American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-02-23

session of the power given it by con-
fiding people, before it violated that
pledge thus solcmnly given. / willn
pretend to say what was the governing
motive, but there are those who are un-
charitable enoughto declare that it was
the effort of waning Administration
to continue itself in power.
That the compromise measures were
to be looked upon as final settlement
of the disturbing questions that had
weH-nigh destroyed this Union, and
occasioned their enactment, is evidenc-
ed not only by the platforms of the ma
tional conventions heretofore alluded
to, but by the discussionsin in this House
while those measures we're pending be-
fore it, and by the report made to the
Senate by the distinguished chairman
Judge Douglas) of the Committee on
Territories in that body, when he re-
ported the bill for the organization of
ihe Territories Of Nebraska & Kansas.
The fearful condition in which the
country would be placed, that was pre-
dicted pending the passage of the com
promise measures of 1850, if section
al organizations were formed, and which
created a necessity for their passage,
and consequent necessity that they
should be considered final adjustment
of all the agitation growing out of the
question of slavery, is now upon us,
caused by refusal to abide by and
maintain them as final settlement
The "inducement for the sectional
organization now in this House was
caused by this Administration in fore
ing through Congress the Kansas-Ne-
braska bill, and by those who now make
it the test of Democracy. Sir, what
"a vast difference between the so-called
Democracy of the present day and the
proud Democratic Republican party of
former times Is it a strict construc-
tion of the powers of the Federal Gov
ernment, as defncdin the Constitution,
that constitutes the Democracy of to-
day? No, sir--no, sir; but it is an APP
proval of this Kansas end Nebraska
bill that has furnished food to heartless
agitators, wild fanatics, and senseiess
Abolitiohists, to war upon the South,
and consequently, upon the Constitu-
tion of our common country, to the pre-
Ijudice of that eountry's peace, and, it
may be, to the dismemberment of this
glorious Union of States. Yes, sir, APP
proval of the principles of the Kansas
and Nebraska biil-a bill that has Civ
en- birth to purely sectional organiza-
ton of agitators and disturbcrs of their
country speace--this bill, which stands
in the way and prevents an organiza-
tion of this House, and which may
cause dissolution of the Union--is
the test of the Democracy Of the pres
ent day. The Democratic members of
this House, on Saturday preceding the
day fixed for the mcoting Of Congress,
met in this Hall in caucus, and adopt
ed resolution, planting themselves,
not upon the timc-honored principles of
the Democratic party, but upon the
principles Of the Kansas-Nebraska bill.
Now, sir, what are the principles of the
Kansas Nebraska bill? and let us try
them by what has always heretofore
been understood to be Democratic
principles, andtell me if they can stand
the trial?
Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia, (interrupting).
VIII the gentleman from Virginia allow
me to ask him question, in order that
l may seeif understand him correctly?
MIR. Garlic. Twill hear the question.
Mr.. Cobb. I desire to know Of him
if we are to undcrst, ind by this review
Of tho Nebraska bin, that he considers
the passage of that bill as violation
of the plighted faith of the two politi-
cal parties Of the country; and if the
friends Of the Nebraska bill, in his
Judgment, acted in bad faith to the
country in passing it
Mr.. Carlile. Mr.. Clerk, Twill, in the
course of my remarks, think, salts
factorily answer the question which the
distinguished gentleman from Georgia
has propounded to me. Sir, what are
the principles Of the Nebraska bill, as
they have been explained upon this
floor by those who have given their O.
pinions as to what the bill meant? One
of the first principles asserted in the
Nebraska bill is that which the people
of my own State--tho people Of Vir-
ginia-ever true to the Constitution
and the Uuion--haye from time imme-
mortal repudiatcd---tho principle Of
"squatter sovereignty" Sir, no par
ty on earth has ever been more deeply
committed, by resolve after resolve, in
party conventions, in Legislative assem-
blics, and everywhere where the ques-
ton could be brought into view, against
this principle Of 'squatter sovereignty,
than the Democratic party Of Virginia.