The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-31
THE DISPOSITION OF THE KANSAS MESSAGE
IN THE SENATE.


IN THE SENATE.
The abominable message of the President
in relation to Kansas, produced quite sensa
ton in the Senate; but, as the members of that
body seem determined, for a time, to reserve
their fire on the Slavery question, the document
was soon disposed of.
Mr.. Seward took occasion to explain his
course of action. Speaking of the closing part
of the annual message, he said
at seemed to me ll-timed. 1t set forth
principles and doctrines which seemed to me
heretical-which seemed to me wanting in all
the elements of craftsmanship. But while this
was the peroration of the message, its exordium
was occupied with laying before Congress infor-
nation about the critical state of our relations
with foreign Power-the greatest, the most
grasping, and the most rapacious in the world
1t was made a question, in the Senate, whether
those who differed from the President in regard
to the matters discussed in the conclusion of
the message, would sustain the nation in the at
titude which the President of the United States
had given it in regard to its foreign relations.
To the end that, so far as one so humble as
myself was concerned, there might be no diff
Guilty about that question, l distinctly stated
that should forego any remark upon all the
other matters contained in the message and L
gave my distinct assurance to the Administra-
ton and to the country, that to the best of my
judgment, and knowledge, and ability, should
sustain the Government in the position it had
assumed in regard to its foreign relations. We
have just now postponed that great question
until Monday. 1t needs all the harmony, as it
needs all the wisdom, and | fear will need all
the frmness, of the Senate to meet that ques-
ton. L am ready trust others will be-to
show the country, Great Britain, and the world,
that if we have differences among ourselves,
about domestic questions, we are still united,
harmonious people, in regard to those which
concern other nations.
I" will now forbear, under these considera-
tons, on the same ground, if such shall be the
pleasure OF the Senate, to speak one word, | do
not say of complaint will not use so strong
a term-one word of dissent, shall / say, from
what has been alleged in the message we have
Just received, concerning domestic subject,
differing, as every one knows how much it does,
entertain, and which are entertained by por-
ton, l will not say how large, of this House,
and of the other House of Congress.
81 trust that it will be the pleasure of the
friends of the Administration to let that mes
sage either lie upon the table or pass at once,
as shall be their choice, to the Committee on
Territories, to receive their consideration say
ing for myself, however, that when the time
shall come for action upon this question, in the
opinion of majority of my peers here, land it
is for them to say whether it shall interfere with
foreign questions or not, then | will endeavor
to make good an opposition to the policy, to
the principles and to the sentiments which are
contained in the message which has been this
day laid before the Senate, at time and under
circumstances so inauspicious to its considera-
tion."
Mr.. Clayton, of omnibus memory, suggested
that it would be good plan to send the special
message to a special committee of thirteen
Mr.. Clay's old omnibus committee over again.
Mr.. Mason insisted on having it handed over to
the Committee on the Judiciary, of which he is
Chairman, and on which the Anti Nebraska
Party has not single representative. 1t was
remarked by Mr.. Wilson, that as the Commit
tee on Territories, by an extraordinary act of
magnanimity, has one man upon it, represent
ing the views of the minority, he preferred that
the message should be referred to it. He took
OCCASION, at the same time, to express his views
very briefly of the message.
This message relates to the people of Kan
sas, who are endeavoring to protect themselves;
who have adopted the only practicable mode in
their power to protect their lives, their liberties,
and their property, against armed invaders. 1t
refers to their acts as revolutionary. Sir, their
position is an extraordinary one, but | do not
believe that there is anything in their action of
a revolutionary purpose or a rebellious charac-
ter. Extraordinary as is the position of that
people before the country, they have been driven
to 1T by outrages unparalleled in the history of
this country or of the civilized world; and in
the spirit of freemen, in the spirit of men capa-
BILE of maintaining their rights, they have ac-
cepted the doctrine of squatter sovereignty in
Its broadcast sense, and organized State Gov
eminent to protect them against armed inva-
siOns from Missouri, and the acts of an incom.
petent and treacherous Executive, pledged TO
execute, at the point of the bayonet, the inhu-
man enactments of a Legislature forced upon
the actual settlers of that Territory by armed
invaders, under the lead Of a man who once
presided over the Senate"
The message was at last referred to the Com.
mittee on Territories, and we may have re-
port by and by, after we have demonstrated
that Mr. Clayton was wide awake, and in the
full possession of all his faculties, when he
made a treaty, putting this country in bonds
binding it not to colonize in any part of Cen
tral America.