The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
AFFAIRS IN KANSAS TERRITORY.
SPEECH Of HON. LYMAN TRUMBULt.
Of llllNbiS.

On the motion print ihryor thousand extra copies OF
the Reports Of the Majority and Minority OF the Com
mtee on Territories, IN reference Affairs Kansas
Mr.. JOHNSON Mr. President ask leave 70 make :,
report The resolution referred to the Committee on,
Printing "Wednesday PRINT sixtv-yvo thousand
copies OF the majority and minority reports OF the Com
miitee on Territories in relation Kansas affairs The
cost Of printing sxiytwo thousand copies as pto-
posed by the Senator rom ONO, Dir. PrGHI will be
S2,2l3 The Committee Printing have authorized rie
10 report in favor OF printing thirty thousand instead
OF sixty hoUsand-itst half tie number Sixty-tyn
thousand would give thousand copies each Senator
but have thought thai five hundred would be sufficient
1t is for The Senate Judge however We report in favor
Of printing thrlyone thousand of hose reports from
the Committee Territories the cost which win be
HOG
The PRESIDENT. The question is on concurring in
the report OF he committee.
Mr. TRUMBULL said Nr. President, cam
not consent, entertaining the views which hold,
that this report shall go before the country without
expressing my dissent. ] am aware, sir, that it
is here accompanied by minority report, which,
in my judgment presents this Kansas question in
a mastery manner. 1t utterly refutes the major
ity report upon the great question at issue but
having been prepared without an opportunity to
examine the majority report it was impossible
that it could meet and expose all its unfounded
assumptions. Had the two reports gone out to-
gether, would have been content but, sir, the
report of the majority has already been placed
before the country, unaccOmpanied by that of the
minority. 1t was sent out in advance of its de-
livery TO the Senate, and has appeared in a news
paper published in the city of New York before il
could be printed in Washington and containing,
in my judgment it does, many unwarranted
assumptions, many Inconsistencies, many false
deductions from admitted premises, and advanc-
ing many erroneous propositions, cannot consent
that it shall now pass from our consideration I'M
noticed, inasmuch as, losing this opportunity We
may not soon have another to express our views
spon it,
In the remarks which have to make have
no idea of putting myself, or the State which
have the honor in part TO represent, in the posi-
ton of defending any such doctrines as the ma
jOrity report seeks, by argument rather than by
direct assertion, to attribute TO those who differ
from its conclusions.
do not intend to justify interference in the
internal affairs of Kansas by the people Of any
portion of the Union, contrary to law, and in vio
laton of the Kansas-Nebraska act. / do not
design to justify either insurrection or treason in
any quarter; nor am | to be frightened from a
statement of what believe TO be the true condi-
ton of things in Kansas by the cry of instruction
and treason where none exist. While opposed
to insurFectonists and traitors, ain equally
opposed to tyrants and usurpers; and would be
ready to assist in putting down the one as the
other.
| deny, sir, that there is occasion to speak Of
any Of the inhabitants of Kansas as traitors to
this Government, or that there is any nsurrec-
ton in that Territory, such has been indicated
in some of the documents which have been sent
TO this body.
In discussing this matter. il is important To
keep in view the distinction between State and
~ oh - a. -, a.
report before us of the Injustice OF State inter
fering in the domestic affairs OF anOther-mueh
about the improperly of attempting To impose
inequality any of the States. Is there any
man in this land who thought that the citi-
zens of one State had right to interfere with the
domestic institutions of any other State, or is
there one no denies that the States of this Union
are entitled to equal rights Is that the position
of those who have opposed the measure which
has caused the present agitation, and is threaten
ing us with civil war?
Sir, the people whom | in part represent enter
tain no such views. The people of the State of
Illinois, permit me to say, are loyal to this Union
to the Constitution and all provisions of the Con-
stitution; and when they condemned the depart
ure from the measures of 1850 by the repeal of
the Missouri Compromise, and the opening afresh
of this dangerous Slavery question-whieh TO use
the language of the distinguished Senator from
Michigan, Mr.. CAss, is the only question which
can ever put to hazard our Union and safety
they had not the romotest idea of interfering with
the domestic institutions of the States. Why, L
ask Is 1t eternay thrust in the faces of those who
oppose the extension Of Slavery into free territory
that they want to produce inequality among
the States2 Whether Slavery shall Re permitted
to extend into Territories belonging to the United
States from which it was excluded by acts of
Congress for more than a generation, is quite
another thing from going into the States, and in
terfering with the institution there. Persons who
were opposed TO the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise, and who are now opposed TO the spread
of Slavery to the Territory it lie Free are not
Abolitonists though they may be falsely so called
The expression {" abolitionize appears in this
report, is sometimes used in this Chamber as also
the epithet " Black Republican but trust that
neither Senators nor the people are to be driven
from just consideration of public measures by
the fear of mourning some opprobrious epithet.
applied to them by those who have no other arpu-
ment to offer. The veriest simpleton in YOUR
streets may cry out f" Black Republican" or I" Alb
ohtionist" | do not design applying offensive
names to the people of any part OF this country.
nor is 1t my intention to say anything offensive
to any gentleman upon this floor, or TO advocate
any other doctrines than those which have been
handed down to us by the Democratic fathers Of
the Republic. My position on the subject OF
Slavery is the one occupied by sl parties, hut q