Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-05-24
MORNING, MAY "a 1856

cause, early espoused by Washington, Frank
lin, and Jefferson, surrounded by the best fa-
theirs of the Republic. Sir, IL was a swindle
of God given, inalienable Rights. Turn it
over; look at it on all Sides and it is every
where swindle; and if the word I now EN-
| ploy has not the authority of classical usage,
1t has, on this occasion. the indubitable au-
thority of fitness. No other word will ade-
| quately express the mingled meanness and
wickedness of the cheat
Its character was still further apparent in
the general structure of the bill. Amidst
overlooking professions of regard for the SOW
! erelgnty of the people in the Tertitor they
were despoiled of every essential privilege of
sovereignty. They were not allowed to choose
their Governor, Secretary, Chief Justice, As
sociate Justices, Attorney, or Marshal-all of
whom are sent from Washington nor were
they allowed to regulate the salaries of any
OF these tunctionaries, or the daily allowance
OF the legislative body, or even the pay of the
clerks and doorkeepers; but they were left
tree 10 adopt slavery. And this was called
| Popular Sovereignty Time does not allow,
nor does the occasion require. that 1 should
stop to dwell on this transparent device to
| cover a transcendent wrong. Suffice it to say
that Slavery is in itself an arrogant denial of
Human Rights, and by no human reason can
the power to establish such wrong be placed
among the attributes or any Just sovereignty.
In refusing it such ace, do not deny pop.
ular rights, but uphold them I do not re.
strain popular rights, but extend them.
And, Sir, to this conclusion you must vet
come, unless deaf, not only to the admoni-
tons OF political justice, but also to the ge-
mus OF our own Constitution, under which,
when properly interpreted, no valid claim
Tor Slavery can be set up anywhere in the Ma
tlonal Territory. The Senator from Michi-
gan (Mr. Cass,) may say. in response 10 the
Senator from Mississippi, CHR. Brown,O that
SLAYER cannot go into the Territory under
the Constitution, without legislative introduce
ton; and permit me to add, in response to
both, that Slavery cannot go there at ALL
Notht"g can come ont Of nothing; and there
Is absolutely nothing in the constitution out
of which Slavery can be derived, while there
are provisions, which, when properly inter
preted, makes its existence anywhere within
the exclusive National jurisdiction impossible.
The offensive provision in the bill was in
Its form legislative anomaly, utterly want
ing the natural directness and simplicity of
an honest transaction. 1t did not undertake
openly to repeal the old Prohibition of Slave
ry, but seemed to mince the matter, as if con-
scious of the swindle. 1t is SAID that this
Prohibition, g being inconsistent with the
PrlnclpIe OF non-lnterventlon by Congress
with Slavery in the States and Territories, as
recognised by the legislation of 1850, com.
monty called the Compromise Measures, ia
hereby declared inopeiati and void" Thus.
with lnsidious ostentation, was it pretended
that an act, violating the greatest compro.
mise OF our legislative history, and setting
loose the foundations of all compromise, was
derived out OF compromise. Then followed
III the bill the further declaration, which is
entirely without precedent, and which has
been aptly called " a stump speech in its
belly" namely sit being the true intent
and meaning of this act, not to legislate slave
ry into any Territory or State, nor to exclude
1t therefr0m, but to leave the people thereof
perfectly free to form andsregulate their do
nestle institutions in their own way, subject
only to the Constitution of the United
States"
Here were smooth words, such as belong to
eS''a'.'ils tongue enlisted in bad cause
But, whatever may have been their various
hidden meanings, this at least was evident
that, by their effect, the Congressional Pho
hloltion of Slavery, which had always been
regarded as seven fold shield, covering the
whole Louisiana Territory, north of SO deg.
80 mln., was now removed, while a principle
was declared, which would render the supple
mentary Prohibition of Slavery in Minnesota,
Oregon, and Washington, imperative and
void, and thus open to slavery all these vast
regions, now the rude cradles of mighty
States. Here you see the magnitude of The
mischief contemplated. But my purpose
now Is with the Crime against Kanzas, and
l shall not stop to expose the conspiracy
beyond.
MI. PRESIDENT, men are wisely presumed to
intend the natural consequences of their con-
duct, and to seek what their acts Sc EN- 10 pro.
mote. Now, the Nebraska Bill on its very
face, openly cleared the way for Slavery, and
1t is not wrong to presume that its originators
intended the natural consequences of such
an act, and sought in this way to extend
Slavery. OF course, they do. And this is
the first stage IN the Crime against Kansas.
But this was speedily followed by other de-
velopements. The baretaced scheme was
soon whispered, that Kansas must be Slave
State. In Conformity with this idea was the
Government Of this unhappy Territory or
ganized in all its departments and thus did
the President, by whose completely the Pro-
hibition of Slavery, had been overthrown,
lend himself to mplcity-giving to the
conspirators lease of counivance, amounting
even to copartnership. The Governor, Sec
rotary, Chief Justice, Associate Justices, At
torney, and Marshal, with whole caucus
OF other stipendares, nominated by the Pres
ident and confirmed by the Senate, were all
commended as friendly to Slavery. No man
with the sentiments of Washington, or Jeffer-
son, or Franklin, found any favor nor is it
too much to say, that, had these great patri-
OTIS once more come among US, not one Of
them, with his recorded unretracted opinions
ON Slavery, could have been nominated by the
President, for any post in that Territory.
With such auspices the cons piracy proceed
ed. Even in advance of the Nebraska Bill,
secret societies were organised in Missouri,
ostensibly to protect her institutions, and af.
forwards, under the name of Z" Self Defen.
sive Associations, and of Z. Blue Lodges"
these we're multiplied throughout the western
counties of that State, before any counter.
increment from, the North. 1t was confident
ly anticipated, that, by the activity Of these
societies, and tie interest OF shareholders ev-
erywhere, with the advantage derived from
the nelghborhood of Missouri, and the inhu-
ence Of the Territorial Government, Slavery
might be introduced int Kansas, quietly but
surely, without arousing conflict that the
egg might be stealthily dropped in the sun
burnt soil, there to be Matched unobserved
until it sent forth its reptile monster.
But the conspiracy was unexpectedly balk-
ed. The debate. which cOnvulsed Congress,
had stirred the whole country. Attention
from all sides was directed upon Kansas,
which at once became thefavorite goal Of EN-
igration. The bill had loudly declared that
its object " was to leave the people perfectly
free to form and regulate their domestic insti-
buttons in their own way;" andits supporters
avarv a. here chalian0ad tim determination of