The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-01

ever been convicted Of any violation of the Flu
gitive Slave Law, whether such conviction
were by criminal proceeding or ciUI action
for the recovery of any penalty prescribed by
said act" Any person that has been at any
time go convicted cannot vote in Kansas to-day,
and is, under her laws ineligible as a Repre-
sentative in Congress.
The Senator from Delaware, mr. Clayton, J
whose bier has just passed to the church yard,
in speaking of this law in the Senate Chamber,
with almost his dying breath, said:
81 denounce this as an unjust and cruel law
against one section of the Union, and an insult
on great questions of politics, and yet are as
honest as | am, or any man on this floor. \
l hold this injustice to be unexampled
Sir, it is q thing unheard of in the
history of the country, that in the introduction
ola Territory into the Union State, or in the
formation of TERRITORIAL Government, you
should require men in the Territory to swear
to support your acts of Congress"
Take, then, the law Of Kansas, the certificate
of election of this Delegate, and the Constitution
of the United States, and put them side by side,
and they fail to make out prima .facie case /;
for they show that the election itself was inval
i'd, there being no valid law under which it
could be held.
But, sir, iR addition to the invaldity and un-
consttutionality Of the legislation of Kansas.
49, IS still another reason why this House
,ud not recognise it, for it would be giving
port and countenanee to most odious des-
Sotism on American soil. Both branches of
Congress, at its last session, refused to appro-
pirate any money for its support, for the double
reason that it was usurpation and despot-
ism combined despotism that we are asked
70, Al. IL
character, not only in the official acts of both
branches Of Congress, but also by such men as
General Cass, Clayton, Bayard, Crittenden,
Weller, and other Senators, who will not be re
gardedf1 trust; as fanatics. General Cass, on
the I'd of July last, said on the floor of the SEN
ate:
"There IS no doubt that some Of the statutes
| passed by the Legislature of Kansas are q
disgrace TO the age and the country. / re-
| peat the strong expresson-'a disgrace TO the
age and the country. Such is my firm con-
viction. Heavy penalties are imposed, to pre-
vent the people from arguing what is almost
a question of abstract right. Now, ask you,
how have the people of Kansas full liberty to
pass laws establishing their domestic relations
for themselves if they are not allowed to dis
cuss them? 1t is inconsistent with the or
ganic act"
| refer to the opinions of Senators Bayard Of
Delaware, and Crittenden of Kentucky; and
certainly they will not be charged with special
fanaticism, coming as they do from slave States,
where this kind Of fanaticism, for Freedom and
Free Territory, of which gentlemen affect to be
so much afraid, does not prevail. l summon
them to the stand therefore, as cool and dis,
passionate witnesses. In speaking of these
laws, Mr.. Bayard says:
"There are certain of the laws of Kansas
which are unquestionably, in themselves,
shocking to the moral sense. There are GER
tain of the laws of Kansas that invade natural
{ rights. y Congressional Globe, extra session
7zuty:tourth Congress, D. 30.
~Mr. Crittenden says:
"But, sir, you promised, in the organic law
that these people should be left perfectly free
TO vote, and decide by their votes this question
which you have submitted to them; and yet
you say you will not repeal that encumbrance
on the right of suffrage, which actually pros
6 trates it, and renders it useless to an honest
and conscientious man. For instance, you
impose an oath, as condition preliminary to
their voting, that they shall swear to support
this or that law"
Speaking of these laws, Mr.. Weller, of Cali
fornia, used this language:
"They are so infamous in their character,
that am unWllllng they should stand upon
the statute book of anyf6f the Territories Of
this Union. l believe they violate not only
the organic law, but the Constitution of the
United States"
"The Senate regarded those acts passed by
the Legislative Council of Kansas Territory
as not only unjust in their character, and OPP
pressive upon the people, but in dero8ation
of the organic law, and in violation OF the
| { Cogst .S,ion of the United States. Some of
these ats are revolving to every feeling of
humanity."
"a. (. saw. and repeat, that such law is an