Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-14

Inc loHOWnS are tne ailSWeTS Ol McSsfs-
Richardson, Fuller, and Banks, to the interrog-
atories propounded by Mr.. Zollicoffer:
POSITION OF Mr.. RICHARDSON.
Mr. Richardson. / voted for the bills organic
ing the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas, be-
cause | thought them just to all, and defended
that vote before my constituents upon that ground
intended then, and intend now, that the people
who go there, or who have gone there, shall de-
eide the question of slavery for themselves; and
| so far as | could, admit them as States with or
without slavery, as the people should decide. In
common with Northern and Southern gentlemen, l
have said that, in my opinion, slavery would never
go there; but have never, here or elsewhere,
urged that as reason why | voted for that bill i
voted for the bill because it was just, right, and
proper, and wanted nothing more to defend my
| SELF Ifa majority of the people of Kansas or Ne
braska are in favor of slavery, they viii have it, if
majority are opposed to it, then they win not
have it. This is the practical result of every the
DRY advocated by the friends of the Nebraska and
Kansas bill. II is principle lying at the founda-
ton of all popular governments that the people of
each separate or distinct community shall decide
for themselves the nature and character of the in.
situations under which they shall live, and by this
| principle am prepared to live and die | there
fore voted for the Nebraska and Kansas bill neither
as pro-slavery nor anti-savery measure, but as
measure Of equal right and justice to the people Of
all sections Of our common country
Mr.. Richardson, in reply to the second question,
laid In 1903 we acquired Louisiana; it was a
slave territory. In 1920 we divided, by line of 36
deg. 80 min. that territory; north of the line it
was to be free. In ls45 we annexed Texas that
was slave territory; we divided that by extending
the line of S6 deg. 30 min. through that north to
be free. In l848 we acquired territory from Mex
leo; that was free. | voted repeatedly to extend
the same line west to the Pacific ocean. voted
for that line with few representatives from the
North, and the whole body Of Southern represent
atves. When gave those votes did not believe
then nor do / believe now, that violated the
Constitution Of the United States IL you have
power under the constitution 10 exclude slavery
from half Of a territory, think you have the pow
er TO exclude from all, though such an exercise
would be unjust and wrong. | have never, there
FORE voted to exercise that power except upon the
principle of compromise. uniformly voted against
placing the Wilmot proviso in any territorial bill
voted against it because / believed il to be I'M
just TO the people of portion of this Union.
Mr.. r. continued. The constitution does not
in my opinion carry the institutions Of any Of the
States into the Territories but Il affords the same
protection thore to the institutions of one State as
Of another. The citizen Of Virginia is as much
entitled, In the common territory 70 the protec-
ton Of his property under the constitution rs the
citizen OF Illinois; but both are dependent upon