The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-31

4
present Chief Magistrate absent in London, as Tor
eien minister at the time that bill pasScd-yet no
knows about il and has better appreciation ea t
principles than OF those who were here AppAtse
The great principle OF that bill that the people of
Kansas shoad have the right TO settle their own insin
tions la their way. l. as southern man. ageFd 70
that you northern men, agreed 10 IL. AS tShhe
moral and political principle In reference to SLAVERY you
and differ but that we will have no controversy
We met upon common ground, and agreed that IN all
Territories in future 10 be organized and Ia all States TO
be admitted into the Union the people should settle that
question for themselves, In their uay Whom that
principle was established had difficulties 10 con
tend With portion OF friends from the North went
of from u.s. did also portion from the south But
always from the beginning Of our history when we have
been required take position upon any great question
have with difficulties similar TO those which we
now meet IN the execution Of the Kansas NebrNka law
Why should we be alarmed at thsf Have we mot conn
dence in the honesty and good sense OF the peoPef
Tor though they may sometimes goastray, any error IN
their Judgment is always corrected by the sober second
thought" EeaW
In the Kansas Nslaala bil we established the pIndr
pie that the people of the Territory should settle the qes
tion of slavery sin their own way But now IT seems,
called upon to naugurate new docirine7-that
the people the Territory shall not settle il in their own
way but that Congress shall settle II for them That Is
the doctrine have been fighting since have been
in Congress-eyer since made political sleeoh. Inc
question is shall the matter be taken from the hands OF
the people by Congress- and settled Congress directs
not according the wishes of the peopef They have
chosen their mode of settling IL and II Congress shall e,
ect that and dictate to them hoo they shall settle it, will
that not be complete abrogaton of the principles OF the
Nebraska bill II certainly will rs #E.ssrt | sHa
When Congress established the principle that the peo
pie of the Territory should settle this question in their
way there was party who determined to resist thar
principles and the result of their action we will see as We
proceed 'ngtrE
Under law of the territorial Legislature the people of
Kansas elected delegates to convention, and that con
venon subsequently framed constitution But before
this election the governor of the Territory t Walker
addressing the people the soilers particularly
said that the convention legally called and he urged
them to go and vote. lf you have majority, said
he ..you can elect delegates who will control the
venton and make the constitution TO suit your wishes
He begged them he impored them to elect their dele
gates to carry their views in the formation of
stution But though these free soilers knew that the
convention legal they did not wish this question set
tied yet 1t had done them great deal OF good in the
last presidential election. BY it they had succeeded III
losing to the democracy every State north of Mason
Dixon line except Pennsylvania, New Jersey Indiana
Illinois, and California. :" If settle this question
now - said they, 'there is no hope for us in 1860
Therefore will not vote; we will not go to the polls
We will let the others make the constitution and send it
to Congress- and then will get up hue and cry that
the delegates represented minority Of the people and
that the constitution does not express the will OF the pco
pie. We will defeat it, and will on every future coca
sion refuse go the polls and thus will keep this
question open until 1860 that by this excitement we
may be enabled to put in the place now occupied y
James Buchanan, Mr.. Seward Mr. Banks, Mr. Hale, or
some one else representing the extreme abolition sent
ment of the northern States That was the Object for
the convention had assembled under lawful authority and
| had conducted its proceedings in legal way. s
We come to the vital point-the only one about
which there any dicultythe question OF slavery.
state to you here tonight that that question is submitted
in the only manner by which the question could be faiy
tested In the Territory of Kansas Why The peaceabe
of the Territory anxious for State government
While the Territory continues it has been the scene
Of disorder and boodshed their property their bortes
! their lives endangered by making 1t State, you
cut ditch around it, as 1t you dsconnect il from
the general government, done in the OF Cali
f,rna. The consderate men, the men OF family, who
have poserity to look to- and to provide for and who
are not part OF the band Of outlaws that have been
tive in producing disorder in the Territory, are impatient
for the admission of the Territory into the Union as
State that they may in peace their ordinary ayoca
ons. If the question were upon the constitution rs
whole with slavery many who opposed to slavery
would vote for the constitution; if the question upon
the constitution without slavery many in favor slavery
| would vote for the constitution. Why Because the
formation of State government is with them the para
mount object As the question is now submitted, every
mind is left in its decision the slavery question
G.nd 1t is idle to talk about anything else in the constitu
on for it Is in the usual form and the people will be
enabled to obtain what all the peaceable and prudent men
OF the Territory (o both parties desrethe establish
ment of State government and at the same time free
expression of their will on the only question raised OF
sectional character. htt " H
| The question now comes up: What action shall
Congress and the administration take In the premises
The constitution says Congress may admit new States
1t has power to create them power to shape their
policy power to dictate to them and an original
question: doubt very much the power OF Congress to
pass enabling act though would submit to 1t,
the precedent having been long established Congress
only has power to consider the question Shall ace admit
nep STATE The Union The thirtyone States now in
the Union decide whether they will receive State
This assent of the States must Of course he given
through Congress. All this idea of going behind the
ecopton constitution to detect supposed fraud in the
formation of the convention is brought up make.
weight by those who desire to oppose the administration
for purpose other and Is not for me TO deter
mine what that purpose ] would vote for a free
State constitution quickly for saveSatc consti-
tuition but inquire into the means by which
the constitution of proposed State may have been adopt
ed If its form il republican, and If it is in my opinion,
proper to admit that portion Of the country as State
| Applause. ....a ~ss'- u
Is IL proper then, to admit Kansas Ms q E,td The
Topeka convention, representing side; ed for n
State the Lccompon convention, representing the other
party asks for State. Shall not, then, give IL to
them While let the Territory remain in its present
condition. all this excitement must go And, by the
way regard IL fortunate that this question has arisen
at the beginning of administration for before 1t
closes think you will that those who have origna
ted It will only take back scat in the democratic
| church. but they will have done that which WILL in ali
probability, forever preclude them from those high posi-
tions to which they aspire. [Great applause. n 74f
say it is proper to admit Kansas as Sae, without
reference to her population for am anxious to
have the question settled and the only way to settle it
! IL to do as We did in the of California. When in
1850 civil said to be raging in California Con
gress in order to end the difficulty admitted her into the
Union as State And though since that time California
has not been at all times free from internal disturbance