The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-29

forth their sons, covered over with prayers and
blessings, to combat for Human Rights, did moth
ing OF self-sacriice truer than did these women on
this occasion. Were the whole history OF South
Carolina blotted out of existence, from its very
beginning down to the day of the last election OF
the Senator TO his present seat this floor, civ
ilization might lose-I do not say how little
but surely less than it has already gained by
the example of Kansas in its valiant struggle
against oppression, and in the development OF a
new science of emigration. Already In Law
renee alone there are newspapers and schools,
including High School, and throughout this in
FAINT Territory there is more of mature scholarship
in proportion to its inhabitants than in all South
Carolina All, sir, tell the Senator that Kansas,
welcomed Free State, will be "ministering
angel" to the Republic when South Carolina, in
the cloak of darkness which she hugs, 81 lies
howlingy
The Senator from Illinois Mr.. DOUGLAS nat
urally joins the Senator from South Carolina in
this warfare, and gives to it the superior intensi
ty of his nature He thinks that the National
Government has not completely proved its power,
as it has never hanged traitor; but, if the Oc-
casion requires he hopes there will be no hest
tation and this threat is directed at Kansas, and
even at the friends of Kansas throughout the
country. Again occurs the parallel with the
struggles of our Fathers, and borrow the Ian
guage of Patrick Henry, when, to the cry from
the Senator, of treason" "treason," reply " il
this be treason, make the most of it." Sir, it is
easy to call names but beg to tell the Senator
that if the word "traitor" is in any way applica-
bic to those who refuse submission TO a tyran-
nical Usurpation, whether in Kansas or else
where, then must some new word, of deeper
color, be invented, to designate those mad spirits
who would endanger and degrade the Republic,
while they betray all the cherished sentiments of
the Fathers and the spirit of the Constitution,
in order to give new spread to Slavery. Let the
Senator proceed. 1t will not be the first time in
history, that scaffod erected for punishment
has become a pedestal of honor Out of death
comes life, and the "traitor" whom he blindly
executes will live immortal in the cause.
For Humanity sweeps onward; where to-day the martyr
stauds.
On tae crouches Judas, with the silver in his
hands;
While the hootng mob yesterday silent awe return
TO CLEAN the scattered ashes into History golden
Among these hostile Senators, there is vet an
other, with all the prejudices of the Senator from
South Carolina but without his generous impulses,
who, on account of his character before the coun-
try and the of his opposition deserves to be
named. ! mean the Senator from Virginia, mir.
MASON, who, as the author of the Fugitive Slave
Bill, has associated himself with special act of
inhumanity and tyranny. Of him shall say lit
tie, for he has said little in this debate though
within that little was compressed the bitterness
of a life absorbed in the support of Slavery. He
holds the commission of Virginia; but he does
not represent that early Virginia, so dear to our
hearts, which gave to us the pen of Jefferson,
by which the equality of men was declared, and
the sword of Washington, by which independence
was secured; but he represents that other Vir-
ginia, from which Washington and Jefferson now
avert their faces, where human beings are bred
cattle for the shambles, and where a dungeon
rewards the pious matron who teaches little chill
dren to relieve their bondage 10y reading the Book
of Life. 1t is proper that such a Senator, rep
resenting such State, should rail against Free
Kansas.
But this is not all. The precedent is still more
clinching. Thus far have followed exclusively
the public documents laid before Congress, and
illustrated by the debates of that body but wpff-
authenticated facts, not of record here maze the
stronger still. 1t is sometimes said txat the
proceedings in Kansas are defective, becGxse they
originated in party. This is not true fbut even
if it were true then would they still flf,d support
in the example of Michigan, where all the pro-
ceedings, stretching through successive wears.
began and ended in party. The proposed State
Government was pressed by the/Democrats as Il
party test; and all who did not embark in it
were denounced: Of the Legislative Council,
which called the first Constitutional Convention
in 1885: all were Democrats; and in the Conven-
ton itself, composed of eighty-seven members,
only seven were Wings. The Convention of
1886, which gave the final assent, originated in
a Democratic Convention on the 10Th October
in the county of Wayne, composed of one hun
dred and twenty-four delegates, all Democrats,
who proceeded to resolve
That The delegates the Democratic party of WAYNE
soemnly impressed with The spreading evils and dangers
which refusal the Union has broue hit upon the
people OF Michigan earnestly mend meetings 10 be
ilfH aloxx
county of the State with view the expression their
sentiments in favor OF the election and call of another
Convention, IN ilme TO secure admission into the
Union before the FIRST of January next"
Shortly afterwards, a committee of five. ap-
pointed by this Convention, all leading Demo-
Gratis, issued a circular, "under the authority of
the delegates of the county of Wayne" recon-
mending that the voters throughout Michigan
should meet and elect delegates to a Convention
to give the necessary assent to the Act of Con-
gress. In pursuance of this call, the Convention
met; and, as it originated in exclusively party
recommendation, so it was Of an exclusively party
character. And it was the action of this Con-
vention that was submitted to Congress- and
after discussion in both bodies, on solemn votes
approved.
But the precedent of Michigan has another fea-
ture, which is entitled to the gravest attention
especially at this moment, when citizens engaged
in the effort to establish State Government in
Kansas are openly arrested on the charge of trea-
son, and we are startled by tidings OF the mad
dest efforts to press this procedure of preposter-
Gus Tyranny. No such madness prevailed under
Andrew jackson; although, during the long
tendency of the Michigan proceedings, for more
than fourteen months, the Territorial Govern
ment was entirely ousted, and the State Govern
ment organized in all its departments. One hun
dred and thirty different legislative acts were
passed, providing for elections, imposing taxes,
erecting corporations, and establishing courts of
justice, including Supreme Court and Court
OF Chancery. All process was issued in the name
Of the people of the State of Michigan. And vet
no attempt was made to question the legal valid
ity of these proceedings, whether legislative or
Judicial. Least of all did any mental Governor.
dressed in little brief authority play the fam
tastic tricks which we now witness in Kansas :.
nor did any person, wearing the robes of Justice
shock high Heaven with the mockery of iniustice
now enacted by emssaries of the President in
that territory. No, sir; nothing of this kind
then occurred. Andrew Jackson was President
Senators such as these are the natural enemies
of Kansas, and introduce them with reluctance
simply that the country may understand the
character OF the hostility which must be over
come. Arrayed with them, of course are all who
unite under any pretext or apology, in the prop
agandism of Human Slavery To such. indeed
the time-honored safeguards of popular rights
can DE name only, and nothing more. What
are trial by jury, habeas corpus the ballot-box.
the right of petition, the liberty of Kansas, your
liberty, sir, or mine, to one who lends himself
not merely to the support at home butsto the
propagandism abroad ofthat prepostsrous wrong
which denies even the right of man to himself
Such cause can be maintained only by prac-
ticai subversion of all rights. 1t is, therefore.
merely according to reason that its partisans
should uphold the Usurpation in Kansas.
To overthrow this Usurpation is now the spe-
cial, importunate duty of Congress- admitting of
no hesitation or postponement. To this end it
must hit itself from the cabals of candidates the