The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-21

qury engaged In which turns upon the legal pow
Of t q fhs wisdom or the folly
The great body q the code they enacted marked with
wise and sAntay provisions and may iavoraby compare
created and pro6i6ilons and penalties provided irrscou
eabie With the 6rst principles Of human freedom and
Voting 70 American ceiling Determined to examine this
whole subject dspassonatey, determined also TO express
my opinion frankly and TO condemn or approve justice
should seem TO me TO require and in the condemnation
am now pronouncng am acting in that spirit am not
TO DC led-misled ratherby opinions like those We have
heard putting constructions these laws with
their plain import and declared when public sentiment had
pronounced them indeiensibe Those entertaining such
oplbons speak Tor themselves but read the terms EN-
poyed by the legislature and judge for myself They
and the proceeding rsproach 70 American
Jurisprudence
Dregardng the two legal remedies Within their power
the citizens OF Kansas opposed the action of the egisa
ture resorted 10 revolution. This what the senator
from New York calls the movement while he approves II
ana THIS Is what would have been carried into opera
ton. convention elected, and quickly convened
and it as quickly formed constitution making provision
for its operation without the sanction Of Congress
AS approved by popular vote This vote II received
and II wiser counsels finally prevailed and the constitution
was not forciby carried into operation during the exist
ence OF the governm Instituted by Congress and co
sion thus avoided the result formed no part Of the orig
nal plan That constitution is before u.s.
And why this precipitate act of revolution which, if
consummated would have brought those in
it into direct collision with the government OF the United
States Why not ask Congress for redress of griey-
arising out Of law enacted by itsef2 No
laws, and to provide all necessary remedies for their
NATURALIZATION. Nor ought any doubt that if
this whole matter had been properly peseated by petition
the people, at the commencement of the session. there
would have been an impartial and rigid inquiry followed
by such measures as might have required Instead
OF that course We are now asked to give sanction to
these revolutionary proceedings by confirming them and
thus TO establish principle incompatible with future tran
quilty in the Territories and holding encouragement
| Tor future resistance.
Now, sir, this application will not receive my vote
will agrees to set such example The immediate effect
would be to render operatives constitution for Kansas the
work OF but portion of people, divided by internal
dssensons being portion arrayng itself against law
of appealing for redress this high tribunal of the
nation competent to administer it, The course proposed
by the Committee the Territories Is free from objection
and shall vote for it, 1t is submit the whole people,
and by legal authorization the question Of the Institution
OF their own government and not subject portion to
the work OF another thus perpetuang divisions which 1t
the interest OF the country to terminate US soon as
sible Warned by the past think should provide for
Inc future by adequate penalties in the organic laws against
ali unlawful external interference in the affairs OF the Ter
rorie and especially against the of armed per-
sons or parties to control the elections and
submit for consideration whether provision of that
nature ID not now required at our hands whether 1t would
not be just measure in ITSELF and proper tribute TO the
purity OF elections great conservative principle dear to
every, righ-minded American. Let US have no more
armed invasion from without nor instruction within.
Mr. President many and signal hare been the interpos-
tons OF Providence in favor since the Of
our national existence We have been carried forward in
career OF prosperity unexamped in the history OF the
world Difficulties and dangers have beset us upon the
right hand and upon the left but have safely passed
through them, gathering strength in progress till
have nothing to fear but ourselves and the just judgments
OF God. question is around us, among u.s. exciting
CRY passions and arraying one portion Of the country
against another-a sectional question, the most difficult
and delicate with which have to deal And way has
been found to deal with it which requires sacrifice Of
principle of PRIDE Of opinion, by part Of the confed
GRAFTON to the other but their mutual submission Of the
controversy to the operation of the great doctrine of the
right of man to govern himself the ouly solid basis of
publican governments. And the dspensations of ProVi-
dence towards have been marked with kind
than 10 incnng the hearts of the American people to
seek refuge from impending danger in this the only
of averng it There is other ground which we
stand together The wisdom of discover other
But this is holy groud sanctded by living principle aud
rising above world of waters which has been spreading
the land. trust it will yet stay the food and
US from the only peril which the patriot conem-
plates with doubt and apprehension.