Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-24

to compel man 10 vote for that which his con-
science did not approve, in order to vote on the
Slavery clause, not only would the idea have
been rejected, bot the Democratic candidate for
the Presidency would have been rejected and
every man who backed him who'd have been
rejected 100.
The President tells us in his message that the
Slavery question should be submitted to the
people, without any restriction or qualification
whatever. Does this schedule submit it with
out qualification 1t qualities 1t by saying,
=" You may vote on Slavery if you will vote for
the constitution; but you shall not do 50 with
out doing shat That is a very important
qualification qualfea ton that controls
man vote, and his action aud his conscience
II he is an honest man--a quali6ca ion confess
edly in violation of our platform. We are told
by the President that our faith and our honor
are pledged that the Slavery clause should be
submitted without qualification of any kind
Whatever and now | am to be called upon to
forfeit my faith and my honor in order to enable
a small minority Of the people of Kansas to de-
fraud the majority of that people ont of their
elective franchise? Sir, my honor is pledged
and before II shall be furnished | will take
Whatever consequences personal to myself may
come; but never ask me 10 do an act which
the President. in his message has said is for
lecture OF faith, violation OF honor, and that
merely for the expediency of saving the party
VIII go as far as any of you to save the party.
have as fnuch heart 10 the great cause that
pinos us together as party as any man living
! VIII sacrifice anything short Of honor and
principle Tor the peace of the party but \
fhe party sviil not stand by its principles, its
faith, its pledges, will stand there, and abide
whatever consequences may result from the po-
sition.
Let me ask you, why force this constitution
down the throats of the people of Kansas in
opposition to their wishes, am in violation of
our pledges What great object is to be at
tanned 7 Qui bono' What are you to gain by
it! viii you sustain the party by violating
Its prlnclpes Do you propose to keep the
party united by forcing il division! Stand by
the doctrine that leaves the people perfectly
tree to form and regulate their institutions for
themselves in their own way. and your party
Will be united and irresistible in power. Aban
don that great principle, and the party is not
worth saving and cannot be saved, alter it shall
De violated. trust we are not to be rushed
upon this question. Why shall it be done! =
Who is to be benefited Is the South to be
the gamer Is the North to be tho gamer 3
Neither the North nor the Sou th has the right
TO gain sectional advantage by trickery OF
fraud.
but am beseeched to wait until hear from
the election on the 2lst of December | am
told that perhaps that will put it all right, and
VIII save the whole difficulty. How can it,
Perhaps there may be a large vote There NAV
De large vote returned. Laughter But
DENY that 1t is possible to have fair vote on
the Slavery clause; and | say that it is not pos
slble to have any vote on the constitution Why
walt for the mockery of an election when it is
provided unatterably, that the people cannot
votc-when the majority are DISTINGUISHED!
But am told on all sides g Oh, Just wait :;
the Pro-Slavery clause will be voted down. -
! ihat does not obviate any of my objections; it
does not diminish any of them. You have no
more right to force a lree-State constitution on
Kansas than a slave State constitution If
Kansas wants sIave-State constitution she has
a right to it if she wants a free-State consti-
tuition she has right to it. 1t is none of nv
business which way the Slavery clause is deci
deu. care not whether it is voted down or
Voted up. DO you suppose, after the pledges
0, my honor that would 60 for that princi-
PIE and leave the people to vote as they choose
'hat would now degrade myself by voting one
way II The Slavery clause be voted down, and
another way if it be voted up! | care not how
tnat vote may stand. take it for granted that
1t Will be voted out think have seen
enough IN the last three days to make it certain
that 1t VIII be returned out, no matter how the
vote may stand. Laughter
OFF, am opposed to that concern because it
kn "a :
Siery 10 deieat the fair expression of the will
OF the people There is no necessity for crowd.
ing th!s measure, so unfair, so unjust as it is
IN all Its aspects, upon US Why can we not
now 90 what we proposed to do in the last
congress We then voted through the Senate
an enabling act, called " the Toombs bill' be-
iieved TO be just and fair in all its provisions,
pronounced to be almost perfect by the Senator
from New Hampshire, (Mr. Hale,) only he did
not Ike the man then President of the United
States, who would have to make the appoint
ments' why can we not take that bill. and
out OF compliment to the President, add to it a
clause taken from the Minnesota act, which he
thihks should Dc general rule requiring the
constitution to be submitted to the people, and
pass that That unites the party, You all
voted, with me, Tor that bill, at the last Con-
gress' why not stand by the same bill now
Ignore Lecompton, ignore Topeka, treat both
those party movements as irregular and void
pass fair bill-the one that we framed our
selves when we were acting as unit have
TAR election, and you will have peace in the
Democratic party, and peace throu ghout the
country, IN ninety days. The people want
lar vote They will never be satisfied without
It, They never should be satisfied without a
fair vote on their constitution.
Ii the foombs bill does not suit nv friends.
take the Minnesota bill of the last session-tbe
one so much commended by the President in
his message as model. Let US pass that rs
an enabling act, and allow the people of all
parties to come together and have a fair vote
and will go for it. Frame any other bill thai
secures fair, honest vote TO men of all parties.
and carries ont the pledge that the people shall
DO lett free to decide on their domestic justitu.
lions tor themselves, and | will 90 with YOU
with pleasure, and with all the energy NAV
possess. But ii this consiilu tim is TO be fore
Gu uown our Threats in violation of the funda-
mental prlnciple of free government, under
hioue OF SUBMISSION that is mockery and in
stie' VIII resist 1t tn the last | have no fear
VI any party associations being severed Il
snouiu regret any social or political estrange-
u'e"' even temporarily but if it must be, if
cannot act with you and preserve my faith and
my hohor' VIII stand on the great principle
ol popular sovereignty, which declares the
fien' Oh an people to be left perfectly free to
'orll ana regulate their domestic instituti tons in
their own way. | will follow that principle
wherever It's logical consequences may take me,
ana WI endelvor to defend it against assault
IRON any ana all Quurtnrs Nh marital n,o,
s,'aii ne responsible for my action hut myself
by my action will comprouit no man.
AT the conclusion of the honorable gen tie
man speech, loud applause and clappine Of
hands fosonnded through the crowded galleries.
Congressional
llnr tnlnnrn IL, 4, ,o,.....l q IL