The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-29

freSluenJ proclalmS Cnat he shall exert Ine
whole power of the Federal Executive to sup
port the Usurpation in Kansas. The parallel is
complete. The Message, if not copied from the
| Speech of the King, has been fashioned on the
| same original block, and must be dismissed to
the same limbo | dismiss its tyrannical assump-
tons in favor of the Usurpation. dismiss also
| its petition for additional appropriations in the
| affected desire to maintain order in Kansas. 1t
| is not money or troops that you need there; but
simply the good will of the President. That is
ALL absolutely. Let his completely with the Crime
cease, and peace will be restored For myself, |
will not consent to wad the National artillery
with fresh appropriation bills, when its murder
Gus hail is to be directed against the constitu-
tional rights of my fellow citizens
Next comes the Remedy of Folly, which, indeed,
is also Remedy of Tyranny but its Folly is so
surprising as to eclipse even its Tyranny. 1t
does not proceed from the President. With this
proposition he is not in any way chargeable. 1t
comes from the Senator from South Carolina,
who, at the close of long speech, offered it as
his single contribution to the adjustment of this
question, and who thus far stands alone in its
support. 1t might therefore, fifty bear his name
but that which l now give to it is more sug-
gestive synonym.
This proposition, markedly expressed, is that
| the people of Kansas should be deprived of their
arms. That may not do the least injustice to
the Senator, quote his precise words:
The President OF the United States is under the high
and most solemn obligations TO inerpose and i'll were
10 indicate the manner in which he should in,erpose in
Kansas. would point out the old common law process
would warrant Shapes rifles and il Shapes
rides did NOT answer the summons and come into court
Oh day certain, if they resisted the sheriff. would
the posse cOnaita, aud would have Colonel Sum
ner's regiment TO be part of that posse coDattss"
Really, sir, has it come to this? The rife has
ever been the companion of the pioneer, and,
| under God, his tutelary protector against the
red man and the beast of the forest, Never was
this efficient weapon more needed in just sef-de-'
fence than now in Kansas, and at least one arti-
Gle in our National Constitution must be blotted
out, before the complete right to it can in any
way be impeached. And yet such is the mad
ness of the hour, that, in defiance of the solemn
guaranty, embodied in the Amendments to the
Constitution, that the right of the people to
keep and bear arms shall not be infringed," the
people of Kansas have been arraigned for keep
ing and bearing them, and the Senator from
South Carolina has had the face to say openly,
on this floor, that they should be disarmed-of
course, that the fanatics of Slavery, his allies
and constituents, may meet no impeachment. Sir
the Senator is venerable with years he is re-
puted also to have worn at home, in the State
which he represents, judicial honOrs and he is
placed here at the head of an important Commit
tee occupied particularly with questions of law ;
but neither his years. nor his position, past or
present, can give responsibility to the demand he
has made, or save him from indignant condemna-
ton, when, to compass the wretched purposes of
a wretched cause, he thus proposes to trample
on one of the planest provisions of constitution
al liberty.
Next comes the Remedy of Injustice and CioiI
War-organized by Act of Congress. This prop
osition which is also an offshoot OF the original
a1r Of TYR from no Spnq ar
from Illinois, Mr.. DOUGLAS, with the sanction
of the Committee on Territories and is embodied
in the Bill which is now pressed to vote.
BY this Bill it is proposed, as follows:
"That whenever it shall appear by to be ia
ken under the direction of the Governor by the authority
Of the Legislature that there shall be 93 20 inhabitants
that being the number required by the present ratio Of
representation for member Of Congrcssl within the linn
legislature Of said Territory shall be aud rs herby
thorized prorid by ta'U for the election Of delegates, by
and form Constitution and State Government prepare
10 their admission into the Union on an equal lootng
with the original States III all respects whatsoever by the
name of the State of Kansas"
Now sir, consider these words carefully, and
You will see that however plausible and velvet
paved they may seem, yet in reality they are
most unjust and cruel. While affecting to mi
tiate honest proceedings for the formation of a
State, they furnish to this Territory no redress
for the Crime under which it suffers nay, they
recognise the very Usurpation, in which the
Crime ended, and proceed to endow it with new
prerogatives. 1t is by the authority Of the Legisla-
tire that the census is to be taken, which is the
first step in the work. 1t is also by tie authority
of the Legislature that Convention is to be call
ed for the formation Of u Constitution which is
the second step. But the Legislature is not
obliged to take either of these steps. TO its alb
solute wifulness is it left to act not to act in
the premises. And since, in the ordinary course
of business, there can be no action of the Legs-
ture till January of the next year, all these
steps, which are preliminary in their character,
. are postponed till after that distant day-thus
keeping this great question open, to distract and
irritate the country. Clearly this is not what is
required. The country desires peace at once and
is determined to have it. But this objection is
slight by the side of the glaring Tyranny, that,
in recognising the Legislature, and comforting
upon it these powers, the Bill recognises the
existing Usurpation, not only as the authentic
Government of the Territory for the time being,
but also possessing creative power to repro
duce itself in the new State. Pass this Bill, and
you enlist Congress in the conspiracy, not only
to keep the people of Kansas in their presen
subjugation, throughout their Territorial exist
ence, but also TO protract this subjugatiOn into
their existence as State, while you legalize and
perpetuate the very force by which Slavery has
been already planted there
| know that there is another deceptive clause,
which seems to throw certain safeguards around
the election of delegates to the Convention, shen
that Convention shall be ordered Ly the legislatures
but cut of this very clause do draw a condem-
nation of the Usurpation which the Bill recog-
Misses. 1t provides that the tests, coupled with
the electoral franchise, shall not prevail in the
election of delegates, and thus implicitly con-
dennis them. But if they are not TO prevail on
this occasion, why they permitted at the cleo
ton of the Legislature? If they unjust in the
one case, they unjust in the other. If annul-
led at the election of delegates they should be
nulled at the election of the Legislature acheeas
tie Bill Of the Senator leaues all these offensive tests
an full actiuiy at the election of the rery Legislature
out Of which this ,ohole proceedig IS 10 come, and it
leaves the polls at both elections in the control
of the officers appointed by the Usurpation.
Consider well the facts. By an existing statute,
establishing the Fugitive Slave Bill as shib-
holeth, large portion of the honest citizens are
excluded from voting for the Legislature, while, by
another statute, all who present themselves with
fee of one dollar, whether from Missouri or not,
and who utter this shibholeth, are entitled to
vote. And it is Legislature thus chosen, under
~ auspices of officers appointed by the Usurpa-
ton, that you now propose to invest with parental
powers to rear the Territory into State You
recognise and confirm the Usurpation, which you
ought to annul without delay. You put the in
FAINT State, now preparing to take place in our
sisterhood to suckle with the wolf, which you
ought at once to kill. The improbable story of
Baron Miinchausen is verified. The bear, which
thrust itself into the harness of the horse it
had devogred, and then whirled tine sledge &C
cOrding to brutal bent, Is recognised by this
bill, and kept in its lusurped place, when the
safety of all requires that it should be shot
In characterizing this Bill as the Remedy of
| Injustice and Civil War, give it plain, self
evident title. 1t is continuation of the Crime