Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-15
Col. Richardson ON the Nebraska bill.

The speech Of the Democratic candidate for
Speaker of the House Of Representatives in
support Of the Kansas and Nebraska bill, de-
livered on the goth Of May, 1854, is now before
us, and the following passages are so pertinent
and so manly, so patriotic and SO democratic,
that we cannot resist laying them before our
readers:
"Since the introduction Of this bill every
expedient has been resorted 10 to intimidate
members from giving it their support The
pulpit have undertaken to speak in the name
of Almighty God against it. The abolition
press have placed the names Of members in
what they are pleased TO call the roll of infamy
who have voted for the bill. Such abuse is
courted rather than avoided.
"The opponents of the bill say the people
will condemn us forever. / have heard the
same talk before. Why, they have told me
some years ago here, that i might look for
some green spot by the side Of some gentle
stream, where might find my political grave.
Sir, instead of that, they have found their po-
ltical grave, and have been continued here
by the wish of my constituents, and against
my own desire.
aBut, sir, gentlemen Of freesoil and aboli.
ton proclvities tell us, if we persist in urging
this measure, they will leave the Democratic
party. j hope they will; for in the hour Of
danger and trial they are opposed to us, and
have ever been and it is only when the vic.
tory is certain, and the spoils to be divided,
that they act with US. They have marred
the moral Of the victory by their clamor for
the spoils. For one, have no desire to pro.
pitiate them. Sir, we shall pass the bill, settle
a great principle, and so settle it, that in all
future time we can sustain it; the country will
approve it, and these gentlemen, now so clamo.
rous, will acquesce-yes, sir, believe that IS
the word-or swear that they were always Tor
the principle, but opposed to its application to
these territories; and some OF them will doubt
less be able to go back to some speech or
essay where they maintained the doctrine that
we now apply.
al want 10 say word or two TO our friends
before | conclude. want TO say to them, that
our danger, and our sole danger, consists IN
our divisions. want TO say right here to our
Northern friends, that our fortunes are linked
ND with this bill. The assault is made upon
YOU. Your names are in every abolition sheet
in the land. in what they call " the roll Of in
fanny" IT we falter under such fire rs this,
there IA no arm but that Of resurrection can
reach us. Take my word for it, you will find
that to be true. You never make anything in
these political fights by yielding. Fight it out
and fight it over. Our safety consists in our
standing together. IL we, fall let us fall to
gether and fall fighting. Let us ask no quarter
and give none. have a word TO say, too, tc
our Southern friends, and what / submit tC
them is applicable to our Northern friends too
In the details Of the bill there are a grea
many things that we would prefer TO have
otherwise. But we shall have TO give up GU
opinions about these details for the sake
the great principle involved in the bill. If W
stand firm, and pass the bill, my word for II
the excitement which has been manufactures
at the North will blow over before the cleo
tons next fall, or, at all events, just afte
them. We appeal TO you in a spirit Of gene
rosity to yield something in details, to stan