The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-22
THE WASHINGTON UNION.

which his conscience did not approve In order 10 vote on
the slavery clause not only would the idea have been
jeted but the democratic candidate for the presidency
would have been rejected and every who backed
him would have been rejected too
The President tells in his message that the whole
party pledged faith and honor that the slavery
question should be submitted to the people without any
restriction qualification whatever Does this schedule
submit it without qualification 1t qualities il by say
ing You may vote slavery if you will vote for the
constitution but you shall not do without doing
that That is very important qualification quail
hcaton that controls man vote and his action and his
conscience If he is honest qualification confess
sedly in violation of platform We are told by the
President that faith and honor pledged that
the slavery clause should be submitted without dt fca
ton OF any kind whatever and am 10 be called
upon TO forfeit my faith and my honor in order TO enable
small minority of the people OF Kansas to dcfaud the
majority of that people out of their elective franchise
Sir, my honor is pledged and before it shall be tarnsL
ed will take whatever consequences personal to myself
may come but never ask me TO do an act which the
President in his message has said is forfeiture of faith
violation of honor and that merely for the expedency
of saving the party will go as far as any of you to
the party have much heart in the great cause
that binds us together party any man living.
will sacrifice anything short of principle and honor for
the peace of the party but if the party will not stand
by its principles its faith its pledges will stand there
and abide whatever consequences may result from the pc
sition aHa
Let me ask YOU why force this constitution down the
Threats of the people of Kansas in opposition to their
wishes and in violation of pedges What great OBJ
ject is to be attanedi On bono What you to gain
by itG WIN you sustain the party by violating its prin
dples Do you propose to keep the party united by
forcing division Stand by the doctrine that leaves the
people perfectly free to form and regulate their nsttu
tions for themselves in their way and party will
be united and irresistible in power Abandon that great
principle and the party is not worth saving and cannot
be saved after it shall be violated trust not to
be rushed upon this question Why shall it be done
Who is to be beneftedY Is the South to be the gamer
Ts he Nortb IN he he pajna
the South has the right to gain sectional advantage by
trickery or fraud
But am beseeched to wait until hear from the cleo
ton the 2lst of December am told that perhaps
that will put it all right and will save the whole diff
Guilty How can it Perhaps there may be large vote
There may be large vote returned. Laughter But
deny that it is possible to have fair vote on the sla
very clause and say that it is not possible to have any
vote on the constitution Why wait for the mockery of
election when 1t is provided unalerably that the peo
pie cannot vote-when the majority are DISTINGUISHED
But am told all Sides Oh, just wait the pro
slavery clause will be voted down. That does not OBJ
vate any of my objections it does not diminish any Of
them You have right to force free-Sate con-
stitution on Kansas than slave State constitution If
Kansas wants slave State constitution she has right to
it if she free-State constitution she has right
it, 1t is of my business which way the slavery
clause is decided not whether it voted down
voted up Do you suppose after the pledges OF my honor
that would go for that principle and leave the people to
vote as they choose that would degrade myself by
another way if it be voted up care not how that vote
may stand take it for granted that it will be voted
out. think have enough in the last three days
to make it certain that it will be returned out no matter
how the vote may stand Laughter ...
Sir am opposed to that concern because it looks to
like system of rickery and jugglery to defeat the
fair expression of the will of the people There is
cessty for crowdng this measure 50 unfair so unjust as
it is in all its aspects, upon Why not now do
what proposed to do in the last Congress We then
voted through the Senate enabling act called the
Toombs BILL believed to be just and fair in all its pro-
Visions pronounced to be almost perfect by the senator
from New Hampshire, Mr.. HALE, only he did not like
the man. then President of the United States who would
have to make the appointments Why can we not take
that BILL and out Of compliment to the President add to
it clause taken from the Minnesota act, which he thinks
should be general rule requiring the constitution to be
submitted to the people, and pass that? That unes the
party You all voted, with me- for that b at the last
Congress Why not stand by the bill now? Ig-
Lecompton ignore Topeka treat both those party
movements irregular and void pass fair billthe
that we framed ourselves when were acting as
unit have fair election and you will have peace in the
democratic party, and peace throughout the country in
ninety days. The people want a fair vote. They will
be satisfied without it, They should be sat-
isicd without q fair vote ON their constitution.
If the Toombs bill does not suit my friends, take the
Minnesota bill of the last sessionthe much
mended by the President in his message model Let
pass that enabling act and allow the people Of
oil parties to come together and have fair VOTE and
will go for it, Frame any other bill that secures fair
honest vote to of all parties and carries out the
pledge that the people shall be left free to decide their
domestic institutions for themselves and will so with
you with pleasure and with all the energy may possess
But if this constitution is TO be forced down throats
in violation of the fundamental principle of free govern
ment under mode of submission that is mocSery and
insult painful it will be to me, must break all
Citations connexions rather than forfeit my principles
have no fear of any party associations being severed
should regret to social and political ties severed but
if it must be, if cannot act with you and preserve my
faith and my honor will stand the great principle Of
popular sovereignty which declares the right of all peo
pie to be left perfectly free to form and regulate their do
nestle institutions in their way will follow that
principle wherever its legal and logical consequences may
take me- and will endeavor to defend it against assault
from any and all quarters No mortal shall be respon
sble for my action but myself BY my action will com
promit no man. AN. .aa
Hon. JAMES L. ORR.--Our immediate representative,
many of readers already advised, was elected
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
the assembling of Congress on Monday It'll inst This
high compliment to Col 0rrs acknowledged abilities
not unexpected he is cmnently fitted for the position
and his popularity with his party together with the