The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-31
), and Of the laws Of the STATE

of Kansas Great cheering .a ~. - = ......r D..
One word, now, in reference to the positions which
have been taken by other gentlemen Senator Douglas
(whose has been frequently mentioned tonight is
have greatly admired for his ability, for his SER
vices to the democratic party for his devotion to that
cause which have believed to be the cause Of the Union
Frequently have been met IN this way iiere stands
this who has rendered eminent services to the SOUTH
and the South ought TO repay him by falling into his
views and notions against the administration To such
an appeal answer thus Senator Douglas, in all his
speeches and in all his efforts (Which fully appreciate
has done nothing than sustain the constitution OF
the United States and his obligations under sustained
them with ability almost unequalled. But when l
to that point, ask myself and YOU where Is the
great body of the democratic party In the last pres
dental campaign, of the nineteen States that gave their
votes for James Buchanan fourteen south of Mason
and Dixon's line. Those fourteen States number 10
electoral votes, while but l49 required to elect
President And when that gentleman took the position
he did in the Senate of the United States, and do
not wish to be understood az denouncing him, for
| should part with him with brother, and hope
not TO have 10 do IT'D have no doubt---nay, have
reason to believe that he expected that his ability his
eloquenoe and the facts which he had at command would
Capvate the South that these fourteen southern States
constituting unit to start with in any election, would be
drawn to his support But when his speech had been
delivered and when it fell still born upon those fourteen
southern States, well upon the northern democracy
that senator then appreciated the position in which he
had placed himself He saw that that principle OF the
democratic party which guarantees to the people the right
to regulate their affairs in their own way was more
potent than any and though he had welded the
sword of Douglas of DID, yet he could not ride over
that principle of the democracy which must and will gov
ern this country long it exists republic. Great
cheering That political Samson at once shorn Of
his locks; and when he goes out and shakes himself
he will find that his aregh has departed and, as long
as he pursues his present policy there will be no tphar
os to his locks to grow again to enable him to pull
down that grand temple of democracy erected by our
fathers for the good of mankind Loud applause.
hope that he may see the error of his way, and may
A. 80 tl,an tphat
saw the avdity with which he sought to disagree with
the administration Icould not but think that there
purpose in view object to accomplish and that the pur
pose not such had always previously supposed to
actuate the conduct of that distinguished man am not
here to denounce him. for he has rendered eminent
vices to the democratic party, and should be loath to
give him up But however much may be our attachment
to him. personal and POLITICAL yet when he departs from
the faith from the path which, in sustaining the
principles of the party believe to be right as
ready to drop him any one else because i'll the Ian
guage of the eminent statesman occupying the prs
DENTAL chair Men but the creatures OF day
principles are eternal " Enthusiastic demonstrations of
applause amid which Mr.. Smith retired ..,..-..|
G. M wharton and Charles w Carrigan esquires, fol-
lowed Mr. Wharton presented brief and concise his
tory of the Kansas controversy. From Mr.. Carrigan
speech we make the following selections E.. . l1
The President stands fairly and squarey the organic
law He also stands fairly and suarely the Cincinnati
platform What is the language used THE people may
u
upon the legally and fairly expressed will of the MAORI
ty thereby showing that slavery the only question
for the people to decide He also stands upon his Sill
man letter, in which he says 'when the people, the
bona fde residents of such Territory, proceed to form
State constitution then is their right to decide the i'm
portant question for themselves, whether they will
tinue modify abolish SLAVERY. But lastly he has
the people with him. So far as my observation went,
the people thought the vexed question of slavery The
question to be submitted had the honor to speak ut
forty odd meetings in the campaign of 1856, and the
right of the people to form their own domestic instit
tons relative slavery the only question at issue
heard other sinsttutions discussed. Slavery was
the overshadowing and all absorbing question take it,
sir the President is most consistent upon this point
But, sir, the people may form their institutions
in their udy The constitutional convention in
Kansas acting for the people, as the only lawful
authority have decided not to submit the whole
stuton and does any one deny their right to do it 1t
is their aray of forming their institutions 1t is none
of my business, and it is none OF yours 1T is their
oua question and they should be free from all inter-
ference 1t is not question as to how l would have
done Had lived in Kansas i should have voted for
delegates pledged to submit the whole constitution to the
people, but do not live in Kansas, and the people
through lawful authority have decided to submit the
question Of slavery only repeat have no right to in
terferc with them man in the thirty States pos
that right But say some, the President directed
Governor Walker to say to the people of Kansas that the
constitution would be submitted for their ratification
rejection. This not and could not be The Presi-
dent pledged by the organic law the Cincinnati plat
the Slltlan THE great
principle Of intervention and had he ntmated
wish that the convention should submit the whole
sttuton, used any means to them, he would
have been guilty of great outrage the territorial
act. His individual opinion is thing but he had
power to force that the convention he simply said
that when constitution submitted the people must
be protected in voting for against it, The
ton did not fit to submit the constitutionthat is
their business the President His skirts are clear
the responsibility is with the people Of Kansas. He
stands firmly the principle of non-nterventon. But
it is said the convention had power thus to act The
ateness of the hour prevents full discussion of this
of the author of the Nebraska Kansas BILL in his reps
TO the Senate ON that BILL january a. 1854: .sThat all
questions pertaining to slavery in the Territories and in
the States to be formed thcrefron to be left to
the decision Of the people residing tSein their appropriate
representatives. 10 be chosen By them for thai purpose '@
F"'E n4"I.HI o o.
The great mass of the democratic party throughout the
country stand by the views enuncated in Mr. Buchanan
message The great mass of the party in this the
tropos of his native State with him. this immense
gathering fully attests But their the back-rcpub-
cansl only hope of power is in weakness they take
advantage of difference in opnionto work destruc-
ton Shall they do it? Shall they do it2 Never ;
never Why do they besmear with their praise the a-
thor Of the Kansas bill, whom they hung in efgy on
Boston Common Why do they lavish aiulatons the
late governor of Kansas whom they denounced the
"pliant tool of corrupt administration" Why do
they reprint and endorse articles that appear in
de,edsgc papers, Because they think il the easiest
wag ttSrAtab the democratic party to strike down
}lant captain and scatter panic in the ranks
But the sight before this night bears me out in
saying it cannot be done--it cannot be done Hear
it, Senators Hale Seward, and Han, who listened with