Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-24

u
vote either way until vote for bank IA
it freedom of election 10 make youf right to
vote upou one question depend upon the mode
in which you are going TO vote on some Other
question which has no connection with il id
that freedom Of election Is that the great
fundamental principle Of self-gosernment. for
which we combined and struggled, in this TO
| dy and throughout the country, to establish
as the rule of action in all time to come
/ The President of the United States has
made some remarks in bis message which it
strikes me it would be very appropriate TO read
in this connection. He says:
The friends and supporters Of The Nebraska and Kan
act when struggling on receh. occasion TO snsfaiR
can people differed about meaning tha
subject. Everywhere throughout the Union they public
ly pledged their faith and hcnor that they would cheer
fully submit the question Of slavery 70 the decision OF he
bona de people vi Kansas, without any restrction
qualification whatever. All cordially united upon
the great doctrine Of popular soye eighty which shs
vital principle Of our free Institutions"
Mark this
Had it then been insinusted from any quarter that
it would have been sufficient compliance with the reqli-
sitions of the organic law for the members Of
tion thereafter he elected 70 withhold the question
slavery from the people and 70 Substitute their viii
for that Of legally aseertained maturity OF their Goa
stiidents ;his would have been instantly rejected"
Yes. sir, and will add further, hsd it been
then intimated from any quarter, and believed
bF the American people. that We would have
submitted the slavery clsnse in such manner
as to compel man to vote for that which his
conscience did not approve, in order to vote on
the slavery clause, not only weuld the idea
have been rejected, but the Democratic eandi.
date for the Presidency would have been re-
jected and every man who backed him would
have been rejected too.
The President tells us I'm his message that
the whole party pledge onr faith and our hon-
or that the slavery question sheuld be sub@t-
ted to the people, without any restriction or
qualification whatever. Does this schedule sub-
NIT il without qualification 1t qualities it by
saying, You NAV vote for the constitution
but you shall not do so without doing that
That is a very important qualifications quail
ifcation that controls man's vote and his ac-
ton aud his conscience, if he is an honest man
"A qualification confe-sedly in violation of our
platform We are told by the President that
our faith and or 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 10 enable small minority
Of the people of Kansas to defraud the major
ity of that people cot Of their elective fran
chise Sir. my honor is pledged and before
it shall be tarnished, win take whatever con-
sequences PERSONAL to myself that may come
bat never ask ne do an ect which the Pres
ident, in his message, has said is forfeiture of
faith, violation of honor, and that merely for
the espedency of saving the party, viii go
as far as an! Of you to save the party. have
as much heart in the great cause that binds us
together as party as any man living | win
sacrifice anything short Of principle and honor
for the peace of the party bat if the party
will not stand By IFS principles, its faith, its
pledges. viii stand there, and abide shatev-
er consequences may result from the position.
Let me ask you. why force this constitution
down the threats Of the people of Kansas. in
opposition to their wishes aud in violation OF
our pledge. Whist great object is to be at
tanned CEi bono What are you to gain
by it 2 viii you sustain the party BY yiolat-
ing its principles ? Do you propose TO keep
tie party united by forcing division? Stand
by the doctrine that leaves the people perfect.
" free TO form and regulate their Institutions
for themselves in their wav and your party
will be united and irresistible in power
Abandon that great principle, and the party
is not worth saving, and cannot be saved, af-
ter it shall be violated trust we are no:
10 be rushed upon this question. Why shall
il be done Who is 10 he benefited? Is the
South to be the gamer Is the North to be
the gamer? Neither The North nor the South
has the right 80 gain sectional adTantage by
trickerv-
Bot am b. seeched to wait until I hear
from the election oc the 2lst OF December l
am told thst perhaps that will pat it all right.
and will save the whole ditfculry. How can
it? Perhaps there may Ge q large vote
There may be large vote returned Laugh
ter Bot deny that II is possible 10 have
a fair vote on the slavery clause and | say
that it IS not impossible to hare any vote GA
the constitution Why wait for the mockery
Of an election when it is provided unalterably
that the people cannot sote-when tie maiors-
ty are disfrsnch;Sed ?
Bat am told on ali sides. +" Oh, jus. wait;
the pro-sIavery clause sIII be voted down.
That does not O6viate any of INV objections
IT does not diminish any Of them You have
no more right TO force free State constitu-
ton oa Kansas than slave-Stste Constitution.
II Kansas wants q slave-Stete Constitution she
has a right to it If she waats free-State
Constitution she has right to it. II is none
of m, b1siness which way the slavery clause
is decided. | care not whether il IS voted
down or voted up, DO .cu suppose. after the
pledges Of nv honor that would 20 for that
principle and leave the people 10 vote as they
choose. ths; would Nv degrade nysh b.
voting one way If the slavery clause De votes
down aaai arsarher war II n he yo-ad r-n
care not bow that Tote may stand | take 10
for granted that il VII be voted ort. think
haTe seen eHongh in the last .nree aays to
MAKE il certain that i. viii oe reswaed out.
no matter hoE the vote G1ay stand Laugh