The daily union., 1856-03-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. MILES TAYLOR
or LOUISIANA

! or LOUISIANA,
On the resolution reported by the Committee of Elections
IN the contestedeecon from the Territory of Kan
sas delivered IN The House Of Representatives March
/ l3, 1856
| Mr.. TAYLOR said:
Mr. SPEAKER regret that the rulo Of this House do not
allow sufficient time notice all of the variows topics
that have presented themselves in the Of this discus
son IL would have given me infinite pleasure reply TO
the remarks o the honorable gentleman from New York
Mr. NAKkAASI who addressed the House yesterday in
which lac took occasion to denounoe the administration
good set terms lie spoke Of The acts Of this administration
in manner which seemed 10 fill him with pleasure but
which, II seemed 10 all good citizens should regret
Time however viii permit pay alenon 10 those
remarks 10 yindcate present national adninstr-
ton from the most pnusthable undeserved most
unproyoked and most wanion and unfounded assertions
made by thai gentleman But will ventufe TO say this
before leaving the suhect altogether The policy Of this
administration which has been condemned with such in
temperate heat has commended ITSELF and will con.
hnue 10 commend itself TO the appreciation OF all who
prefer relations OF peace and amity with the other
nations Of the world, when those relations can be
maintained without sacrifice OF national respect or Of
national honor and Of all those who unwilling that
the union of these States should be endangered by the
brded license Of those who have for themselves
which higher than the constitution For my part
believe without the slightest shadow of doubt that the
acts OF this administration win stand out in bold relief
the page OF history and that its conduct Of the diff
cult questions nrusted 10 lis management whether shown
by what it has done by what failed do viii be refer
red to by the patriots Of future times examples wise
activity, OF prudent moderation when the uncons
/
of those with whom the gentleman from New York
Mr.. WAKEMAE is acting viii be regarded by the
curious inquirer extraord dnary displays of that mad
ness 10 which portous Of all communities to be sub
jec whenever political action s stimulated by the leaven
of what misguided fanatics and enthusiasts do not hes
tate to call a religious excitement "a moral agita
| tom
1t would also Mr. Speaker give me pleasure 10 pay At
tenten the various questions which raised yester
day. and particularly to the question as to the character of
the exisng in relation the right of the sitting
delegate from Kansas, which chiefly dwelt by the
honorable gentleman who has just taken his Mr. PuR-
VANCE That gentleman referred 10 this question, and
spoke Of 1T judicial and for the purpose of sup
porting the position which his friends in this House have
taken has attempted draw conclusions the
in which the power of this House TO be exercised in dee
ding the question involved IL the existing contest by refer
TO the decisions of courts deciding upon private rights
Now, Mr. Speaker ore entering the line of srgu
meDt which propose for myself wish 10 say few words
for the purpose Of showing the entire absurdty of the posi-
ton which be and his friends have taken upon that partc-
point The position which they is, that there
is power vested by the constitution in this House in
quire into the validity ohe existing government Of Kan
sas with view to the determination of the right of the
sitting delegate to his seat this oo and to decide that
question for itself and independently OF all The other
dnAte departments of the government.
Mr. Speaker what would be the result if that position
were correct What would he the CONSEQUENCES the ex
ercse Of the power claimed he part of this House for
itself and without the concurrence Of the other depart
of the government2 There two horses Of Con-
gres If this House has The power decide that question
for tst the oGss mght decide that the existing terrific
rial governmsp. in Kansas valid government and
admit the person claiming 10 be the delegate o The people
OF that Territory TO his seat aud should then have
within the limits of this hall delegate representing the
Territory Of Kansas But al the other end Of the Capitol
there is another body which possesses the oonstt
tonal power and upon the principle which these gentle
assert that body could also inquire into and determine
for itself upon the validity OF the proceedings Of that portion
OF the people the soil Of Kansas who have fraued
stuton, and declared that they constitute inde
pendent political community which clothed with a the
rights Of sovereign State. Well sir, II the individuals
elected to the gature ceaied by pretended oous
traftar in ~
suutOn purpOris to put in em 10 elect senators 10 rep
them in the Congress Of the United States the per
sons elected might present heuiseTes the other end Of
the Capitol and that house exercising the eonsttu
oHal power mil decide that the pretended State gov
ernment valid one, and that those persons
rghtgy elected srnapTs from The State Of Kansas and
thus would strange Epectacle be presented Powers eI-
presy conferred upon each branch Og the national leg
iature BY the constitution would have been righGlly
ercised by each In such that IL would be cons
tutonAy decided that two distinct separate and conflict
ing governments rghtully existed the time
the Territory In this department Of government
kansas would be recognised Territory, and in The
other would lie regarded sovereign State. Now sub
nit It 10 sontemen- submit IL 10 this House. submt il
to all Of intelligence and common sense-ean any prin
cple which when carried Uu, may lead 10 such cUnse
uuenoos be correctY
II seems TO me- Mr. Speakor that this view of The case
must be decisive to the mind Of every who free from
biasw ho looks upon questions presented 10 this House
with single eye their proper decision for IL Ia self
evident that the power claimed for the House In sepa
rate capacity only involves the possible Of
absurdte IN the practical exercise Of IT, independently Of
he Other branch Of the national egsaturs and Of the
onsl executive but that thsre might contingencies
which II insisted by the HoUss it might only i'm
pede the regular action Of the government but perhaps
arrest IL altogether
Bot sir IL IL easy show the impropriety Of granting
the power asked for by the Committee Of Elections other
grounds and with ihe view Of doing So viii rccur 20
the question really before the House shah not attempt
discussion Of general topics shall not attempt 10 look
into the thousands and hundreds Of thousands cases con-
tanned the volumes Of Judicial reports which have been
may be cited the other side in support VI their posi-
ton There may, and probably do, Illustrate vari-
ous principles which involved 10 u contests with
respect 10 private rights in courts Of justice but have
no application whatever TO the question before
That question is political question: and II 10 this Shall
the resouuon offered BY The Committee Of Elections that
they power send for persons and papers with view
TO the investigation u The Kansas election casesha that
resolution be adopted and the power asked FOR be granted
The question involved IN The adoption Of that resolution s
shall the Committee Of Elections take testimony In relation
n what ranspred in the Territory Of Kansas prior 10 the
passage q The election laws ~ that Territory under which
the election Of delegate Represent that Territory here
bodun In March of last year for the purpose Of resov
ing the questions which properly arise In relaon TO the
right OF The sitting delegate to q seat upon this foor.
By referepce The report Of the committee which &C
companies the resolution Il viii be discovered that the
which the sitting member claims his seat and Is NJ
and void, two distinct and different grounds Ope D.
that he law under which be claims 10 have been elected Is
invalid the other ia that there illegal votes given
in The election holden under the authority Of that law
In respect the first proposition, IL is contended by
Che contestant that the legislative act s invalid hrs be
the persons assuming 70 act ss members Of The COM
Gil and house of Representatives. constituting e legisla-
tive assembly creaed By the tWenysecopd section OF the