The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1856-06-04

ness? Every member OF the committe knows
that the majority report was read TO the
whole committee on the Monday before its
presentation TO the Senate, or rather that
about two.thirds Of the report. cohtaining
every part of it which has been the subject
Of criticism by my colleague, was read on
Monday. The senator from Vermont, who
wrote the minority report, was present,
heaad every word, and took notes at the
time Of the points of dissent. The residue
ct the report was prepared On Mondey night
and was read on Tuesday to The committee.
The minority report was never shown to a
member of the committee, or produced in
comeaittee. until the Wednesday afterwards.
Hence, tue senator from Vermont had two
entire days TO prepare his dissent to all that
part Of the majority report which has been
assailed by my colleague, and one day in
regard to the rest of It.
1t is proper here to remark, that offered
to postpone the time Of making the report
one day longer. it the senator from Vernon.
desired further time; but, oa Wednesday
morning. he declined availing himsrlf of the
postponement, upon the ground that he was
then ready TO make his report, and atcor-
dinghy proceeded to read il to the commit
tee. Then, on what authority is this innu
endo of unfairness made by my colieague9
A similar charge of unfairness was made in
the newspapers. over anonymous signatures
naarly two weeks before the reports were
prepared. in or Ter to prejudice the public
mind, and break tlYe force Of the facts and
concla sions of the report when it should be
be made. | exposed the fraud then in open
Senate, in the presence efmy colleague and
of the author OF the majority report repeat
the question. In the face these facts, on
what authority does my colleague. ia the
first paragraph of his first speech in the
Senate, in referring to me, insert an innu.
endo containing charge so unfounded and
so offensive, aad which is known 10 be un
just and untrue by every member of the
coRamittee?
But my colleague says the minority re
por. is "isias'erly." Be it SO. He says
that it utterly refutes the majority report
upon the great question at issue" The
senator from New York Mr.. Seward en-.
dorsed the minority report in similar terms;
and the senator from Massachusetts MIR.
Sumner returned his thanks to its author in
Ike manner. The whole of that side of
the chamber, including all the members OF
that party called anti-Nebraska men. or
black Republicans, endorse the opin ion of
my colleague that the minority report is q
mastery productionl Then. why not allow
tie two reports to go to the country togeth
er, and permit the discussion to proceed ia
the usual mode which the practice OF this
body requires? If the minority report is
mastery, if it does utterly retute the ma
Jority report upon the great questions at is.
sue. why does my colleague deem it neces-
sary to he IN such hot haste to rush into
the discussion? What is his excuse?
But having been prepared without an opportunity
to examine the majorlty report it was Impossible
that could meet and expose all its aafourded as
sumptions."
My colleague is unwilling to let them go
because, although the minority re
port refutes that of the majority on the
great pointa at issue, he is not satisfied TO
leave che country TO decide upon those
points. He prefers Withdrawing the atten-
lion Of the people from the great questions
at issue to the minor points to change the
issue, and make up u new one on the minor
points which are not met by the minority
report. cannot accommodate my col
league BY consenting to that change Of the
issue. lam not willing that he shall now
pass from the great points to the minor
ones, and make personal issues with myself
for the purpose of diverting public attention
fro'h the great questions involved in this
contest between the democracy and the al
lied forces Of know.nothingism and abcli
tionism. ,........
What are these minor roints?, these
"unfounled assumptions" to which my
colleague deemed il SO necessary 10 reply al
once? Nearly every point upon which he
assailed the majority report is alluded TO by
the minority report. II is true, a large por-
ton Of his speech consisted in criticisms on
my political course in connection with the
slavery question prior to the passage OF the
Kansas Nebraska act. do not propose to
reply to that portion of his speech on this
occasion. The people Of lllinois have heard
IL from the stump in nearly every county in
the State, together with my reply to it
If bis present speech is intended for that
meridian, am willing that the people OF
Illinois should decide between us upon the
case as there presented. II, on the other
hand. it was intended to enlighlen the Sen
ate, ! will pass it by in silence, and leave
the judgment of the Senate to stand Us it
was formed when the same points we're
made by Mr.. Chase and other abolition sem
stors. and replied to by me at the night
session, when the Nebraska bill passed.
Nor, sir, shall ] take time to vindicate
myself against the ihnuendoes contaiued in
the garbled extracts given by my colleague
from some speeches which may have
made in l849 and 1850. TIE senator has
chosen to quote from one Of my speeches q
phrase to the effect that ! knew of no m an
in America that was in favor Of the exten
sion of slavery into Territory now free
II he had shown the connection in which
that remark was made, should have no
comment to make; | was speaking Of the
proposition to extend slavery by act of Con.
gress. and in reply to those who wished to
prohibit slavery by act Of congress. In that
connection ! may have said, and ought to
have said, that knew OF no man in Amer.
lea who was in favor of the extension oil
slavery. II my colleague had stated that
the remark which he attributes 10 me was
used with reference TO the extension OF sla.
very by act Of Congress or the action Of
the federal government, instead Of leaving
the people Of each Stale and Territory free
to decide the question for themselves, COM
ment or explanation from me would have
been unnecessary. Other extracts were in
troduced tending to make false issue, or