The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. WIN. BIGLER,

On Raaas i6aigs; deseei ne Senate December 81 1857
On motion proceeded 10 the consideration
The motion Mr. Doue to refer much Of the Presidents
S message Is s"'' " ''''''''' '''r' % the e0'n''s On Terrific
Mr. BIGLER Mr.. President No one has regretted more
n myself that the discussion the Kansas policy of
the administration has been preopated upon the Senate
and the country preferred to avoid discussion until the
result of the election the slavery clause had trnspred
and until Kansas should present herself for admission as
State but the senator from Illinois Mr. DouGLAsl
deemed different policy necessary and proper and no
alternative was left 10 the friends of the administration
hut to respond. o. .4 t99hE sl4t 9iE
think ann duly sensible of the important and deli
cate character Of the subject to be discussed and am
sure | never more anxious To do my duty never
more willing TO sacrifice pride of opinion or to restrain
passion and prejudice in order to clearly the public
good That other senators actuaed by motives equally
Woper have no doubt. ,i aA,A ke
The senator from Illinois has delivered what NAV be
termed great speech against the Kansas policy of the
administration. No man who knows him will doubt his
ability to make the most out any state of facts and cir
tumstances before him. Few men can equal him in this
particular. For myself make such pretenson but
rights privileges and responsibilities ON this
hoor equals. Fortunately, in present differ
enc think my the stronger Of the two and on It
can rely with safety. i
Now, sir il would he idle to attempt to answer the
senator Arguments and controvert his conclusions
to concede the correctness of all his premises This
cannot do, and shall show why cannot at different
points proceed This great speech of the senator
with all due respect was in my humble estimation, after
all, only huge structure resting very unsound aud
insufficient foundation He has applied the facts and cir
cumstances with great skill in maintaining his case but
he will pardon me for the expression of the opinion that
in tone and temper, in enlarged and sound theory in
practical and useful suggestion in generous tolerance Of
differences with others, 1t will not in my judgment
command much of public favor as any one of the
many former efforts of that gifted senator 1t was his
rightand no one will call in question his motives-but
do not believe that 1t was wise in the senator to precpi
tate the slavery agitation in this body and in the cou-
ty nor can understand why he should have shown 30
much willingness to weaken public confidence in the pol
tcyof the men of his own party whom he assisted to
place IN power and who, at this critical moment, WELD
the only functions of government capable of maintaining
the public peace in Kansas why he should have in.
duged in sarcastic ndicnle when dealing with the views
Of the President The allegation that that able and
complshed statesman had fallen into fundamental er-
as 10 the meaning of the Kansas Nebraska law and
the purposes of its authors because he not in the
country at the time of its passage, be estimated in
other light and can subserye no useful purpose. for
the senator or the country. True it answered to
excite mouentary qualification the other side of the
chamber and chagrn this but neither side nor in
che country, will the sentiment meet even respectful
response when the impulses of the hour shall have Yield
ed to sober reflection. Tho honorable senator from Ii
no was not In the country when the Declaration of In
dependence was enunciaed when the constitution
was made and yet he claims to understand both these
Instruments and the purposes in view by their authors
Is this Kansas law difficult of comprehension Per-
haps it is. At all events it has certainly required
explanation ut the hands of its author and it might
seem that long he finds it necessary explain what
he meant every month in the year. he could afford to
pardon the President for the commission of even nda
mental error = But enough on this point. When the
senator shall have persuaded the people of the United
States that the President does not understand the subject
! shall recur to IL again,
But what will the honorable senator say as to the views
OF the late President who not out of the country
when the law passed. but participated in every step Of the
struggle that gave i existence He certainly understands
the question: and have sufficient authority for saying
mat he agrees with his his Kansas policy
and consequently differs with the senator from Illinois
The most harmless part Of the senator speech that
IN winch, whilst making broad issue with the admins-
ta,on he has attempted to show that the Presidents
views sustain those expressed by himself He is certainly
entitled to all he make for his in this way;
but there great difference between the President
and himself there then the less for making
the issue The Presidents character for candor and fair
ness forbade that he should withhold give the slightest
cooring to any fact in the with view Of
tanning the conclusions at which he felt required to arrive
Nor could he approach the subject in partisan spirit
he has not cared to deal with the foles wrongs and
btter feelings which have been manifested either side
the question in out of Kansas but he has preferred
TO consider the present and the future, and to determine
what Is best for the country do not claim for him in
aibity of Judgment for that does not belong to hu
asnity but do claim for him the highest degree of
patriotism and disinterestedness in all he has said and
lone on this dangerous question The idea that he would
seek to oppress any class of the people of Kansas de-
sie 70 impose upon them an odlous government should
not be- and trust is not entertained in any quarter
that he will not tre with this any other great ques
on and that having recognised the validity of the laws
IN Kansas, and the right of the convention 10 make
constitution and State government day. he does not
discard that view the next is but consistent with his
character for integrity OF purpose and clcaness of per-
cepon. sfH #4
But what does the senator by assuming that the
Kansas policy of the message is not administration
measure Does he mean that the cabinet do not agree
with the President understand differently Or does he
that the administration having laid down its policy
will hold that those who asa and denounce that policy
do not oppose the administration There is surely
room for misunderstanding this point and it is
tnly not difficult to discover from the message of the
President what that policy is The administration recog
nses the legality of the proceedings in Kansas far
they have progressed In the matter of making const-
tuition and State government preparatory to admission
turo Of the Territory had the right to call convention
delegates to be elected by the people to form State
constitution that the convention, when formed had
the legal right TO form constitution and submit their
dongs 70 the test OF popular vote, send them to
Congress and ask admission for the State under
them that the organic act having special reference
% controversy about slavery, which involved the
whole country, the convention was morally bound
TO ascertain the sense of the people this feature
their domestic policy, otherwise the spirit of the
compromise on this angry fcud would have failed
Of Its true purpose far Kansas is concerned They
hold, further that when the State shall ask admission
the constitution being republican In FORM 1t will not be
sufficient to deny her admission and thereby per-
petuate the contest about slavery that the ordinary forms
OF State government about which there is seldom much
controversy, and which be changed at any time had
not first received the sanction Of the popular vote that
this process is safest general principle but that
tba