The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-04-11
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. 5. A. DOUGLAS

#r on ILLINOIS,
Delivered in the Senate OF the United States Friday April
4, 1856
Mr.. C0LLAMER having concluded his speech on the
bill reported from The Committee Territories author
lie the people Of tho Territory of Kansas form oons-
tuition and Stale government preparatory their adis-
sion into the Union when they have the requisite popua
ton r.##sa rs ~. "a. Il .#.. .#-... ..s es@
Mr. DOUGLAS said:
do not propose go into general discussion of this
subject to-day but there few point in the of the
remarks lnduged in by the senator from Vermont which
becomes my duty TO notcc do wish to be understood
as niimatng that in the general the senator has not
Quoted the discussion In spirit Of courtesy and kiudnes
on the contrary take pleasure saying that he treated the
various topics in temper and good humor worthy of mi
aton agree with him that in the discussion of great
principles Of public policy harsh terms and Offensive epi-
tets should not be indnged. But do not perceive the
relevancy of his lecture in the conclusion OF his speech
against the use of the terms black republicans and
black repubcanism which, he fears, is calculated to
lower the standing and character of the Senate in the
try, aud with foreign countries.
Mr. COLLAMER Ibid not say that the senator from
Illinois used any term Of that kind
Mr. DOUGLAS. OF course not neither will my
marks apply 10 the senator from Vermont lie has said
that the word black republican has been used and that
not well to make the people Of Europe imagine or
suppose that all those gentlemen who opposed TO the
Nebraska bin black republicans Let the senator
member that the wachword Of the party with which he
is opposition the "dcation and aqgresstons Of he
SLAVE POWER" The leaders of that party find
more choice and elegant expressions by which to designate
the democratic senator's even in debate here than dough
Mr.. C0LLAMER. Have said any thing Of that kind
Mr.. DOUGLAS Not at all, sir. 1t is said by this
party that the Nebraska bill passed through the Sem
ate In obedience the dctaton Of the power that
although it received majority of the Of all the
ators from the North majority of the South majority
OF the whg party and majority of the democratic party
10 the Senate they all acted in subservency the slave
powerl Now would you like to have il 90 all Eu-
rope and all the world that the Senate governed by
the slave power2 # 7a
Mr.. CoLLAMER. l have said nothing of the kind
Mr. DOUGLAS know that but the gentleman has
been ctcizing the of the word abaek republican
He says that he did not refer to when he alluded
Then, as am criticzng the of the word asave
err and he did not use it, of do not refer to him
Why does he complain We each speaking in general
terms
Mr.. GOLLAMER. used such term.
Mr.. DOUGLAS The gentleman had right to criticize
the use Of the word back republican, and he says that he
did not alude to me. ta Ha -A #"
Mr.. COLLAMER. | do not remember to have heard the
senator the term.
Mr. DOUGLAS Then, why does the gentleman COM
plain of my ctcizing the of the word slaye power
when do not attribute its use to him2 | only wish to
show that whea gentlemen to read lectures to US
about the courese of debate they had better criticize and
admonish their political friends Before senators read
lectures TO this side Of the chamber in regard 10 the
which should be used in debate they had better
progress OF that species of ytupe and abuse which
has been INDUCED in freely by their own coadutors on
the other sdef These lectures will with better grace
and we may receive them with favor when they shall
have been applied to the senators the other side Of the
chamber who may baye deserved them and who it ID be
hoped will profit by them Let the reformation begin at
home Let them their household before they
ertere with ours However this shows that they
consistent with their Professions at least the point
that they prefer foreign interference and ocous inter-
meddng with other peoples business" illustrated by
the principles OF the minority report to that other prnc
pie of "nonuteventionp which teaches every community
TO mind their business and let their neghbors alone
according TO the doctrines of the majority report and the
principles of the Nebraska bill
Now, sir desire to say few words upon the point last
discussed by the from Vermont ia which he
sumed that the ceoers in Kansas organized resistance
TO the local laws and formed constitution and State gov
ernmeut only for the purpose Of applying for admission
into the Union and that all their proceedings cond-
tOna upon their adccepanoe and ratification bv Congess
The senator from Vermont seems TO be under the impress
sion that The majority Of the committee In their report
and in my speech yindcating their report have taken
the ground that was no part Of the purpose of the free
soilers in Kansas in forming the constitution and State
government, to apply for admission into the Union.
| Mr.. COLLAMER understood that 10 be the leading
feature of the report that point
! Mr.. DOUGLAS. Not at ali. We show that they took
these proceedings with the view of applying for admission
into the Union in the first instance and in the event of their
rejection by Congress with the ultimate purpose Of resist
violence which Congress had established In the Terri
tory. Their movement contemplated the two alerna-
ves and, anticipating failure in the first they resolved
that Gin the time" they would prepare for the lat
by organizing dscipning military companies and
providiag arms and munitions Of wari Hence they
solved that they would submit only for time while they
could try peaceabe means by applying TO the courts and
to Congress and in the event OF failure in the proper H
bunals which event they anticipated and provided against
/ they would then RESIST TO ssUEp This was
their fixed purpose and ultimate design, proclaimed to
the world boldly and earessy 10 the resolutions and pro-
ceedngs of convention composed Of delegates from every
county in the Territory at Big Springs on the sth and
9Th OF September
How does the senator that pont7 By tbrustine
in the foreground htr proposed application Congress
for admission and carefully concealng the fact that they
had resolved In the event of their application being
ecied by Congress resist bloody issue lie does
deny the undeniabe fact that they did resolve resist
the constituted authorities n that event He does de-
the authenticity Of the speech Of Governor Recder in the
convention while accepting the nomination for Congress
las contained in the majority repor In which be said
that in the Of failure 's TRIBUNALS
then here is chance for JUSTICE "God has pro-
vded In the eternal frame OF things redress for every
wrong that here remains 10 shH he steady es and N,
BopRs oF rms
THn DECLARATION IHDrPKEDrscy Loserp
pRoTscTs
The language IL, 1--WE must conqueri' Whom7 Who
the enemies that Governor Reder and his conderates
propose conquer7 The "proper tribunals he courts
OF Justice for sustaining the validity OF the awstbe erec
utve officers for maintaining the supremacy OF the laws
Congress for refusing 20 admit Kansas into the Union
without onebd the requisite population, and with
stiution made by political party, and presented here
with threat Of boody issue in the that the SEN
and House Of Representatives dare TO reject the appca-
tion These the proper tribunals whose authority is
10 be resisted with the steady eye and the strong arm
These are the proper tribunals whose officers be
quered the reesoiers Of Kansas "w mngle the bod
les OF the oppressors with those Of the oppressed upon the
soil which the Declaration Of Independence longer pro-
tecsP
Did not The senator from Vermont know Of this speech
Gov Reeder7 Did he not know that the sentiments con-
tanned in this speech endorsed and affirmed in the
Tho which nominated Gov. Reeder