The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-09
NO SUPPLIES TO SURROGATE FREEMEN IN
KANSAS.
SPEECH OF HON. HENRY WILSON,
OF Massachusetts,
ON THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL

In the Senate of the United States Aug. Il. 1856
Mr. PRESIDENT: Senators of ripe age large ex-
perience, and acknowledged ability, Senators
who have long served with distinction in the
national councils, have expressed their deep con-
Germ at the present attitude of the two Houses of
Congress, and admonished the Senate and the
country that our public affairs were in critical
and alarming condition. The veteran Senators
from Delaware, Tennessee, and Michigan Messrs
CLAYTON, BELL, and CAss, have INDUCED in the
expression of gloomy apprehensions for the future
OF the Republic. do not share, Mr. President,
in these forebodings. | take more cheerful
and hopeful view of the public affairs of the
country. | trust | am not less devoted to the
country-to the preservation of its institutions
to the perpetuity of the unity of the States and
the indivisbility of the Republication those dis
tinguished Senators but | nothing in this
conflict between the two Houses of Congress that
shakes my steady faith in the stability of our
republican institutions, and the durability of
that bond of union that makes us one people. |
may indulge in the illusion of an overweening
confidence in the intelligence and patriotism of
the people, and the strength of the Government
but see nothing in the political horizon that
gives me any apprehensions for the present
any foreboding for the future. On the contrary
sir, see or | think see, in the development
expansion, and vitality of those ideas of popular
duced this stern conflict here in the National
Capitol, between the Representatives Of the Peo-
pie and the Representatives of the States between
the Democratic and Conservative elements of the
Government, much to cheer the hopes of the
patriot who would make the Republic great
| free, glorious-an example to the nations. NV
faith is strong that the Democratic elements of
| our Government, long obscured by the dark,
dreary, and chilling shadows of the Slave Power
wi from ha Oh
are passing, invigorated and strengthened-that
| our free institutions will come out of these shad-
| ows that have obscured their original luslre
| and like the stars when the winds have swept
| the mists and clouds from the heavens, beam
upon tue world in their original brightness.
But while see nothing, Mr. President in this
conflict, to excite apprehension or ALARM here or
elsewhere, see clearly that the two Houses of
| Congress stand in most extraordinary attitude
before the country The eye of the nation is
upon them. They are now passing through the
| severe ordeal of the public scrutiny. The public
Judgment, from the verdict of which there lies
| no appeal, will soon be authoritatively pro-
| nounced upon the action of the Senate and OF
the House of Representatives. To that public
Judgment am willing TO commit with undoubt-
ing confidence, the motives, purposes and acts, of
the minority in this Chamber and the majority In
| the other.
Let US recur, Mr.. President, to the record-to
the action of the Senate and the action of the
| House of Representatives, by which the two
Houses have been placed in their present attitude
| OF antagonism before the country. The Executive
department asked Congress to grant Sl4, O00, 900
for the support of the army during the current
year. The House of Representatives cheerfully
voted the amount required-the anti-Adminisra-
ton majority voting all the supplies demanded
| by the Executive. But the lionse, mindful OF
the condition of conquered and oppressed Kan
sas, placed in the bin proyiso containing three
| distinct propositions
l. That no part of the military force of the United
states shall be employed aid OF the any
enactment OF The body claiming To he the Territorial e
gIslaiure of Kansas. until such shall have
be~n affirmed and approved by Congress
This proviso shall NOT be construed prevent
hr PRESIDENT from employing an adequate military force.
but II shall be his duly employ such force prevent
the invasion of said Territory by bands OF nom
residents any other body of nonresidenis acting
rlaming posse of any officer said
Territory IN the enfo cement of any such enacten and
the and property therein and upoa
| national highways Leading 10 said Territory, from all
n, lawful searches and seizures.
,. IL shall be his duty take efficient measures
compel the OF, ard withhold all arms of the
United States distributed in or 10 said Territory"
The Senate, under the lead of the Senator from
Virginia Mr.. HUNTER, amended the bill by
| striking out this proviso. The House refused TO
concur in this amendment The Senate insisted,
Committees of Conference were appointed, and
etcn mouse insisted upon ITS policy The hour
"a IL o'clock, the 18th of August the time fixed
for the close of the first session of the thirty
fourth Congress, came. The two Houses ad-
journed, and, with the adjournment, fell the
army appropriation bill. The President prompt
~ summoned Congress to reassemble, and laid
before it the reasons for that act. The Execu-
tive pressed upon Congress the necessity of grant
ing the supplies for the support of the army,
now scattered over the country i'm the fortresses,
along the seaboard, in Florida Texas, New Mex
| leo, on the Western plains, on the shores of the
Pacihc, IN Oregon and Washington Territories.
The House promptly responded to this appeal of
the Executive by passing new bill to grant the
100000 required Still mindful of the
| wrongs of Kansas, it inserted into the bill the
| same proviso. The supporters of the Administra-
ton in utter disregard of the pressing appeals of
the President, voted, to a man. against il. choos-
| ing to hazard the loss of the bill, rather than
restrict the President in the use of the army in
: the enforcement of the usurpation in Kansas.