The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-18
THE NATIONAL WASHINGTON D. C., SEPTEMBER 49,

but merged into and "square" to this platform,
! which declares: "The American Democracy rec
ognise aud adopt the principles contained 10 the
organic laws establishing the Territories of Kan
| sas and Nebraska, as embodying the only sound
| and safe solution of the Slavery question; that
| this was the basis of the Compromise of 1880"
! have shown what the organic laws establishing
| these Territories were. | have also shown the
violation of them by the bogus Legislature of
Kansas, and their approval by the President, and
now by the Democratic Cincinnati Convection.
| | have also shown the declaration and pledge of
| the Senators and Repres entatives in Congress in
1850, and its full endorsement by the President,
! in his first annual message to Congress in 1858.
have also shown the faithlessness in the Presi-
| dent and his supporters in adhering to these
! pledges | have also shown the reputation of
all these professions and pledges by the Presi-
dent and his supporters and with this expose I
/ leave him and them to reflect on their inconsist-
ency and wrong, which he and they have inact-
| ed on the rights of the people and the stability
| of the institutions of the country.
Mr.. Chairman, in passing to the consideration
of other topics deem it proper to call the atten-
| ton of the House to the state of affairs in the
State of California, and the conduct of the Pres
ident of the United States in relation to the same.
| II is as we'll known as it is disgraceful to the
| nation that a state of INSTRUMENTATION and an
| nrchy has existed in that sovereign State for
| months; and that, instead of the laws of that
| State or of the United States, being enforced
| there a self-constituted committee has usurped
the liberties of the people, set aside the ministers
| of the law and taken the administration and the
| execution of their self-enacted laws into their
| own hands The legally-constituted authority
| of that State, by their Governor has applied to
| the President of the United States for aid to en-
force the laws, and restore order in California
| but the appeal has been denied, and no one can
| now tell when order and the majesty of the law
will again be restored in that unfortunate State.
enter into no speculation as to who is right or
wrong for the existing state of things in Califor
MIA or upon the motives of the President and his
| advisers in refusing aid to the constituted
thorites of that State, to put down the insurrec-
| tionists, and to restore peace and order. But
wish to say that his conduct in this is very
unlike that which he has caused to be enforced
on the Free State men in the infant Territory OF
Kansas, in the execution of the bogus and I'M
constitutional laws passed by the bogus and
illegal Legislature of that Territory.
Mr. Chairman, now beg the attention of the
Committee to the consideration of the
ARROGANCE AND SECTIONAL INFLUENCE OF SLAVERY.
During the long contest, at the commencement
of the present session Of Congress, for the cleo
ton of Speaker, leading and distinguished men,
Der from Alabama Mr.. WALKER proclaimed :
!" Members from the North seem to think that the
reason why the South has had so large a share
in our governmental operations, lies in the insti-
tuition of Slavery. tell them they mistaken ;
it lies behind that institution. 1t is to be found
in the administrative faculty belonging TO the
early settlers of the South-the CavalieFs and
JIuguenots-AND WHICH THEIR DESCENDANTS HAVE
INHERITED" Well, sir, rejoice in the bJdness
of this boast of superiority of birth and blood
l respect and honor the frank expression o. ones
sentiments, as thus given; but tell the gentle
man that he is mistaken in the true CHARACTER Of
the people of the North. True, they have not
enjoyed the advantage of experience that the
people of the South have in the governmental
affairs of the Government, but this is solely ow
ing to the sectional and aggressive demands of
the Slave Power. But, sir, the people OF the
North will not longer remain under this vain and
Boosting charge they intend to demand and ex
pec to receive and take their fair and just pJopor
ton of the responsibilities in the administration of
this Government They commenced this policy
in the election of Speaker Banks without, | re-
greet to say, the aid Of single vote from a slave
State. Yet such is the power of Slavery, that
even Representatives have to bow to its de9Iands
and behests, or to go into private life.
If the people of the North are true to them
Selves true to the best interests of the country,
true to the Constitution and Union, as know
them to be, they will take the affairs of this Gov
eminent into their own hands on the 4th of March
next and then the gentleman from Alabama
will have an opportunity of witnessing the honor,
capacity, and justice, of the people of the North,
to administer the affairs of the Government.
l know, Mr.. Chairman, that the South sneer
at the people of the North, and proclaim that,
although they are the descendants of the Pur-
tans of Plymouth Rock, and admit that the sods
of Lexington, and Concord, and Bunker Hill and
Saratoga, and Monmouth and Trenton, and VAL
ley Forge, are their fOrefathers' sepulchres, in
fighting the battles and In achieving the liberties
of the country, yet they only considered an
industrious and money-making people, disquali-
fed for administrative positions-ft subjects,
suppose they think, to be the hewers of wood and
the drawers of water for the South.
Again The honorable gentleman from Ala
bama continues: "Why, sir, might ask, What
great sentiment, what great governmental prin-
ciple, originated at the North ?" | answer the
gentleman's question with great pleasure and
satisfaction The great sentiment of the
North is FREEDOM, and their governmental
principle" PROGRESS. With these principles she
started in the great race on this Continent In the
very year the Pilgrim Fathers landed on Plym-
outh Rock, slaves landed in Virginia; and, in the
language Of the eloquent gentleman from Massa-
chusetts, "Freedom has gone on, trampling down
barbarism, and planting States-building the sym
bols of its faith by every lake, and every river,
until now the sons of the Pilgrims stand by the
shores of Pacific. Slavery has also made its
way toward the setting sun. 1t has reached the
Rio Grande on the South and the groans of its
Victims and the clank of its chains, may he
heard, as it slowly ascends the western tributa-
ries of the Mississippi river. Freedom has left
the land bespangled with free schools, and filled
the whole heavens with the shining towers of reli-
gion and civilization. Slavery has left desola-
ton, ignorance, and death, in its path. When
we look at these things; when what the
hau haan had han,,
given to the Territories when we think what
it would have been but for this blight in the
bosom of the country that the whole South
that fair land God has blessed so much-would
have been covered with cities, and villages, and
railroads, and that in the country, in the place
of twenty-five millions of people, thirty-five mil
lions would have hailed the rising morn, exulting
in Republican Liberty-when we think of these
things, how must every honest man, how must
every man with brains in his head or heart in
his bosom, regret that the policy of old Virginia,
in her better days, did not become the animating
policy of this expanding Republcl"
FREEDOM AND PROGRESS.
Sir, that develops the material resources of the
country that builds railroads and canals; that
protects and respects the labor of every citizen
of the country; that protects the rights of every
American citizen, at home and abroad that en-
courages commerce, that twin-sster of civiliza-
ton, that encourages emigration; that contributes
"labOr, capital, art, vaOr, and enterprise to per-
feet and embelish widening empire"
These sir the aims and trophies of Freedom
and Progress. Now, sir, may l not ask What
are the aims and trophies of the institution of
Slavery? Is IL not sectional and aggressive? Is
1t not cruel, relentless tyranny Does it not le-
galize "oHATTEL sLAvERY"-that "execrable COM
merce," as jefferson called it, that makes mer-
chandise of Immortality that smites the earth