their valor. 1t would
be strange if countrymen were found so yari.
ant and discordant, that there was necessity
for drawing line Of partition between them,
giving the territory, above certain latitude,
to be held exclusively by one section, while
that below was similarly assigned to the other