The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
Speech OF nov. LEWIS CAss,
OF MICHIGAN,


u r.,sas afrairs; delivered in the Senate of the United
y" States, Tuesday, May 49, 1855 l.
The Senate as in committee of the whole resumed the
sdeation of the bill 70 authorize the people of the
Territory OF Kansas to form constitution and State gov
eminent preparatory 10 their admission INTO the Union
ohen they have tho requisite population.
Mr. CASS said: Mr.. President the bill under discus
on relating 10 Kansas presents itself in double aspect
The consideration Of Congress 1t involves not only the
,sent condition of that Territory, and the measures
ner 10 lie taken with reference TO it, but IL involves also
e general principles connected with the Territories OF the
ited States aud the extent as well OF their rghs as OF
he constitutional power Of Congress over them propose
10 submit to the Senate some remarks upon both these
topcs but principally upon the atternot only on account
Of the Importance Of the subject bat also on account OF the
many and dscordant views and the elaborate discussions
10 which it has given rise in this body and in the co-ordi-
nate branch of the national Legislature shall commence
with the relations between the Unted States and their ter
ories but shall endeayor 6rst TO redeem from obloqny
cherished American principle, which lies at the oundaton
OF Tree institutions
This principle has been designated popular sovereign
H. quatter sovereignty territorial sovereignty and mark
ed by other sneering terms used contemporary as nick
names rather than descrprely definitions, and which
have served repoaeb and often desgnedy upon
great element of human freedom, and TO bring il into dis
credit .....@ .# .@e..
This system of tactics originated during the progress OF
the controversy concerning the admission Of California
when contended that the government established
there selideence by the people ought not to be recog
nsed and among other reasons because they squat
tcrs--hn the cant phrase-and did not the land
AS though American citizens borne by accidents of life
part Of the national domain without the limits OF
gad State Territory are destitute Of all rights and
in the absence of established law establish law for
tbeuseves-and, AS corollary that the only true
egny landlord sovereignty Sir this is strange doc
Tor this great republic boasng of its political equal
t and for this middle of the nineteenth century, boas
ing its political progress and intelligence 1t carries
back to the worst periods of the world when
nothing and lands and trees, and rocks were every
thing -.,.,..sr d. ... .,r..s4,s
On former occasion adverted to the happy manner
n which this artificial and unjust of society
dcued by Dr. Franklin of his practical Apologies
powerful than argument but it is appropriate TO
this discussion that tempted again to call il into the
service OF human rights. property qualification is
CURED aaid the American maker) to en,te any
10 enjoy political privileges To-day possesses
aCkass and is therefore voter. Tomorrow the
dies and the vote dies with him To whom did the vote
telong-to the ass to his owner am not political
sust enough to answer the question: leave its solution
him who believes in the necessary conuexion between
the moneybox and the baot-box. One hundred thousand
American citizens found themselves without law in Cali
Ona after its cesson the United States Congress
refused neglected TO make any arrangement for their
government leaving them exposed TO the terrible evils of
anarchy By all the laws of God and Nature they
Justified as measure Of selfdefence which is incident
to communities as to individuals in providing for their
own saey-exstence indeedby the institution Of gov
eminent They did so, and here for admission and
were met by reproeches and harsh ephes, and delays
almost refusal and were characterized andess and law
less advenurers That they landless was neither
their crime their fault that they did tnue law
less they owed to their arrnness and intelligence
to our justice sympathy They did the selfexiled ad
venurers had done centuries before them when they land
ed upon this continent and combned themselves together
these are memorable and historic words) in civil body
poitcy and never did human government rest upon a
basis than did these political systems in the infancy
o. the settlements upon the coasts Of the Atlantic and the
Pacific oceans ...... .-.. q.
The misapprehension or instrumentation which has
revaed respecting the doctrine of those who maintain
that American citizens thrown as waits upon an unoccr-
pea susna nave right IN the absence Of law 70 provide
Tor themselves and have at all times other natural rights
Of which they he deprived without their own con-
sent except by the authority Of the constitution Of the Uni
led States to show thai strong preIudoes have been
stwoF mingng themselves with the nvestis Of this
interesting subject The proposition that citizens
not political slaves and bave rights which Congress neither
gave nor can take away first called squser sovereign
yWW way OF dorison and Jet receives the appela-
uon bat now in sober earnest and il with the pur-
pose certainly with the effect ofidentifyng the name with
absurd or dangerous doctrines heard 1t sad here after
the imposition Of this osbrqua that squatter sovereignty
was claim to divest Congress of its rights the public
and Six years have passed away and such pretenson
has been advanced and he who should seriously advocate
would hardly need the certificate OF physician prove
bis qualification for madhOuse
This principle Of selfgoyernmeut Ia confounded with
e'oution and IT is charged with making that extraord
| remedy an ordinary legal right. Sir true believer
the doctrine that American citizens possess rights In the
horles includes IN that proposition the right Of
uhon That extraordinary resource against oppres-
son. belonging TO all political communities and to be re-
Cea 10 by each AT ts discretion and upon its RESPONSE
rs our government s tore6ee not
obaoie scarcely possible even In which this great meas
we o. seideenoe might become necessary and usti6abe
IA territory bavipg passed legally into State should
P ior admission into the Union, and the application
oua DC rejected unles. with the imposition Of conditions
1sHueuTe OF lis true equaiy-such requiston to
'ade slavery, TO do any other not prescribed by
ecohsutuon-a State under these circumstances would
right In the words Of the Declaration Of Independ
S 70 ds'ofVs the political bands whieA lrih an
1VH'f gorernneHt and 10 claim admiance as distinct
member into the family ofnations
seems also to be supposed by many that the advocate
4uset or popAlar sovereignty, assuming the name az
n established oneapd for myself shall not quarrel with
considering the doctrine good that II could survive
Nuch more powerful assault than this baptismal one-ad
s aso .e gh' OF the people Of Territory 10 change
u government NJ their pleasure; and have heard IN
I-,nMned that the recent attempt 10 establish State
ehment ~ hansas must be supported by every advo-
'D 'e S doSuine be would preserve bis own consis-
tny Sir, believe in no such preension I never ad-
aucea or defended H. shall defend IL nov AL
cases have occurred where The measures for the e.
@ % OF State government have had their initia-
were ~. oos legislature yet they originated in and
+, S5 S5uuea oy peculiar circumstances But an attempt
toe government by partial popular Interference
oIl he tnsrmediaon Of Congress or Of the terrific
n,o bnds no support 10 any views have ever pre-
% upon this subject And the dangers attending the
uoo tranquility which must necessery accompany a
euort like that among an excited people divided
~ pnoR me-. are enough TO deter from fnvoring It
! bs!IslG slG tnis is Is my creed upon this subject
T,t peieVe that American citizens have rights In the
5''TS2tles, whether they own land or not
rights are independent Of Congress and neither
'ya y,.n rom nor granted by, that body
for The rp,y ps uGy OF Congress to Organize governments
t"' " tne people TO do IL for themselves IT. 4
sne change from territorial TO STATE government
no DC undertaken without the vote Of the majority
S Authorized BY law 70 be taken for, without
uhory, IL is obvious that the whole transaction be
$50 spontaneous one, which will be supported by lie
only and in which those who are opposed 10 II
oD oS no 10 part and the result therefore, will be indi
vie -