Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-06-14
SPEECII OF
MIR HENRY NJ. FULLER, OF PENNSYLVANIA,
Delivered ia the Ho1's Of Representatives. Of the Uiiio

Ma. SPxaKER; desire to submit some remarks Part
~ OF personal and partly Of genera character.
Sincerely do rcgreat the necessity ~hch compels
TO occupy the public time tor purpose Of
defense, but circumstances have occurred declarations
have be made here and clse~here Congressional letters
have been written and widely circulated producing
false Impressions, which justice myself and proper
gard Tor my constituents well those with whom |
s here associated, will not permit pass longer in
silence
I'm the first Monday OF December last came here tn
discharge the duties OF AN American Representative |
came here disappearing the territorial legislation OF the
thirty Congress- but in view Of existing and pro-
spcctve difficulties, had deter mined let il alone Nv
disposition Tor peace. desired forgive aud forget
past ohcnces-to heal, not TO nfamc wounds which had
been intctsd-to compromise sectional differences aud
to plant myseh with my party upon broad national plat
form, eubI scing all sections OF the Union and
tive of the rights and the interests Of the whole country
Little supposed then that entering upon drs-
ina IN the performance of which should uuwilngly be-
come prominent actor The partaty Of friends assign.
ed me position to which felt could Law no cl,m-
The people in consequence OF legislation, and in
pectation OF our probable action in state Of high
excitement Delay in the organization led ieclarato
ot opinion and avo~als of intended action was unwil.
ling To become party In making up for the North
or IN making up Tor the South but determined 81
lar as lay in my power, To put end to Improbable
conrovcrsyto make sacrifices IL need he har-
mony aud secure the public peace. In advance OF my
coming here had 50 declared friends at home. an
During the Of the debate here felt myself called
upon To cmbody these sentiments in public avowal IL
the House, declaring that should leave :his whole ques
where the had
people OF the States where it tolerated. regulate
and determine for themselves That for evil for good
II WAS their concern, not mine and whatever
sentiments or my people might entertain upon the alb
strsct question OF moi ais OF private rights
plain duty to leave the subject with all its accountability
and every remedy might require to the wisdom aud the
conscience at those upon whom Providence and the
sntuuon had cast its responsibility.
These were not recently formed opinions. (2) Nv
limited experience and the history OF the had
i~cd that the agitation o this question: in Congress
Of nd and
but evil and mischief hcarburnngs and bitterness
IL had been and be- utterly barren ot public good
injurious to both sections and il continued would be
ructve OF the best interests of both races believe
further that II this agitation should cease, the generous
influences OF free institutions carving our peopl.
onward IN their career OF high and rapid ADVANCEMENT
would lit up the slave, Improve his condition. relax his
bonds and ultimately send him back prepared reclaim
and redeem the Land OF his heather fathers
The efforts OF nodrtn philanthropy hOwcver well nten
died. have IN effect repressed and defeated the lsbors OF
those who, by their position and its toeraou could alone
make for it efiecua provision Twenty years ago
Virginia Maryland, and Kentucky had under serious
sderation the adoption of looking to gradual
emancipation The influences OF freedom were quietly
but not Extensively pressing upon slavery The policy OF
emancipation freely discussed by the people of the
Southern States in legislative assemblies and constitution
al conventions Unfortunately. this very period,
ganization for the purpose OF systematic Ggaon under
the leadership OF George Thompson and other foreign
emssres, sprung into existence Immediately there
recoi OF the public mind resulting in united sent-
meht at the South, and divided opinion at the North
Emancipation was thus posponed-the entire system
OF prospective legislation turned back There have fol-
lowed charges OF aggression with ordinations and
inauous each section striking at and woundng the 9th
err until the scars OF prejudice have become deeply
craven on the popular mind, that it will require years
ny years To citacc them. This condition of things de-
sire 70 have corrected. The North the South should
no longer be taught to regard each other enemies aud
that 1t IL necessary To employ their energies resist
tcipated aggres-iOns.
would have preferred that the legislation Of the SD
Congress had not been enacted and that the people all
sections could have Alluded 10y the Compromise of ls2n
as measure of repo.c, because under the Compromise
OF 1880 peace quiet aud social harmony had been gene
rally restored Ii might have avcrted the unhappy dill
cutes existing in kausas-woud have saved the country
the long scene OF Reorganization through which have
recently passed IL would have let the Compromise of
ls2p alone, and did favor the repeal because be-
evcd its effect upon the public mind of the country would
produce Injury aud mischief greater than any good 1t
could possibly attain.
