Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-12-24

How can it! Perhaps there may be a large
sote. There may be a large vote returned
Qeughter) But deny that it is possible
to have u lair vote on the slavery clanse;
and say that it is not possible TO have any
vote on the constitution. Why wait for the
mockery of an election, when it Is provided
unaiterably that the people cannot VOTE
when the majority are dislranchised!
But am tod on al! sides. 'Oh, Just wait;
the pro-slav cry C ause will be voted down."
That does net o5viase any of my objections;
1t dnes not d%izsinish any Of them You
have no mnre right TO force a free-State
constitution on Kansas Than a siave-State
Constitution. IsKaEs4s wants a slave-s'a e
coast tuition she mas IA right to it,, II she
wants a Tree STATE constitution she has u
right to it Il is meme OF my business which
way the slavery clause IS decided. | care
not whether it is voted down o ryoted up
Do you suppose, alter the pledges ct my
honor that | would 90 for that principle and
leave the people to vote as they choose, that
| would not degra4 myself by voting one
way if the slavery clause pc voted down.
aud another way if i; be voted uPi care
not how that vote may stand. take it fer
granted that it will be roted out. -thlnk
have seen enough in the last three days to
make it certain that it will be returned out,
no matter how the vote may stand, (Laugh-
ter.)
Sir, | am opposed to that concern BE-
cause it Looks to me like a system OF trick
fery and ~juggIery t. defeat the fair express
Jon Of the will of the peoaleACnere is nc
necessity for cror5ing this measure, so IN
fair, 30 unjust as il is IN all its aspects, up
on us. WHY can We not now d. what re
/ proposed to do in The last Congress! We
| then voted through the Senate an enabling
| act. called s.,he Toombs bill" believed to
be Just and fair in al! It's PROVISIONS, pro-
nounced to be almost perfect by the Sena'
tor iron New Hampshire, Mr.. Hale, only
he did not like the man, then President oil
the United Safes, who would have to make
the appointments. Why can we not take
that bill, and, cut OF compliment to sthe
! President, add to it a clause taken from the
Minnesota act, which he thinks would be
a general rule, requiring the constitution to
be submitted to the people, and pass that!
That unites the party. You al voted, with
me-, for that bill, at the last Congress. Why
not stand by the same hill now! Ignore Lee
compton, ignore Topeka, treat both those
party movements as irregular and void
pass a fair bil-rhe enc which we framed
ourselves when We were acting as a unit
have a fair e ection and you will have peace
in the Democratic party, and peace through
out the country, in ninety days The peo'
pie want Il lair vote. They will never be
satisfied without il. They never should be
satisfied without il fair vote on their con
siitution.
II the Toombs bill does not suit m,
friends, take the Minnesota bill of the las
session-the one So much commended BY
the President in his message as a model
Let us pass that as an enabling act, and al
low the people of all parties to come TO
eeiher and have a fair vote, an6 | will g
for it. Frame any other bill thai secures
fair, homes! vote TO all parties, and carrie
cut the pledge that the people shall be lei
free to decide Oh their domestic institution
for themselves. and / VIII 90 with then
with pleasure, and with all the energy
may possess. But if this con titution is t.
be forced down our throats, in violation o
the fundamental principle Of free govern
nent, under IA m 'de'oi submission that is
mockery and insult, painful as it vii be t
me, | must break all associations or con
INJECTIONS rather than forfeit mY 4princip pies
..EIhare nn=fnar sfany party sssAeSIinits-b b.
ing severed. should regret to see s3cil
and political ties severed; but il it must be
if ! cannot act with you and preserve m
faith ami my honor, | will stand on th
great principle Of popular sovereignty ,wh!c
declares the right of all people TO be .eJ
perfectly free to !nrm and regulate their dc
mestic institutions in heir own way. | wi
follow that principle wherever its legal an
logical consequences may take ne, and
will endeavor to defend it against assau
from any and all quarters. No mortal ma
shall be respuns. b e for my action but ry
self. By my aciion / will compromit n
man.
At the conclusion Of the honorable ger
tiemau's speech, loud applause and clHpPin
:. Of hands resounIed through the crowde
galleries.