Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-05-29
sPEEC CHI
j. j. CRITTENDEN,
OF KENTUCK,

~. OF KENTUCKY.
The Admission ofKansas into the Union
under the Lecompton Constitution,
M DELIVERED ~
In THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
March n 1868.
The Senate haDing under consideration The bill to
admit Kansas into the Union as State
Mr.. HAMMOND. wish TO say that Mr.. Keitt
quoted that passage from Mr. Pinckney's speech
on the Missouri question, which had been quoted
| on the opposite side Of the case previously. His
object in quoting it was to show that Mr. Pnckney
did not support the Missouri compromise upon
principle, but he did not indorse the sentiments
expressed by Mr.. Pickney in that extract
Mr.. CRITTENDEN. I accept the explanation
Certainly had no intention to misrepresent any
gentleman by reading the statements expressed in
this pamphlet. say it was not anticipated from the
| first that Kansas would be slave-holding State
Whist is the South to gain now by having it admit
ted? It may gain triumph in the admission of this
onstituton-admitted against the will of the majo-
rity of the people. IL is triumph, but is It not
| barren one? Is il triumph worthy Of the South
| Ii will produce nothing but increasedsbtterness
and evaporation, perhaps, on the part of those
| against whose will it is forced, not only in the
Territory, but elsewhere Itmay give new exasper-
alton to the slavery question new agitation which
God forbid 1t would be victory without results,
without profit, barren, sterile :as to all the ord-
nary and beneficial fruits, there is none. do not
know how anything is to be gained to the South
supposing, as verify believe, and as every gen.
tleman here believes, that it cannot be slave
State; t at there is majority there opposed
to it, and who win put il down Pass this,
and we may have a few years longer Of exasperated
struggle and exasperated agitation in the country
That is all the consequence of the barren victory
which would be obtained by admitting Kansas with
this constitution. That is not fruit think, which
any one would wish to gather. Now, If you attempt
to inforce it, We are told by Mr.. Walker-I know
nothing about it, but from all that he and Mr.
Stanton tell us, and they are Democratic witnesses
there is danger Of resistance and danger ofrebel
lion. .sali hsaRra a ayg
Where is the necessity, then, for doing it
now? Can we not resort 10 some other means by
which we may avoid all these consequences Of
evaporation, of danger, of resistance, of tumult,
or of agitation, upon, this subject and end this
contest in short time by authorizing the people
OF Kansas under the high mandate Of this Gov
crnment to form for themselves constitution,
if they want to come into this Union-a constitu-
tion fairly to be made, and fairly TO express the
will of the people 1t defers the subject but
little while. Is it not better to do that; is it not
better to suffer the evils we have, than TO fly to
others we know not of? / think every prudential
consideration is in favor of our forbearng to en-
force this constitution on the people of Kansas
and Of our afording them an opportunity of making
their views fully AMI perfectly understood. This
will be in accordance with the generous principles
and policy that the South has pursued heretofore.
The Kansas Nebraska bill was recommended
to the South, chiefly, by the repeal of the Mis-.
souri compromise, and the recognition of the
right Of the people OF Territory, when framing
a constitution of State government for them
selves to be perfectly free" to frame it as they
pleased-admitting or excluding slavery, aud reg
ulating their domestic institutions in their own
way subject only TO the constitution of the United
States.
Every citizen has an equal interest and right in
Territories belonging 10 the people of the United
States and the result Of this equal right seer to
me, to be, that, where there is no positive law to
the contrary any citizen ray lawfully carry his
slaves into those Territories and may lawfully hold
them. They were his slaves in the State from
which he emigrated, and must remain his, till d.
vested Of his right, by lawjust as an apprentice,
under the same circumstances, remains bound TO
his master. aFF rr .#
Ny opinion is, that the rep, al of the Missouri
compromise was a blunder; but / concur in the
principle that the people of our Territories, whrn
they come to form constitution for themselves,
have a right to form it as they please. am now
acting upon that gr, at principle Of popular rights.
feel myself bound TO give the benefit Of it 10 the
people Of Kansas Let the majority make such
constitution as they please That is the great Ame-
rican principle, that rises above all Others. Let
them govern themselves, and as the majority de
eide so let the constut on and so let the laws he
think we are infracting that great principle-the
principle Of the South ITSELF this very identical
subject by forcing this constitution, at least of
doubtful authenticity, upon the people. II there is
a majority in favor oft Il is not much trouble for
them TO ratify il. If there is a majority opposed
to il, they entitled 10 have their will and their
way. They are entitled 10 that upon principle;
they are entitled TO il by the express pledges of
the KansasNebraska law.
Sir, / feel that have already occupied great
deal Of your time-more than | was entitled or
expected to do and yet there are some general
topics upon which wish TO say something, though
not 20 Immediately connected with the direct
question bsfore US. .rT . ...H ... ...
Mr.. President, / am, according TO the denomi-
nations now usually employed by parties in this
country, a southern man / have livei all my life
in southern State. Ihave been accustomed Il om
my childhood 10 that frame Of society Of which
slavery forms a part am, so far az regards the
necessary d. fense Of the rights OF the South, as
prompt and a. ready TO defend them as any man
tho wide South contains; but in the same resolute
and determined spirit in which would defend
any invasion Of ts rights, and for which would
put my foot as far as he who went furthest, will
concede to others their rights and will maintain
and assert them. He who knows how TO value
his own rights will respect the rights Of others.
When the Missouri compromise was abolishtd
great fears were excited in the North and some
vague hopes entertained in the South, that slavery
might be established in Kansas, and extended in
that direction. did not believe it. believed that
the Missouri compromise Inc fixed in 1920, was
about that territorial line, north Of which slavery,
IL it could exist would not be roftably employed;
and our experience since has shown that the vice
men who made that compromise judged rightly.
I believed that the idea Of making Kansas a save
State was dclusion TO the South; that her hopes
would never be realized, If she entertained such a
hope az that thought, Therefore, il would have
been better, without examining sctupulously into
its coustitutionality TO let the Missouri compro.
mise stand / regretted its repeal. l did not be-
leve the South would gain anything by il, or that
the North would gain by It.
That compromise was bond and assurance Of
peace. would not have disturbed IL. II was
hallowed in my eslim ton by the memory Of
the men who had made it, 1t was ballowed by
the beneficial consequences that resulted from IL.
II was hailed, at the time IL was made, by the
South. 1t produced good, and nothing but good
from that time. 0ftcn have you, sir, Undressing