Nov that the repeating act has been passed we have
a. practical Legislators, the existing facts and
different state u case. We not called upon abide
hN past lrg-lauOu hut asked tn legisac for
the establishment OF the restrictive clause under the plea
OF restoration To tile y,o bcioe the Kansas bill
Was passed That restoration Is impossible. To
tempt 1t only produce irritation sectional aiuna ton
aud disturbance of the public peace Of the country.
Practically so far the extension OF slavery is
c"rucJ, the South has gained nothing; the North has
lost nothing by it, repeal IL i, conceded believe by
intelligent men Of all sections familiar with the country
that neither. the -ui the climate, the natural pro-
dnciio"" at the Territories thus thrown open orr
permanent ruduCCncHt for The
Cotton planter the sugar grower aud the rice producer
will not feel it his interest leave lis own warmer ati-
tnir where IN the millions of Of unoceuped tern
tory he has ample room TOT present well prospec-
tive expansion. The law OF in-rrst-the irrepealab
law OF natne-mu-t operate there everywhere True
there Is heated AND angry controversy the Terri
tory OF Kansas. The OF the border in natural
AntagOnsm with aid societies elsewhere have been Stn.
ustc To associated effort for the purpose Of it, establish.
mcnt. Men may engage in, but will continue a strls-
gle Of uproducve labor. II this be true of Kansas 1t
be less Of Nebraska. But whether slavery will
20 into Kansas or notWhcther il will go into Nebraska
nOts question shall leave with the citizens who
reside IN those Territories determine for themselves
when they form their constitution and apply
for admission into the Union
Entertaining these views the 18th OF December last
declared in the House that would for the adnis.
sion OF Kansas with without slavery. One OF my col
leagues (Mr Todd became suddenly aud powerfully and
most unaccountably excited and in warm aud passionate
address, declared with haitua emphasis had he known
such to have been my sentiments his right should
have "ithered before he would have given me his sup
port.
was naturally prompted to respond at the time but
ct restrained by the position then occupied NJ well a.
Ihe expressed wishes Of members of the delegation f ON
my state Nor should aludc now but Tor the fact
that have been charged by OF the public Journals
IN the gcntemHns district, sustaining hs IN the
election oi Speaker, with having led him believe that
was sound anti-Nehnska man, according the stand.
ard by which he judged mans sOnndne.S aud that INV
remarks here first disclosed him the real views enter.
tanned OH the subject.
ment OF my views, and wul deceit my part have not
presume, escaped his attention.
GA "Wednesday evening Of the first week Of the session.
a. my colleague will well remember, meeting of the
delegation from State, which he pre- sent de
carcdin answer 20 specific incrrogatorcs that il Kansas
should apply Tor admission State into the Union with
population sufficient entitle her Representative
IN Congress and her people, by clear aud
majority, should decide IN favor Of slave constitution
did not how could against her ADM sion There,
could have been Misrepresentation therefore, in regard
20 my views among my colleagues. One Of them tMr
Robn-On) very frSnky stated that meeting that he
could support inc no longer and I've accordingly the fol.
loving day voted for the gentleman who fills the chair;
but my colleague from the Cumberland district Mr. TODD
continued to vote for during the thirteen ballots
and then commenced with majority Of delegation "
vote for the present Speaker aud had voted for Al least
week before addressed the House aud wa followed
10y his extraordinary declaration. had no previous ac.
qunintancc With my colleague. ! met him here for the
first time, and he will do the justice say that In no
interview Of ours had announced any sentiment opn-
ion different from that at the meeting stated.
hsd said no in the House than had said TO him
Of aud after which lac continued his support Of me
yet he in biz place and made that most remarkable
speech prcferring uultOu AID physical Acknowledgement
" the dread alternative Of having voted for me-
hsd hoped that with the close Of the contest the me-
cessy for further explanation had ceased slso Bot zen