The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-05-07
SPEECH OF
HON. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS,
OF ILLINOIS
ON THE ADMISSION OF KANSAS.
In tie .Senate March 20, 1856,

J S|''oeN.S'
TO autsoriSe tie people Of the Territory Of
Kansas to. form a constitution and State
government preparatory to the admission
4 into the Union, aohen they haze the requisite
Popelation-
Continued.
Mr.. President, there are few other
points which l wish to discuss briefly, if
my voice and strength viii permit ME 10
continue.
1 Mr.. BTTLER. If the Senator will
give way will move an adjournment.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. I am grateful to
the Senator for his kind propositions; but
i my health is such that l fear would not
bo able to speak tomorrow after the eX-
! hauStion OF to-day, if l should avail my
self of his courtesy. l prefer, therefore,
to finish now what have to say, if pos
sib's.
It has been my unpleasant duty thus far
to trace the points of difference and con-
fict between the two reports, and the
conclusions to which they lead now
approach material point, and invite the
Iespecial attention of the Senate and
country to it, in which the majority and
minority reports agree-I ALLUDE TO THE
lCAUsEs WHICH HAVE PRODUCED ALL. THESE
UNFORTUNATE DIFFICULTIES IN KANSAS.
We agree in ascribing them to the same
general causes, although we differ wide
in regard to the remedies proper to be
applied. We agree that they were the
natural and legitimate results of two rival
and hostile systems of emigration, organ
lied in and prosecuted from the opposite
and extreme sections OF the Union, for the
| purpose of controlling the domestic in
stitutions of the Territory-the one hav-
ing for its paramount object the prohihi-
tioI, and the other the protection, of The
Institution Of slavery in Kansas. The
:. proposition is thus stated in the majority
report:
Combinations in one section Of the
; Union to stimulate an unnatural and false
{ system Of emigration, With the View OF
controlling the elections, and forcing the
, domestic institutions of the Territory to
assimilate to those of the non .slaseholding
States; were followed, as might have been
; foreseen, by the use of similar means in the
slavehelding States, to produce directly
/, the opposite result. To these causes, and
to these alone, in the opinion of your com
mittee, may be traced the origin and pro-
gress of all the controversies and distur-
Dances with which Kansas is now con-
vulsed
b s.If these unfortunate troubles have re-
suited as natural consequences from un-
/, authorized and improper schemes offoreign
l interference with the internal affairs and
; domestic concerns of the Territory, it is
Z apparent that the remedy must be sough
: in a strict adherence to the principles
1 and rigid enforcement of the organic
law"
: The-minerity report, afteriustifying ant
applauding the movements and operations
of the Massachusetts and New England
!, emigrant aid societies, by sending EN-
: igrants to Kansas for the purpose of con.
;. trolling the elections and prohibiting sia
: very as a 'lawful and laudable" expert
J mott, and after applauding in lik'
manner the counter movement in Mis-
: souri, and the other slaveholding Sstes a
: "a highly praiseworthy and commendabie'
: effort, speaks thus of the consequences o
the experiment Of arraying the whole in
habits.nts of the Territory into two oppo
: sing and hostile parties, each struggling
% to defeat the other in the Accomplishment
r of the object which brought them there:
If at now becomes necessary to inqnir
!. what has in fact taken place. II violenc
IS has taken place as tie natural, and perhap
,ej aaaroida5ls, consequence of the ast,tre, Q
q the experiment bringing into dangeroe.
t. contact and collision tatlommable elements
4 it was the voice of mistaken law. AM
# immediate measures should be taken b
h Congress TO correct such law. If fore
10 and violence have been substituted fo
: peaceful measures there, legal provision
4 should be made and executed to correc
5. all the wrong such violence has produced
and to prevent their recurrence, an
thus secure fair fulfilment of the expel
n iment by peaceful means, as originall
p professed and presented in the law"
" Mr.. lCOLLAMER. That word &c,
D. periment7iI have used throughout q
er referring to the experiment Of the law
Id Mr.. DOUGLAS. ] will show what
,d means / will show that word "exper
to ment" is used to designate the operation
On of the emigrant aid societies of Massaeh,
We setts and New England, and the count'
movement which these emigrant aid S,
cicties drew after them by way of antagt
.S- nism in the. slaveholding States. l vi
NC now read other passages to show that
y have stated the position of the minori
- fairly:
an '.4his subject, then, which Congress HI
been unable to settle in any such way
ot the slave States will sustain, is now tn
i ned over to those who have or shall b
i come inhabitants of Kansas to arrang
and all men are invited to participate
2 the experiment regardless of their chara
o. ter, political or religious views. or place
4f. uatiyjtv.o -