The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-04-29

SPEECH OF HON. HENRY WALDRoM
sfrE rie OF MICHIGAN. t's 3tti -
In THE HousE OF rREPREsEsTArivEs. April8, 1856.
The House being in the Committee Of the Who'll,
on the state OF the Union. .----

on the state OF the Union.
Mr.. WALDRON said '-
Mr.. CnAIRMAN: Ido not rise for the pur-
pose Of taking part in any discussion, relative
| 10 the right or duty of the General Govern
ment as connected with the institution Of
slavery. The State that have the honor in
part to represent, has made known her senti-
ments on that subject SO clearly and distinct
", TO render any additional testimony neces-
sary in her behalf Her people have, amid
all the changing fortunes Of partisan warfare,
expressed but one opinion and maintained but
one position in vndication of the right of the
General Government to prohibit the exten-
sion of slavery; and do not deem it neces-
sary now to reaffirm, by words, the convictions
that my constituents have so often embodied
in their votes. rs
But occupy the floor for the purpose of
addressing myself to the practical questions
that are now before the House-questions
that concern the interests of my fellow citizens
on the other side of the Missouri--questions
that involve the peace and prosperity of
vast domain; and leave the discussion of
abstract political issues to gentlemen whose
tastes and inclinations run in that direction.
NV business now, as legislator, is with the
residents of Kansas; their troubles and their
trials; their wrongs and their gricveances.-
1t is to these matters that our attention has
been called by variety of official communi-
cations and they constitute legitimate sub
jccts for our consideration. / shall refer briefly
to the origin and nature Of these troubles,
and then cite precedents in our past history,
that Justify the immediate admission of Kan
sas as free State, as their just and apppro-
pirate remedy.
The troubles in the Territory of Kansas
were the subject of an executive communca-
tion to this body before it was organized, or in
a condition to giveit appropriate consideration: /:
and, besides that message, there have been
other communications to this House that dis
close a state of affairs unknown and unparall-
eled in the history and experience Of Terri
tory. 1t is disclosed here, in a memorial
| duly presented and referred, that the residents
of that Territory have been overpowercd by
the citizens Of an adjoining State--that they
have been driven from their polls by violence
that they have been denied their appropri-
ate rights and prvelcgcs-that an invading
force has placed ever them, aud in defiance
Of them, Legislature that is the creature Of
usurpation, and to which they owe no featy.
1t is further charged, that this assembly Of
usurpe,s, chosen by non-residents, has given
the form Of law to enactlnents that conflict
with the Constitution of the Union-enact-
mcnts such us no legislators, who were the
servants Of free people, would pre- ume to
pass, but which arc the appropriate instru-
menis Of men. who seek to oppress Terri
tory, and force upon it institutions, that its
citizens justly abhor
And, as the result of this invasion and
usurpation, we read, in the memorial Of
gentleman who comes here as the agent for
the residents of Kansas, that
'.'rhe viii ofnen has been already almost entirely
substituted for The ! aimiiistra'ion Of Justice
those who have seized upon the legislative power,
tn put in motion any system of law in the admnstra-
! tion or justice. Trespasses, assaults, and murders
are openly committed al no one thinks OF appeal
for redress to the law, because from that
redress can be had" ra
And the same memorial, as. embodied and
indorsed in a report of a standing committee
of this House, alleges
"In word, menace. intimidation and improper
influences, rife in the Territory, especially along
the border; mems rights are held in regord Off
cia authority commands no respect. and seems 10
ofthe country hangs by thread
And now, how arc these questions and
embarassments met by the men who passed
and sanction the act organizing this identical
Territory? And here allow me for moment
to refer to the legislation that preceded the
| passage of that act. Two years ago n solemn
compact was in force that had fixed the char
ter Of that Territory, and defined its institu-
tions. 1t was compact entered into after
deliberate counscls, and under circumstances
that rendered it of more than ordinary obliga-
ton. 1t was compact that came down to
us with many ballowed associations and recol-
lections clustering around and about it, com
mending it alike to the conscience and the
| judgment. 1t was compact that shielded
this Territory from the agitation, the strife,
and the turmoil that are the result of conAic-
ting interests; for it consecrated it TO freedom
and left no contingent hazards as occasion for
discord and commotion. 1t was a compact
between conflicting interests Of freedom and
slavery, in which slavery secured everything
that was at the time of positive and practical
advantage while freedom gained only guar
antee for hcrselfin wilderness that cviliza-
ton had made no attempts to penetrate. 1t
was compact that conceded but little to the
II
side of freedom-and only conceded that little
for a consideration, that was costly equiya-
lent in return. Freedom paid dearly and
doubly for all the rights she acquired under
that compromise, but she abided by the terms
Of the bond--slavery taking the consid-
Grafton and enjoying it; and it. on the
cousummation of this compromise, in 1920
any northern man had prophcsicd, th { the
slaveholdng interest would, in time, repu-
datc this compromise and .tramplc upon this
compact, he would havebeen denounced as
yilifer Of the fair fame and chivalrous reputa-
ton Of q section, that assumes for itself a
sense Of honor and rpropriety, incompatible |
with an unjust and dishonorablc act. p
But before single generation has passed
away, while many ofthc makers Of that COM
promise are still on the stage Of action, the
compact is violated and the seal torn from the |