Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-08-27
Exciting Debate ON kansas Affairs in


the House.
An interesting and spirited debate occurred
in the House on the lSth on the Army bill, in
which number of distinguished gentlemen par
ticipated. Mr.. CUMBAcK, of Indiana, made few
very telling remarks which we find reported as
follows:
Enough has transpired in this debate to-day
to let us know that the President of the United
States has suddenly become awakened on this
subject, but not until those gallant men, who
dared to maintain their rights, and defend the
cause of Freedom, and resist usurpaton and
outrage, have for four long months been con-
fined to prison and with chains, some in tents,
swe.tering under the burning sun, guarded by
soldiers and posse composed of nonresident hire
lings These men, thus confind, subjected to
the taunts and insults ofbltter enemies, deprived
of every comfort, will no doubt be fully consoled
when they learn, that during all this long time,
the President has been looking diligently to their
interest; and the hint is to-day dropped that he
will, at the end, conclude-I know not how soon
that they lave been confined without any
cause whatever. This will not avail him and his
political friends now, while / confess l am re-
joiced to hear these men are to be released Sir,
he knew all these facts before these prosecutions
were commenced. Yea more; he melted and
brought about these prosecutions by his special
message of the oath of Jannary on Kansas af-
fairs, where he takes the express ground that
the attempt to organize the Government in Kan
under the Free State Constitution made at
Topeka, would be 'sTREAsoNABLE INsURREcrIoN,"
and would be treated accordingly by the Execu-
tive. For that message, and for that position
thus assumed by him, and afterwards embodied
in proclamations, he has received the congratu-
lations and hearty commentators of his polit-
cal friend on this floor and throughout the coun-
try. What change has come over his spirit that
thus induces him to take the back track, and
overturn his monstrOus doctrines contanedin his
own official paper? What meant tho high sound
ing words but few months ago uttered in the
other end of the Capitol by the leader of the Ad-
ministraton party that its policy would be to re-
quirc submission to the laws and constituted au-
thorities in Kansas, to reduce to su5jectios. those
acho resisted them, and to punish REBELLION AND
TREAsoN?" What, Sir, has so suddenly brought
this party, that talked so vauntingly of "subiu-
cation" to sudden halt? Sir, the question sug-
gests the answer. 1t is the scathing indignation
that is borne to us on every breeze from all Sec
tions OF the outraged, but not yet subjected,
North that has done this, and l am glad that it
will do the work and relieve these men. At this
point the amendment of the gentleman from Vir-
ginia Mr.. Smith) is unfortunate. What does it
mean . We are about to stop supplies for that
Territory until these prosecutions are dismissed
Yet the gentleman from Virginia wishes to pro-
| vide that nothing in our proceedings shall be SO
construed as to prevent future prosecutions. ]
| regard this as significant, when taken in connec.
ton with the hints that have been dropped, that
the President intends to dismiss these cases
whether these amendments prevail or not. Sir,
it reminds me of the man who,I when about to
| die, remembered that he had long standing
difficulty with his neighbor, and had him calIed
to his bed to make peace with him. The neigh
Dor came and was forgiven, but as the neighbol
started out of the door to leave his sick friend
he was called back and the sick man says: .sSet
here, neighbor, if l die this arrangement is tt
stand, but if ! get well, matters are to stand a.
they did before Laughter.] So with tn,
President aud the Democratic party in their dy
ing condition. They propose to make peac,
with the people by dismissing these prosecu
tons at this late day, but the amendment of tn,
gentleman from Virginia plainly says that if the,
survive November, and elect their candidate 70
the Presidency, this dying arrangement is to b
null and void, but if they die at that time it is t
stand. Laughter. On these conditions thin
the dismissals viii be permanent (Applanse.)