The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-04-16
pELIyERkD IN THE HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,,
MARCH 90, 1883.


the state ofthe Union-Mr. REILLY said
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: / have, up to this hour, re-
Trained from public expression OF my views
on the Kansas QUESTION, in the hope that some
faI and honorable compromise would be eitec-
ted which would settle it in way satisfactory
10 all PARTIES. begin to fear that my hope
will prove false one; and as | will shortly be
called upon 10 record my vote for or against the
admission of Kansas, under the Lpcompton con-
slituton, il is but proper that [ should make
known 10 my constituents and my country the
reasons which induce M to vote as ] shall when
the time arrives for me to give that vote.
confess, sir, that this question has given me
more anxiety than all others to which | have
had my attention called, or on which It has
been my duty to vote since ] took my seat as
member of this House. Indeed, / consider il a
question of more moment, and fraught with
more Of good or evil TO the country, than any
other ever presented for the consideration Of
Congress since the formation of our Government.
Ii certainly demands an exercise Of Tue best
Judgment, and must appeal to The patriotism OF
every true American citizen. We may, per-
haps, in few days decide the fate of tnis Re
public How careful, then, ought we TO be of
Cur words, how sure that we do "a act which
will cause Us regret in the future
This subject has not occupied the minds and
engaged the attention ofthose n authority aionfj
it has been and is yet being discussed al almost
every iirpsi1e 10 our iaad. II has been, and Is
now, fruitful theme for all classes Of our cItl-
zrns. The statesman and the politician; the
minister, the merchant and the mechanic; the
farmer, the aborer and the lawyer, have ali
felt, and still feel, a deep solichude toT ITS
rIahtiul solution and peaceful settlement. They
fear, and perhaps not without just cause, that,
if net settled ROW, it may for years to come,
continue aud increase the jealousy and bitterness
which now exist between our brethren oi Inc
North and South, and arr, therefore, anXiouSiy
directing their attention and hopesto Congress
for a speedy and amicabie termination OF the
agitation and excitement which this veXed and
dangerous question has produced throughout
our country, so that peace and harmony may
once more prevail among our PeoPlr, and the
Union stand, as it has in time past, monument
10 perpeuae The fame Of those whose wisdom
planned it, as also the pride and beast OF The
nation.
How shall we meet the expectations Of our
fe!law-cnizens How shall wr drive from cur
political horizon the clouds which lower DER
our house, and cause the sunshine Of peace and
happiness to enter and keep possession OF every
dwelling in cur once thrice happy land! We
cannot do il by engrndering aud encouraging
strife and contention between one portion and
another Of our people. We cannot do II by
calling each other harsh names and using op-
probrous epithets; by stigma,izlng as base, mean,
and vile, all hose who may hold certain class
of human beings in seryitude. We cannot do
it by condemuing in harsh, unmeasured terms
Of abuse those who may honestly think that the
institution Of slavery is wrong No, sir, this
will not heat-the wound inflicted upon our
country by the indiscreton OF some and the
madness Of others. This will only tend TO
widen the breach already too wide, between
our fellow citizens Of the North and South. The
circumstances in which we are placed demand
calm, sensible action, aad unyirlIing devotion
10 the interests and welfare Of the great people
whose representatives and servants we are.
Mr.. Chairman, in performing the duty which
/ undertook TO discharge, shall not detain the
House by an elaborate or lengthy argument TO
prove that Kansas ought TO be admitted into the
Union under the-Lecompton constitution. Nor
is il my purpose 10 90 into history ofthe set
tlement of Kansas, to show that portion ofthe
people now there went there with the'intention
OF making il slave State, and another portion
10 make II a free State. In my Judgment, the
citizens OF this free country have perfect right
TO settle on any Of the unappropriated territory
of the United States; and, If the decision OF the
highest judicial tribunal of the nation is 10 be
taken as the law, they have a right TO take
their slaves with them, and, if they can, even
establish slavery as one of their domestic inst-
iutionS. Nor viii pretend TO show that the
citizens of the North or Of the South have not
the right 10 appropriate money for the purpose
of sending persons into Territory TO make it
either free or a slave State, provided such
persons, after they have arrived in the Territory,
set about the accomplishment of their work in
a peaceful aad orderly manner, aud in obedi-
ence to the Constitution OF the United States
Thus part OF the present controversy ] shall