The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
THlRTY-F 0URTH CONGRESS-.
THIRD SESSION.
Thursday, December 4, 1856.

1
| The motion to print fifteen thousand extra
| copies of the Presidents message and accom-
panying documents was taken up.
| Mr.. Fitzpatrick said that this motion was al.
ways submitted in similar cases. He had
thought it would be agreed to without obiec-
| ton. He believed the message contained a
| truthful account of the circumstances connect
| ed with the establishment of the Missouri Com
promise, and the subsequent events growing
| out of that act 1.-THE President had failed to
do this, he would have been derelict to bis duty.
| There were proper occasions on which Senators
who differed from his opinions, as expressed
in that document, might express their views
with great propriety; but this was not suit
| able occasion to renew their agitating discus
sions. What was to be gained by re. opening
this agitation, under these circumstances
Senator'S on the other side avow that they are
all deeply devoted to the Union. He was de-
lighted to hear that declaration. One of them
Mr.. wilson, had drawn picture of the dark
banners of Disunion floating over the entire
South, and covering it as with black clouds.
Now he Mr.. Fitzpatrick lived in the South,
but he had never seen such clouds. If the
South was permitted to pursue her own course,
unmolested, there never would be such clouds
seen there.
No men could be more devoted to the Union
than the people of the South, as body, aud
they will do nothing to disrupt the Government.
But did not these Senators know that they were
advocating doctrines which, If carried out,
would lead to that result? The MON, won
by the common blood and common treasure
of the North and South, was now claimed to
belong to the North exclusively and all the
advantages to be derived from it are endeav-
ored to be seized by them.
M. II ~ L.
expressed his regret that that subject should
have been discussed upon this occasion, and
considered this an improper time to take it up.
But if it was d legitimate and constitutional
question, and was proeeer to be submitted by
the President in his annual Message, then it
was especially proper question for Enngress
to consider. The President was therefore re-
sponsible for the commencement of this agita-
ton, II blame was to be cast on any one for
that, for nearly one-half of that message is
taken up with the subject of Slavery.
MIR. W. then proceeded to charge the Presi-
dent with having pronounced libel upon a
large majority of the people of Ohio, impugn.
ing the motives OF $4,000 men who cast their
votes for Mr.. Fremont in the recent Presiden-
tial election. Were they to be assailed from
the Executive mansion, simply because thew had
seen fit to discharge their duty in a manner
different from that which the President ap-
proved? Was he to shield himself behind
what he called his constitutional privileges, to
Islander, traduce, and abuse, large majority of
the people of more than one-half the States of
the Union? He had charged them with adopt
ing principles which, carried out, would lead
to civil war, the disruption of the Government,
and dissolution of the Union.
That charge comes with i'll grace from the
President, who was the apologist and supporter
of those who have committed the most gross
and inexcusable outrages in Kansas. He talked
in his message as if the election of Mr.. Bu-
chanan was an endorsement of his Admins
tration. Did he not know that the Democratic
party did not dare to renominate him, on &C.
count of his completely with the Kansas affairs?
If the avowal had been openly made before the
election, as it was since, by the Senator from
Virginia, Mr.. Mason, that the South claims
the right of expansion for Slavery as much as
its protection where it exists, the freemen of
the North would have given almost a unani-
nous verdict against that party. The election
was thus carried by shrewd and adroit mana
gers, by concesling before the election what
was now avowed. In some States it was
claimed that Mr.. Buchanan was the most reli.
able candidate to secure the freedom of Kan
sas, and they had flags, inscribed, /" Buchanan,
Breokinridge, and Free Kansas"