The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-17
VOL. X.

Douglas spoke against the printing of the NE.
mortal.
Mr.. Mason, of Virginia, the father Of the Fu
gitive Slave Law, derided the pretensions u
the memorialists. His speech was made up OF
like these:
"Now, what do they say? Who does ny
What information b. we about them? Wbo
are these men, whose names, it is said, are
signed to this petition? Who are their coDst;,
uents2 Who knows anything about it, and who
can know anything about 1t, unless it is recoy
missed by law, and brought to us under The
sanctions of law? Who are they? Who know,
or who can know, what portion of the peopls
are the constituents of those who formed tLa
Constitution"
Mr.. Bsyard, of Delaware, recapitulated a,
tedious length, the arguments against the IN.
formality of the proceedings of the Kan.a,
people, whom he charged with "incipient tre,.
,on." They had no right to pretend to the die.
iity of State; aud their elections. at time.
aud places not warranted by any legitimate an.
thority, were wholly void.
Mr.. Trumbull, of Illinois, was astonished to
hear the people of Kansas denounced a, in
surrectionists" and "traitors." There is N
provision in the Constitution or act of Congre..
in reference to treason, which would apply 3,
conduct like theirs. Treason cannot be man.
featured from peaceably meeting together al
organizing State Government. Then. as {.
the objection that Kansas IS not STATE. Il.
Senators who urge it, many of them, had yls
to extend the Fugitive Slave Law over Hans.
although they professed to believe that Cg
gress had no power to legislate about Says-,
in the Territories. Of course, then, Hans,
was at that time q good enough State for CO..
gress to authorize negro-catching in, and.
so, he Mr.. Trumbull did not see why she Va.
not good enough State to memorabilia e..
gress, and also TO have her memorial respa,
fully treated. The Senator from Delaware h.d
pronounced the doings of the Kansas pe,,l.
void, because they had assembled at p!sse,
and times not assigned by the constituted al
.horities of the United States. He lMr. Tr.r,
bull admitted that, under ordinary circug.
stances, the place and time of holding electr,
were material but here, where the people BY
an armed invasion had been driven from II.
polls, and when the Executive refused all r,
dress, these points were not all material, AMI
we were bound to recognise the rightfulness O.
their proceedings, without regard to such il
formalities.
Senator Toucey, of Connecticut, re echorl
the denunciations of Senator Mason. Wheiisr
the signatures to the memorial were genuiu.
or not, he was opposed to its object, and would
not receive it. There was no such body as tie
Legislature of the State of Kansas.
Senator Seward here gave new life to the DE-
bate, by deprecating the quibbling nicely Of
Senatorial criticism on this occasion.
Mr.. Crittenden, of Kentucky, sprung TO bis
feet, and, turning directly round to the Senator
from New York, assailed him with vehemence
OF language wholly unwarrsnted BY any apps
rent cause. He was indignant at this attempt
to manufacture political capital from the dis
cussion of the Kansas memorial. He wished
to suppress discussion and agitation upon
document like this, marked all over with era.
sures and interlineations. He suspected tina,
the Senator from Michigan, who had presented
this spurious memorial, had been imposed upon
by others, who shirked the responsibility. and
used his great name to shield their own designs
The Senator from New York is well ACQUAINTED
with this paper. Why did he attempt 10 make
the Michigan Senator commit himself to ID.
authenticity Of it?
"Will he please to tell me whether tho,.
erasures were published in the original, for l.
is well acquainted with it? Did that form par
of the publication What hand has undertake
from distressed men, which they designed to ay
before this body? Will the gentleman answer
He may forbear to answer"
The venerable Kentuckian, quvering with
excitement, his eyes flashing fire, flung the p,
per upon Mr.. Stewards desk, demanding sn
answer. But the latter, with NEST provokingun-
only said: SO on; Iii answer when
you've DONE"
Mr.. Crittenden. Answer now. am done"
"Mr. Seward. / answer the honorable Sen
ator that have never seen the paper any nearer
than / see it now in his hands.
assumed that the character of the honor
able Senator from Michigan was sufficient to
screen the transaction from suspicious so un.
worthy, the honorable Senator from Kentucky
will allow me to say, of him; and that his crit
icism upon erasure becomes rather the argu.
ment of a cross-examiniug attorney in a county
court, than the presence of the Senate of the
United States"
Mr.. Crittenden blazed again at what he con.
ceived to be slur at his profession.
Sir" said he, 81 am not ashamed of nv
profession. l would thousand times rather
pursue that noble PROFESSIONALS the gentleman
denominate it as he may-than that of plead.
er in politics. / thought the gentleman said
and L will go on now to speak of it-ihat the
suspicion that he knew anything about it was
unworthy of me.
"Mr. Seward. No, sir; / did not say that
"Mr. Crittenden. He said that it was like
county court lawyer. Sir, there are too many
professional men in this body for me to appre-
,end any injury from any ailusion which the
gentleman may please to make. | had rather
De a professional lawyer than a professional
politician. / had rather be anything else than
hat. / wonder that the Senator from New
I ork, when he ventures to come here with such
aunts to me, is not restrained by conscious.
ness of lis own liability, by such an intimaion
Or insinuation to hurt me. Here, in nv pro.
ession, and everywhere, | am the same man
The Senator from New York, with the same
mperturbable calmness, replied again
"Mr. President, the honorable Senator from
Kentucky is a much more experienced and a
much wiser and a greater man than am but
lie will probably learn from this discussion thai
he best way to deal with me is to deal with
lindness, and gentleness, and with respect, as
have always dealt with him.
"The honorable Senator represents me as
attacking him in his profession. So aged and
member of that profession, 50
Iged and distinguished member of this body,
ought TO be more accurate in listening aud
more slow in stating the ground assumed by
lis adversary. said no such thing. enter