Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-03-23

about to ask from the Senate OF the
United States, to the great fact on
which the liberties Of this country and
all its constitutions rest-that all men
are created equal. Sir, the success
which the honorable Senator from
Connecticut, obtained over me, when
the floor was assigned to him Sas ON
inous. The Senate of the United
States will erect o monument to the
memory Of Jefferson. who declared
that in the unequal contest between
slavery and freedom, the Almighty
had no attribute which could take
part with the oppressor. But the
Senate will, on the other hand prompt.
" comply with demand to raise
another bulwark around the institu'
ton Of slavery.
Mr.. President as there is nothing
new In the circumstances Of this trans.
action. SO Il has happened now. as
on all similar occasions as heretofore,
everything foreign from the question
Mt issue has been brought into the de-
bate. The introduction Of these FER
eign matters has, as heretofore. been
attended with a profusion Of rcproach'
es, and calumnies. and epithets, w in.
Apostle to the occasion as they are in.
consistent with the decorum and dig
nifty Of an august Legislature. Those
ofus upon whom such denunciations,
calumnies and epithets have been
showered, have endured them long
and I think no ono will deny that we
have endured them patiently. Tc
such Senators rs have given utterance
to their opinions in that form Of argu'
mont. / make for myself only this
rcply-that that field Of debate is re-
linquishcd entirely to themselves
Now, as on similar occasions hereto
fore, the relations Of political parties,
and their respective merits and demer'
It's. have entered largely into the dis
cussion. Sir. / shall forbear from en-
:ering into that part Of tho debate, for
the reason that am addressing, not
politicians, but statesmen. So far as
the justice or expediency Of the mea'
sure under consideration Is concerned,
II can make no difference whether
those who advocate IL or those who op.
pose ii are Wing or Democrats, or be-
long to that new class Of men who are
popularly called KnowlN Nothings. Ar
guments based on such grounds may
have their weight somewhere else
outside of this 9h~upbcr, or possibly
up there-[pointing to the gallery buI
certainly not down here. Inquisitior
has been made concerning the clrcum'
stances and influences which attended
the recent elections Of members no
only Of this House, but Of the Hous,
Of Representatives. for the purpose, al
II seems. Of awakening prejudi
ces against those who oppose thu
passage Of this bill. give motto,
to honorable Senators who have adop
ted this line Of argument, that 1t il
neither required by the people whom
I represent here, nor is Il consistent
with their dignity and honor, that
should assume to interpret the motive.
which determined their choice Of legis
lators. The results are before tho
world. They explain themselves
Equally derogstory from my duty, and
disrcspectful to tho statesmen around
me, and to the States which they rep
resent, would II be, were inquire in
to the manner or circumstances Of tn,
elections made by those States. Tree
ognize every Senator here as the ex
ponent Of the opinions and principles
OF the State from which he comes
And I hear no voice from any Stat,
but that TO which its Representatives
give utterance. Nevertheless, Mr.
President. I shall no. shrink from sucl
an exposition ofmy own opinions ant
sentiments on collateral issues, as shall
tend to disembarass a good cause, BY
relieving It from unjust prejudices
directed against myself, rs It's advo
cate.
First. in regard to what Il called th,
Nebraska question. / freely confess
that I regard the abrogaiion Of tn,
Missouri Compromise by the Nabras
ka bill Of the last session as an unjus
unnecessary, dangerous and revolu
tionary act. l voted against II as sucl
Let the vote stand against me in III,
minds and In the hearts, II II be so, o
those Senators who regard IL as caus,
for reproach. Certainly, this Is no
tho time TO Justify that vote. A tim,
10 do so was when the vote was given
and It's vindication was then dul,
made. There is probably anothc
time coming for the val Of tina
vindication--a time In the near futur
when a question Of restoration Of free
dom throughout tho Territories Of tn
| United States shall rise In the Senate
Then, IL God shall bless me with con
tinued life. and health and strength,
hope again to do my duty. To tina
future time | adjourn the argument o
the bill for the abrogation Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise.
There Is moro Of propricty in III
discussions Of the fugitive slave Ia,
which have been reported during thi
debate. / have no need, however,
speak on that subject. have full
debated II itheretofore, on moro occasion
than one, In this place. Every word ,
: what then said Is recorded in III
legislatiac history Of the United Statel
; There Is not q thought that ! woul
wish TO add; there Is not word that
am willing otake away. Time Is fu
I surely and quite rapidly enough r,
Al n "a -