The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-03

1t could not have passed. Ii IL had been allowed TO
60 over to another Congress, when the people might
be heard, it would have ended; and then the crime
we now deplore, would have been without it's Arst
seminal life.
Mr. Presideut, / mean to keep absolutely within
tie limits of parliamentary propriety. / make no
personal mputatons; but only with franknese, such
as belongs to the occasion and my own character,
describe great historical act, which is now en-
rolled in the Capitol Sir, the Nebraska Dill WAS in
every respect swindle. 1t was swindle by the
South of the North 1t was, on the part Of those
who had already completely enjoyed their share OF
the Missouri compromise, swindle of those whose
share was yet absolutely Untouched; and the plea Of
uncOnstituti0nality set up-like the plea OF usury
after the borrowed money has been enjoyed-did
not make it less swindle. Urged as bill Of peace,
twas swinde of the whole country. Urged aa
opening the doors to slave masters with their slaves
it was swinde of the asserted doctrine Of popular
sovereignty. Urged as sanctioning popular sove-
slave masters. 1t swind!e of broad territory,
thus cheated of protection against >slavery. It
was q swindle of great cause, early espOused by
Washington franklin aud Jefferson surrounded by
the best fathers of the republic Sir, it was swim
die of Godgiven inalieDable rights. Turn it over;
look Ait on all sides, and isevery where swndls
nd, if the word now employ has not the authority
classical usage, has, on this occasion, the indu
table authority of fitness. No other worl will
adequately express the mingled meanness and wick
dness of the cheat.
It's character was still further apparent in the &C.
neral structure of the bill Amidst overlooking pro-.
LESSONS Of regard for the sovereignty Of the people
in the Territory, they were despoiled Of every es-
sential privilege of sovereignty. They were not al
lowed to choose their Governor, Secretary, Chief
Justice, Associate Justices, Attorney or Marshal
all of whom are sent from Washington nor were
functonaries, the daily allowance of the egisla.
tive body or even the pay of the clerks and door,
keepers; but they were left free to adopt slavery
And this was called popular sovereignty Time does
not allow, does the occasion require that should
stop to dwell on this transparent device to cover
transcendant wrong. Suffice it to say, that slavery
is in itself an arrogant denial of human rights,
and by no human reason can the power to
establish such wrong be placed among the
attributes OF any. just sovereignty. In refus-
ing; it such a place, | do not deny popular
rights but uphold them do not restrain popular
rights but extend them And, sir to this conclusion
you must yet come, unless deaf, not only to the adj
monitions Of political Justice but also to the genius
interpreted, no valid claim for slavery be set up
anyW here in the national territory. The Senator
from Michigan mr. Cass) may say, in response to
slavery cannot go into the Territory under the con-
stituton, without legislative introduction; and per-
NIT me to add in response to BOTH that slavery can
not 60 there at all. Nothing can come ont Of no
thing; and there is absolutely nothing in the con-
stitut0n out of which slavery can be derived while
there are provisions, which, when properly inter-
preted, make its existence anywhere within the ex-
elusive national jurisdiction impossible.
The offensive provision in the bill was in its form
a legislative anomaly, utterly wanting the natural
drectness and simplicity Of an honest TRANSACT
ton. It did not undertake openly to repeal the
old prohibition Of slavery, but seemed 70 mnce the
natter as if conscious OF the swndle. 1t is said that
this prohibition, being inconsistent with the prin-
ciple of non-intervention by Congress with slavery
legislation of 1850, commonly called the C0mpro--
mise measures, is hereby declared imperative and
void" Thus, with insidous ostentation, was it pre-
tended that an act violating the greatest compro-
mise of our legislative history, and setting loose the
foundations of all compromise was derived out of g
compromise. Then followed in the bill the further
declaration, which is entirely without precedent
in its belly, namely lit being the true intent and
meaning Of this act not to egslate slavery into any
Territory or State nor to exclude it therefom, but
regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject only to the constitution of the United
States" Here were smooth words, such as belong
toa cunning tongue enlisted in 9 bad cause But
ipgs this at least evident, that, by their effect.
the Congressional prohibition of slavery, which had
already been regarded as seven,fold shield, coy
while principle was declared which would
ssnder the supplementary prolssition Of
on .'inoperative and void,s and thus open
he rude cradles of mighty States
Here you see the magnitude Of the mischief contem
lated. But my purpose now is with the crime
gainst Kansas, and shall not stop to expose the
0nspiracy beyond.
Mr.. President, men are wisely presumed to intend
he natural consequences of their conduct and to-
seek what their acts seem to promote. Now, the
Nebraska bill, on its very face openly cleared the
way for slavery and it is not wrong to presume that
such act and sought in this way to extend slave
ry OF course they did. And this is the first stage
in the crime against Kansas
But this was speedily followed by other develope-
ments. The barefaceG scheme was soon whispered
that Kansas must be q slave State. In conformity
with this idea was the government of this unhappy
Territory organized in all its departments and thua
did the President by whose completely the prohibit
ton Of slavery had been overthrown, lend himself
to new completely giving to the conspirators a
lease OF connivance, amounting even to cOpartner-
ship. The Governor, Secretary, Chief Justice, As-
socate Justices Attorney and Marshal, with whole
caucus Of othes stpendaries nominated by the Pres-
dent and confirmed by the Senate, were all commend
ed as friendly to slavery. No man, with the sent.
found any favor; nor is it too much 10 say, that,
had these great patriots once more come among u.s.,
not one Of them, with his recorded, unretracted
opinions on slavery, could have been nominated by
the President Or confirmed by the Senate for any
post in that Territory. With such auspices the con.
spiracy proceeded. Even in advance Of the Nebras-
ka bill secret societies were organized in Missouri
wards, undert&e name Of SefDefensive Associa-
tions" and Blue Lodges" these were multiplied
Throughout the western counties of that State, be-
confidently anticipated that, by the activity ofthesa
societies and the interest Of shareholders everywhere
with the advantages derived from the neighborhooG
of Missouri, and the influence of the Territorial go-
vernment, slavery might be introduced into Kansas,
quietly but surely, without arousing confict-that
the crocodile egg might be stealthy dropped in the
sun-burnt SOIL there to be Matched unobserved until
it sent forth its reptile monster.
But the conspiracy, was unexpectedly baked. The
debate which convulsed Congress had stirred the
whole country. Attention from all sides was directed
upon Kansas which at once became the avorite goal
Of emigration The bill had loudly declared that its
object was ito leave the people perfectly free to form
and regulate their domestic Institutions in their own
way" and its supporters everywhere challenged the
determination of the question between freedom and.
opening the Territory to slavery the bill also OPEN
ed it to emgrants from every quarter, who might
by their votes redress the wrong. The populous
North, stung by sharp sense Of outrage, and in
,apnS ap ~ rovn;saS sn o se ueDasa