The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-17

Congress, expressed freely and fully all my
opinions on the subject. The record is there,
and to it l refer the gentlemen for information.
| Let the record speak. have adopted the max
| i'm of Junius, that it is an unfortunate waste of
| time for man to spend any considerable por
| ton of his life in commentaries on his own
works. Laughter.
/ come now to speak to the interrogatory in
reference to the equality Of the white and black
races.
Mr.. Barksdale. Take the next one before
| that.
Mr.. Banks. Please allow me to speak to
| the Undergraduates in my own order.
| have to say, in this matter, that | accept
| the doctrine of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, that all men are created equal. In re-
| gard to the superiority of races, | am impress
ed with the conviction that it is to be determin-
ed only by capacity for endurance. So far as |
have studied the subject, it seems to me to be
the universal law, that the weaker is always
absorbed and disappears in the stronger race.
| Whether the black race of this continent, or
any other part Of the world, is equal to the
white race, can only be determined by the alb
| sorption and disappearance of one or the other;
and propose to wait until the respective races
can be properly subjected to this philosophical
test, before | give decisive answer. Roars of
laughter.
| AS the other question is the key to the poll
tics of the country, l will now give it my atten-
| ton.
| care you in favor of restoring the Missouri
restriction; or do you go for the entire prohi-
bition of Slavery in all the Territories of the
United States?"
| The Territorial question of this day refers to
the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska. |
leave the Territories which are to come hereaf-
ter to the hereafter; but / say, at the same
time, that am In favor of the prohibition of
Slavery in Kansas and Nebraska. Then, in
regard to the first clause of the interrogatory-
are you in favor of restoring the Missouri re-
strction ?-l have to say that desire that the
prohibition made by Southern men and South
ern States-the inhibition of the institution of
Slavery IN the Territories of Kansas and Ne
braska-shall be made good to the people of
the country. | care not in what manner it
shall be done-whether there he a restoration
of the technical and arbitrary line, or by some
other methods, or appliances or principles,
there shall be made good to the people of the
United States the prohibition for which the
Southern States contracted and received a con-
sideration. / am for the substantial restoration
of the prohibition as it has existed since 1920.
Here are several questions in regard to Sla-
very in the District of Columbia, and the mod
ifcation of the tariff laws as they now exist
stand here ready and DESTROYS and determined
to cooperate with the men of the United States
who are for the substantial restoration of the
prohibition Of the institution of Slavery in the
Territories Of Kansas and Nebraska. / am
ready to act with men of any party and of any
views for the accomplishment of this great end
| shall ask no man with whom | shall co-ope-
rate in this matter, what he thinks of the aboi-
ton of Slavery in the District of Columbia, or
what he thinks, or shall do, on the tariff CUES
ton.
In my view of the politics Of this country,
these questions are not in issue; and, sir, mas
much as propose TO ask no opinions of those
with whom L cooperate upon such questions,
apart from the great political issues of this
coming year, so, sir, I say, that / have no opn-
ions myself to pronounce. That, Mr.. Clerk, is
my answer.
Mr.. Fuller, of Pennsylvania, remarked that
as he was laboring under severe indisposition,
he could not pretend to any eloquence on the
present occasion. He would, therefore, answer
the first question, care you in favor of restor-
ing the Missouri restriction, or do you 90 for
the entire prohibition of Slavery in all the Ter
ritories of the United States ?" | am not. To
the second, "Are you in favor Of abolshing
Slavery in the District Of Columbia, in the
United States forts, dock-yards, &C. ?" | am
not. To the third, Do you believe in the
equality OF the white and black races in the
United States, and wish to promote that equaIi-
ty by legislation?" do not
AS to being in favor of the entire exclusion
OF adopted citizens and Roman Catholics from
office, he thought, with Gen. Washington, that
it would comport best with the policy of this
country to appoint native-born citizens, in pref.
erence to those Of foreign birth. Applause
in the galleries. He would prescribe no man
because of his religion and would denounce no
man because of his politics, but would accord
to all the largest liberty of opinion and of ex-
preston, of conscience and of worship. He
cared not what religion man might profess.
nor to what denomination he might belong. Be
he Mahomedan, Jew, or Gentle, he would ac-
cord to him the right to worship according to
the dictates of his own judgment. AS to
foreign-born citizens, he did not desire to ex-
clude them. He would invite them to come
here and enter upon the public land, to occupy
the public territory, and to build up for them
selves homes, and teach their children to love
the Constitution and laws which protected
them but he would say, that in all matters of
legislation and of administration, Americans
should govern America. Great applause in the
galleries.
There being loud cries of call the roll"
the House proceeded to the one hundred and
eighth ballot, with the following result:
| Mr.. Banks, of Massachusetts 81