The daily union., 1856-12-24


rate with the party, by whatever it may be called
which represents its principles My connexon with it, how
ever Is not Of so intimate character as to make it respon
sble for my positions to embarrass me by any which
II may take believe that most of it's principles the
true principles of the constitution and have the fullest
confidence in the wisdom patriotism and orthodoxy of
many of the party leaders OF the North and in the free
States Yet in the party SUCH have neither the fullest
reliance confidence and will give my reasons. When
first entered this hall was unqualified dsunionist
had been made by the action of the general
in reference TO the tariff TO the territory acquired from
Mexico, and its whole legislation in regard to slaves.
Shortly after the meeting of the ThirtyThrd Congress-
bill passed repeating the Missouri restriction line
whereby the States of the South had been excluded in
ferors from the common domain. change of sentiment
Immediately occurred within me- and my heart expanded
with love for our whole country chided myself for
having done injustice to the democratic party which, by
repeating an odous restriction had relieved my people
from insult which had burned them for many long
year. reproached myself for dstrusng the virtue peo
pie who by unprecedented majority placed Gen Pierce
in power oveT the greatest living military captain,
with all the prestige of military glory fresh upon HIM
felt that had wronged, ia my appreciation OF them,
the democratic members Of Congress who had noby
redeemed their pledge of non-interventon made at Bal
umore and on the first occasion which presented itse,
had applied the principle of non Intervention by removing
the obstacle they encountered in Kansas and Nebraska
the line of Intervention. They had been elected had
the President upon the Baltimore platform the cardinal
feature of which noninterventon by Congress with
the subject of slavery in the District Of Columbia and the
Territories. This the distinct issue before northern
and southern democracy and the people of both sections
elected democrats to Congress Yet sir for faithfully doing
that which they commissioned to do what the
consequence Complaints of treachery and broken faith
filled the air contract had been broken with the terms
of which of the contracting parties had
piled; common statute had been repealed which, for
sooth, irrepeaabe and christened compact between
sections when it was notorious that representatives from
the different sections had Unfortunately votedsome for
and some against. sepulchra howl waited from
Maine to Iowa. and northern friends chased down with
hue and cry
The which repealed the Missouri restriction pro-
yidd territorial governments for Kansas and Nebraska
and further provided for their admission States upon
the terms and conditions heretofore stated When the
Thiryfourh Congress assembled and inspected the
material succeed the Nebraska democrats of the
North-when learned more Of their principles and OBJ
served their efforts to extend them my faith in northern
democracy began to lose of its saving grace had
observed the deudng influences of secret political asso
citation, which mysteriously made dark lanterns Of the
thinking heads of men, and endeavored to caoe myself
into the belief that northern democracy had been tempo
rarily led astray by its bewlderments but that aided
by the light of the constitution, they would ultimately
the true faith. hoped for reaction, and felt
bound in honor and in gratitude to stand by such of
northern friends had remained faithful to the principles
of the constitution and who had stood to in the hour
of their adversely. Influenced by these and other like
sderatons my friend of the mountain district in South
Carolina Mr. ORR and myself alone of our delegation ad-
vocaed the representation of State in the Democratic
Convention at Cincinnati and the people of our State
not because of our influence but of their free will
and generous nature which fails to respond 10
acts of justice or magnanimty, met democratic
friends in common council for the common good We
there to organize for great political conest-the
most momenous that this country yet has witnessed
Our old leaders have been gallant vigilant successful
They entitled by every right the gores of the vic.
tory which had been since upon them rested the re-
sPonsbies of the measures passed. and whatever of od
um might to thpm attach Antslavery prejudice and anti
slavery hatred had been specially directed towards the
President who had approved and towards the usrious
senator who had matured the Kansas Nebraska bill They
had been Identified with the principles of the BILL and in
sustaining them we but sustained Its principles and in
rejecting them we seemingly declined the naked issue
which the sNebraska bill presented confess that
whp | Tho shad hon, h.,
ierred-abe statesmen, and each resident Of a free
Stateput aside apd another leader chosen who had no
place IN tie picture of the fight my faith in northern de-
mocraey was again shaken. ! reasoned with myself in
this way if northern democracy is tenderfooted upon
the hansas-Nebraska bill to reject northern men, even
New Englander because of their too intimate connexion
with IT. what security have of the South that our
strucon of the act will obtain in the policy of the govern
ment; or hat 9ecurty have against construction
which had been suggested and upon which the Senate had
been congratulated and which, in my Judgment is as ia
tai to interests as the positive enactment which had
been repealed II ifnon-connexion with the bill and alb
senteeism Is necessary TO gd the pill how do know but
that 1t may be rejected when its essepaa componens
| ascerained
Mr. Speaker enough has transpred to show that my APP
prehensions not altogether without foundation, Tbs
assertion has here frequently been made and uncontra
dcted, that at many Of the democratic meetings in the
North the people rallied under banners upon which
was inscribed Buchanan Brecknrdgo and free Kansas
Have not large pacards been here exhibited with these
words IN hs largest letters upon them and the word free
in italics We told by democratic friends on the
oor that nothing than that the people of
Kansas should e to decide upon the subject OF slavery
for themselves What is not the question How
were the words understood by the masses2 What was
their effect upon the voers That is the question and if
the presidential election carried upon false preteuces
what cause of triumph have we2 My friend from Indiana
Mr. ENGLISH has frankly avowed his preference that Kan
sas should be free State though he is willing to admit
her with constitution recognising slavery To his posi-
ton do not object We Of the South would prefer tha
she should be slave State yet hold ourselves prepared
to vote for her admission even with constitution reject
ing slavery II that ia the clearly will of
jority Of her citizens"
But in sections where the sguaer souersgn feature of
the bill is maintained Is it presumable that the uni
form and continued expression of this preference meet
ngs where banners flying with buchanan Hreekin
ridge and free Kansas might dopds the vOt"r' 49, thu
belief that, after all the ERnsas-s-' lHto tne
10 he hnt ~,or passed 2" This may be said
!" 70. an inference but when 1t is coupled with
fact that many northern democrats have admitted
that in the event of Kansas becoming slave State,
they will by the board 1t strikes more as logical
deduction.
That the gravest differences of opinion in regard the
construction Of the KansasNebraska act enter
tanned by northern and southern democrats and by each
among themselves is beyond doubt and this difference is
the shoal which Is threatening with wreck The
tor from Pennsylvania Mr.. BIsLER when nterrogated
to the power of territorial legislature to exclude slave
ry, replied
am Of opinion that the people through their local
legislature have that power arrive this conclusion be-
but two Of lawmaking power for
Tertory-tbe Congress and the othe the people.
hold that when Congress has conferred upon the people Of
Territory all the lawmakng power which possesses under
the constitution the power complete in the people, equal
to the question Of domestic slavery other subjects
but this egs question: and for one, should be grahed
TO see 1t decided"
This to be the same ground that occupied by
friend from Indiana TMr | know it be