Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-01-31
PLATFORMS OF
MEsRs. RICHARDSON AND FULLER,
CANDIDATES FUR SPEAKER.
From the congressional eIobe

men have chosen, by written lnterrogato-
ries, to inquire into the political opinions Of
gentlemen who have been voted for upon
this floor in relation to questions past, pres
emit and future. know not, and, care not,
whether the object is discussion here or
somewhere else. II hold them to the issue
presented TO me, and shall endeavor to an
swer their questions as fully, freely, and
frankly as may be possible.
now send to the Clerks desk the ques-
tions which have been propounded TO me,
and ! ask that the first of them may be read.
The Clerk read the first question, as fol-
flows:
Question propounded by Mr.. Zollicofer TO
Mr.. Richardson.
cam right in surprising that the gentle
men from Illinois Mr.. Richardson regards
the Kansas Nebraska bill as promotive of
the formation Of free States in the Terrific
ries of Kansas and Nebraska"
. Mr.. Richardson. In reply 10 the first
question of the gentleman from Tennessee,
[Mr. Zollicoffer,l have to say | voted for
the bills organizing the Territories of Ne
braska and Kansas because thought them
just to all, and defended that vote before
my constituents upon that ground. in
tended then, and Intend now, that the peo-
pie who go there, shall decide the question
of slavery for themselves, and, so far as
could, admit them as States, with or with
out slavery, as the people should decide
In common with northern and southern gen.
tlemen, l haze SAID that, in my opinion
SLAVERY 0ould neUer go there; but have new
er, here or elsewhere, urged that as a rea-
son why voted for that bill. voted for
the bill, because it was just, right and prop
er, and wanted nothing more to defend my
self. repeat here an argument have
made over and ever again before my con-
stituents, and it is this: if majority of the
people of Kansas or Nebraska are in favor
of slavery, they will have ii; if majority
nre opposed TO it, then they will not have it.
This is the practical result. of every theory
advocated by the friends of the Nebraska
and Kansas bill. gave my sanction to this
principle in supporting the territorial bills
of 1850, and have uniformly supported the
same principles since, whenever presented
for my action, and / shall continue to do so
in all future cases that may arise. It's a
principle lying at the foundation of all pop
ular Governments, that the people Of each
separate or distinct community shall decide
for themselves the nature and character Of
the institutions under which they shall live
and die. therefore voted for the Nebras-
ka and Kansas bill neither as pro-slavery
nor anti-slavery measure, but as measure
of equal right and justice to the people Of
all sections Of our common country.
Will the Clerk now read the next ques-
tion?
The Clerk read the second qeestion as
follows: "a
Gam l right in supposing that he advo-
Gates the constitutionality of the Wilmot
Proviso? that in 1850, he opposed its appli-
cation to the Territories acquired from Mex
leo only upon the ground that it was unne :
cessary, inasmuch as the Mexican local laws
In these Territories already abolished slave
ry, which ought to be sufficient for all the
Free Soil men? and that he committed him
self to the position, that if territorial bills
(silent upon the subject of slavery, and
leaving the Mexican laws to operate) were
defeated, he would vote for bills with the
Wilmot Proviso in them"
Mr.. Richardson. The next question re-
quires more extended reply. In 1903 we
acquired Louisiana; it was slave territory
In 1920 we divided, by line of SO deg. 80
min that territory; north of the line was to
be free. In l845 we annexed Texas; tEat
was slave territory; we divided that by ex-
tending the line of SO deg. 80 min. through
that north, TO be free. In 1913 we ao-
quired territory from Mexico. That was
free. voted repeatedly to extend the same
line west to the Pacific ocean. voted for
that line with few Representatives from
the North, and the whole body of Southern
Representatives. When gave those votes
/ did not believe then, nor do believe now,
that | violated the Constitution OF the Uni.
ted States. # you haze pOlcer under the
Constitution, to exclude slavery from half o.
a territory, Think you haze pOcer TO exclude
from all, though such an exercise would be
urjust and wrong. have never, therefore,
voted to exercise that power, except upon
the principle of compromise. In this con-
nection desire 10 read from speech Of
mine, delivered in this Hall. April 3, 1850
and make word or two Of comment upon
il.
"There is, regret TO say, willingness
upon the part ofthe Democrats of the North
10 see this proviso passed, that Gen. Taylor
may be compelled to show to the world and