The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-04-19
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. MIR. JONES,

4
On Kansas affairs; delivered in the Senate April l6 1856
/ Mr.. JONES said Mr. President an imperative duty
urges me- for the first during the period OF my seryic
as member OF the Senate its patience by attempt
ing more than few brief remarks upon matters imme
diatey connected with my public and official duties And
permit me 10 say regret that circumstances have
PEELED me TO deyiate somewhat from tb4 rule which have
hitherto imposed upon myself for the reason that upon
subjects OF general import have always found senators
better informed than myself able present their
views than could pretend TO be. My colleague the
2 OF last month gave TO the Senate his views upon the
affairs IN Kansas and the various considerations arising
tererom those views have been laid before the people
the Union they do reflect the opinions nor the feel
ngs OF large majority Of the citizens Of the State Of
Iowa and therefore, have conceived II 10 be nay duty to
attempt in plain way to reute and exhibit the alacy of
his statements and views and present correct exhi-
given an in doing this trust shall depart from
becoming Difference TO the eruditon Of my colleague
professor OF natural science theoogan and lawyer in
all of which capacities he has distinguished himsef and
has, In contest like that which occupies the Senate
decided advantage over meuuless indeed, my dsad-
vanages than made equal by the truth aud justice
Of the side which have espoused
After induging in expression of his opinion relative
to the conduct OF the President and the in which
he has discharged his duties touching the disturbances
Kansas my colleague presents very partial view of the
cause which produced those disturbances 1t is not
cnmbent upon TO attempt in this place reply either
to his opinions OF the President to his impressions of the
occurrences in Kansas both his opinions and Impressions
am sorry TO say to have been produced by improper
excitement by prejudice or by nordnate desire TO
build up sectional party opposed to the national democ
acy OF the Unon but whatever have produced them
will leave them to the operation Of time and facts and
such conscientious investigation my colleague may find
leisure TO make in his future public career 6sa.
The President and the Kansas disturbances having been
disposed Of by my colleague his entire satisfaction he
in the next place proceeds to prove by tremendous array
Of historical facts that the Congress of the United States
possesses consuhonally legally and necessarily COM
pete and sovereign power to egate for the local matters
and wants OF all citizens who may become residents upon
the territory of the Union and moreover that having this
undoubed power it is the imperative duty OF Congress
exercise it Immediately for the sole purpose of excluding
all who own slaves and preventing eowcitizens of
the southern States from emgrntng to Kansas and taking
with them their negro thus he says pre-
venting the shedding of blood and civil among the
present occupans The facts adduced to show for the
purpose showing that this power lodged n the Congress
of the United States have designated tremendous not
because of their weight but in of the space
they occupy in the Globe the Globe of Mr. John
Rves If the facts quotations. and occasional arguments
Of colleague upon this portion of the subject to be
estimated by their length they may be truly termed
tempt to aliude TO them seraam cannot venture upon
the task yet win try dispose of my colleagues argu
ment in a plain, BRIEF and practical manner.
The labors of my colleague TO sustain the important
power which be claims for Congress consist collecting
the captions and dates Of the that passed
time to time giving TO the people of the several Territories
form Of territorial government and he iners from the
fact that these have been passed. aud that they have
contained sometimes provisions relative negro bondage
that Congress has full power egsate for the people of
the Territories I'm aH whatsoever" Indeed my coll
league claims for the general government for Congress
greater powers than dreamed of by the
ultra ederast that lived in the days the elder Adams
That may not be charged with injustice towards him.
will quote from his published speech:
'The government of the United States acquired all
rights in the foridas from spain; in the Louisiana Terri
tory France The United States the of
each of these. Whatever the original sovereign Of each of
these might have done within its limits while part Of his
domnions, might be done by his successor"
Again speaking of Louisisns Territory, he says:
alt a part of the domnions Of France; she Its
absolute sovereign Hence the government of the United
States must have succeeded the unrestricted rights
confer them on another soveregny II France 70
the cessiOn could have excluded slavery from Kansas and
Nebraska, this government may do so now"
II win be seen from these quotations that my colleague
has completely ignored the constitution Of the republic
which limits and defines the power Of the government and
Congress all both people and property persons and
things do not feel that ii Is necessary TO comment upon
the novel political doctrine Of my coleaguets bare
enuncaon TO all who have read the constitution OF
country who imbued with the spirit Of free in
stutons Is its refutahon and at loss to conceive
by what process Of reasoning my colleague has persuaded
himself that all the powers possessed by Spain and France
Florida and Louisiana could be exercised by the gov
ernment Of the United States their cesson aud during
the period they remained Territories Can monarchy
despotic power confer upon government regulated
by written constitution monarchical and dcspotc pow
Territory by the mere cesson thereof for
equivalsntf The question absurd and yet my col
league would appear 10 give affirmative answer and to
deny the fact that the constitution OF country immed
atey and protects from despouc power the territory
and tho people which may be annexed 10 our republic
either by purchase or by
Mr. President deny that the ve columns Of references
&C. made by my colleague TO the legislation OF Congress
the subject Of territorial governments furnish evidence
OF that penary power which he claims for this body to
egsae for the citizens Of the United States who may set
tie within the Territories His chronological array OF the
statutes which extend 10 those citizens forms of
but 10 show the periods at which the national
Legislature answered the wishes the petitions the
MORALS Of the people OF the several Territories ask
ing for those forms But my colleague appears to have
persuaded himself that compliance on the part OF
Congress with these wishes memorials is sufficient
evidence Of its power do, here Washington all
the needful legislation for the people OF the Terrific
res Now, sir, the entire history OF all the Terrific
shows that the Congress OF the United States has
never assumed the power Of interfering with the right
and the exercise of sefgovernment by the citizens
residing In the Territories and conforming 10 the consu
ton and the general laws OF the republic Perhaps how
should say that Congress has nep interered with
this right Of segovernneni for there IL single excep-
ton-one that has entailed upon country, and
which impartial history will point at as one Of the most
dire msortunes which have yet visited this
land allude TO that provision OF the law OF 1870 called
the Missouri Compromises interference uncalied for I'M
wished for by the people Of Missouri by the citizens OF
any other Tetoryan assumption Of power not given by
the constitution 10 Congress either directly or oy impca
ton and the exercise OF which infringement upon
the rights which onehalf the States Of the Union bad
Joint owners in the vast territory ceded to this republic by
France-an infringement and wrong OF too long stand
ings usurpston Of power too long unacknowedged by
the national legislaurean injury and unconstitutional
assumption upedressed and persevered in until the pas
sage Of the Knnsas-Nebraska ball.
repeat Mr. President the Congress Of the United States
has not attempted egsate for the local wants OF the
people the Territories but has left that legislation "a
the people themselves when they without The
usual form OF government prescribed framed by Con
gress their Petitions and sir II is in my power 70 pre-
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