Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-01-21
CONGRESS-.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, JANUARY u, 1856

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, JANUARY IL, 1856.
Mr. RrcHARDsoN of Illinois, then sent TO the
Clerks desk the questions that had been PROFOUND
ed TO him by Mr.. Zollicofer, and requested that
the FIRST nterrogatory be read; and was according.
ly read, as follows
Gam | right in supposing that the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Richardson) regards the Kansas
Nebraska bill as promotive of the formation of free
States In the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska?"
Mr.. RICHARDSON. In reply to the question Of
the gentleman from Tennessee, (Mr Z0coffer,)
have to say voted for the bills organizing the Ter
rtories of Nebraska and Kansas because | thought
them Just to all and defended that vote before my
constituents upon that ground intended then,
and intend now that the people who go there, or
who have gone there, shall decide the question Of
slavery for themselves, and so far | could, to
admit them as States with without slavery, as
the people shOudedecide. In common with North
ern and Southern gentlemen, have said that, in
my opinion, slavery would never 60 there; but
have never here or elsewhere, urged that as a rea
son why voted for that bill. l voted for the bill
because il was just right, and proper, and wanted
nothing more to defend myself / repeat here an
argument have made over and over again before
my constituents and it is this; if majority Of the
people of Kansas or Nebraska are in favor of sla-
verv they will have If; ifa majority opposedto it,
then they will not have it. This is the pracc /
result of every theory advocated by the friends of
the Nebraska and Kansas bill gave nv sanction
to this principle in supporting the Territorial bills
of 1880 and have uniformly supported the same
principles since, whenever presented for my action
and shall continue to do so in all furure that
NAV arise. 1t is principle lying at the foundation
of all popular Governments that the people of each
separate or distinct community shall decide for
themselves the nature and character Of the instu'
tons under which they shall live: and by this prin-
ciple ain prepared tove and die. Therefore voted
for the Nebraska and Kansas bill neither as a pro
slavery nor anti slavery measure, but a measure
Of equal right and justice TO the people of all sec
tions of our common country. Will the Clerk now
read the next question
"Am right in supposing that he advocates the
consttutionality of the Wilmot proviso that in
1850 be opposed its application to the territory
acquired from Mexico only upon the ground that
it was unnecessary inasmuch the Mexican local
laws in those Territories already abolished slavery
which ought to be sufficient for all Freesoil men?
and that he committed himself to the position that
if Territorial bills silent upon the subject OF slavery
land leaving the Mexican laws toOperate) where de-"
feated, he would vote for bills with the Wilmot
pTOviso in themg"
Mr.. RICHARDSON. This question requires more
extended reply. In 1903 we acquired Louisiana; it
was a slave territory. In 1929 we divided, by line
of SO deg 80 min, that territory: north OF the
line il was TO be free. In lS45 we annexed Texas;
that was slave territory; divided that by extern
ding the line of SO deg. 80 min. through that;
north to be free. In lS4S we acquired territory
from Mexico; that was tree. voted repeatedly to
extend the same line west TO the Pacific ocean. /
voted for that line with few Representatives from
the North, and the whole body of Southern Repre-
sentatiyes. When | gave those votes did not
believe then, nor do believe now that violated
the Constitution of the United States. II you
have power under the Constitution to exclude
slavery from half of a Territory, think you have
power to exclude from all, through such as exer
else would be unjust aud wrong. | have never,
therefore, voted to exercise that power, upon the
pinciple of compromise In this connection desire
TO read from a speech of mine delivered in this hall
April 3, 1850, and make word or two OF COM
ment upon IL
1T ere is regret to say, a willingness upon the
part Of the democrats Of the North TO this pro
viso passed, that Gen. Taylor may be compelled to
show TO the world and the rest OF mankind who
was cheated in the last Presidential election
whether il was his friends North or South. They
know that fraud was practsed upon the one or
the other They know that in the South Gen.
Taylor represented as all that any one in favor
OF slaveay extension could desire, that be was
bound 70 Southern institutions by two hundred
combining slavery to its present limits. One or the
other was cheated. But / submit to my Northen
friends if the peace and harmony of twenty millions
OF people, and the perpetuty Of our free institu
tons, are not of more importance than the expos
ure of this bad faith upon the part Of on Admins
traton that if let alone, will fall by its own weight?
The public voice every where indicates its certain
and inevitable overthrow.
III times past our policy sooner or latter has
flaH nd nd frua hos Nar
the hour, encouraged by former success. We should
not be driven hon our positions because our opon-
uents have TO come to them for safety. l might
ask them ii they 10 be driven from their firm
and stern opposition 10 United States Bank
because those who once thought that certain ruin
would lay waste the land unless such institution
was incorporated have changed their opinions aud
stand with US in opposition? Are they willing 10
be driven in opposition to the independent treasury
because those who once opposed nov support il
Are you TO be driven from ali the past now trumph-
antly ylndicated, because opposition has ceasedg
We should stand firm IN the support ofught truth,
the constitution OF our country, no maityrw who shall
come 10 their support or desert; stand by them 20
the last and il they fall let us perish with them.
We should never survive the existence OF this
Government
There is one thing that wish, In this connex.
ion, Mr. Chairman, TO say 10 the gentlemen from
the South ard the Northern Wings; II the bin for
Territorial Governments, silent upon the subject Of
slavery, shall be defeated, then | for bills with
the Wilmot proYiso, IN order TO give Governments
10 the people In the Territories; and speak for
four Of my colleagues, assured that they viii feel
constrained 10 pursue 4 ike course. And il Gen
eral Taylor shall approve the proyiso, then il viii
have passed; aud Il Is for them 10 determine what
shall shall not be done, and let the responsibility
rect with them.
take Ihis occasion 70 say that the sentiment last
quoted, uttered Ia moment OF excitement /, upon
reflection, repudiste a. unjust and Improper.
lhauk TIE gentleman that nc has afforded me the
opportunity % give this public expression OF my
disapproyal Of that statement | unisornly voted
against placing the MiiG0t pFoyso ia any Terrigo-
nal bill. voted against Il because believed il 70
be unjust 70 The people Of pOFtion OF ibis UniOn
The Sietk shen read the seeond aud third inssro
gaiOries. a. ielio4G
IAN right in supposlng that biz theory Is that
tie Cousli nsion Of Tie United States does noi
carry slavery 70 and Freteet il ia the Territories Of
the United Slatesf that IN the territory acquired
from Mexico and France lnelading kansas and
NehraskA) tho Missouri resirieloa w4s necsssrJ q
make ghe terFsleFy Tree, because slavery existed
lhere ander kfsnce AZ tie time Of the aequisition,
bat l.sal lhe Kansas and Nebraska bill. which re-.
peaies tbAs Festfelou bat seiGheE lsgslies slavery