The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-01-26
john ?. Hale 81 The senass.

spoke of several features in the Presi-
dents Message. He said =
Mr.. PRESIDENT ~ do not rise for
the purpose of making personal expla-
nation, because / believe that the coun-
.ry thinks it of no great consequence
what the opinion of any individual SEN
ator may be; but, Sir, / have not word
70 say against the propriety of those gen
tlemen from Northern States who voted
for the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and are
still members of the Senate. making ex-
plantations; for there Is not one of them
that has ever had his election submitted
20 the people of Free State, who has
had chance to make an explanation on
his floor. or will be likely TO get it very
soon. Hence, have not word to say
about that =
Now, Sir, wish to say few words
in regard 10 the doctrines of the Mes
age. In the first place, the President
aas great deal to say about Central
America, as if that were the engrosslng
subject with the people at this time. l
tell the President that there is central
place in the United States-not Central
America, Central United States-called
Kansas about which the people OF this
country are thinking vastly more at this
lime than they are about Central Amerl-
"a, down in the land Of fllibusters and
it seems to me that the President OF the
United States would have discharged
just as appropriately his proper constitu-
Lional functions if he had favored US
little with that, instead of consuming SO
much space upon Central America, out
side of the United States. l do not wish
to enter the list with the distinguished
Senator'S who have spoken on this mes
sage-the Senator from Delaware, Mr..
Clayton, the Senator from Michigan
(Mr. Cass, and my friend from New
York Mr.. Seward } because. if were
20 do SO, though there would be no foun-
dation for such charge in fact, pubic
rumor would at once say that was
ambitious to put myself forward as the
lieutenant of a company of gentlemen
who occupy distinguished positions be-
fore the country. 1t is for this reason
that touch on Central America with
great caution and great diffidence Cen
trail America, Sir, is an agitating subject
Just at this time, and it is seized upon
by those agi;aiors who do not think it
prudent to take hold of subject which
really agitates the people. They care
nothing about Central Arerica-not a
straw; the whole thing is humbug ez-
ploded long ago.
Then. Sir, | think l can say to the
President, that the people would have
been quite as much pleased to hear
little more about Kansas. as so much
about Central America. The President,
however. does have very little to say
about Kansas very little indeed. He
says:
"In the Territory of Kansas. there
have been acts prejudicial to good order,
but as yet none have occurred to justify
the interposition of the Federal Execu-
tive"
wish that were true but | take issue
with him. say the interposition of the
Federal Executive has been there, and it
has been there on the side of those very
acts of violence Sir, the people of
Kansas have had to protect themselves
against mob law, instigated by the Pres
ident and sustained by his officials there.
When he says there has been nothing to
Justify" official interposition, admit
it is true there was nothing to justify it;
but the interposition was there, whether
justified or not Then he goes on to say
that the people of Kansas must be pro-
tected. Well, Sir, they will be protect
ed but they have not had protection
from the President of the United States.
Do you not know. Sir, does not the Sem
ate know, and does not the country
know, that Governor Reeder came home
and proclaimed in the ears of the Presi-
dent that Kansas was conquered coun-
try? And what did he do ? The Gov
ernor told him that Kansas was con-
quered. What do you suppose Gen.
jackson would have done, if one of his
Governors had come to Washington and
said. "Goneral, that Territory which you
sent me to govern has been conquered"
"Why, in the name of the Eternal" he
would have said, "who has conquered
it?" He would have called upon the
country for all its military force and all
its volunteer force to retakeLt. But, Sir,
it was not to Gen. Jackson thatthe story
was told, but to another and different
sort of man. What was the answerg-
The President turned him out. He said
Governor, we have no further need of
your services; we wish you all prosper
ity, but you are not. the man to carry out
>quatter sovereignty in Kansas" Then
he took Mr.. Wilson Shannon and Mr..
Wilson Shannon went. shouting over the
plains as he went, that he was for slavery
IN Kansas. He went too fast; and, |
think, between the North and the South.
Mr.. Wilson Shannon will not find very
wide place TO stand upon. do not think |
he will find a friend here to say. "God
save him p when his time comes up.
So much for Kansas After this allu-
sion tn II in his ynasSaue the President