Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-07-23
MIR. ROYCE.S SPEECH,

The following is a brief abstract made
from memory, of Mr., Royce's remarks, at the
Convention which re-nomnate him. After
making his acknowledgements of the honor
shown him by the Convention, Mr., Royce
said that when the Republican party came
into being, no man could be found in YER
mont who did not profess to be in favor of
having Kansas a free State. The Cincinnati
Platform of the Democratic party was SO
shaped, that northern men said the People
of Kansas would be free to make it free
State, if they chose to do so. The politicians
of that party said Mr.. Buchanan would ia
pretense could he have gained his election.
For himself, Mr.. Royce said, he had hoped
better from Mr. Buchanan in that re-
spect, than could have been expected from
any other democratic candidate for the Pres
idency; but he soon found, after his arrival
at Washington, that those who had distrust-
cd Mr. Buchanan, knew him much better
than he did.
When the Lecompton Constitution was
brought into Congress, many of the demo-
cratic members were unwilling to 60 for it
the course of events which followed the
means pursued 70 carry the measure, the
country was familiar with. The Administra
ton had to go outside the New England States
to find traitor. They got one in Ohio, and,
probably, he had got his reward from the
Administration already. The people would
be likely to reward him differently.
The first pretense, that if the Constitution
was adopted the people could immediately
change it to a free Constitution and therefore
it was as well to take it, was soon abandon
ed. AS to the peculiar feature of the English
Bill-it was something like the man who said
he aimed his gun so as to kill if it was a deer
and miss if it was a calf. Mr.. Stephens
of the Committee fairly and boldly said,
when questioned, that the Constitution was
not submitted to the people; and no intelli-
gent man would say that it was fairly sub
mitted, in any form. Shaped as the thing
was-with bride at one end and threat at
the other-he (Mr, Royce should fear for the
result if the mass of the Kansas men were from
any other quarter of the Union. Being mostly
from Vermont, from Massachusetts,, and the
other free States of the Old Thirteen, he be-
lieved they would reject that Constitution in
such a way that it can never berevived again.
Many wondered why the Kansas subject
occupied so long time in Congress. 1t was
one of immense importance--the strife was
not for little piece of Territory but for an
Empire. The whole future of the nation
depended on the result. lie believed the
result of last years legislation in Congress
would make Kansas free state
Other great questions in Congress were
connected with that subject. The country
was peaceful when Congress came together
and the Treasury was OVERLOOKING. Money
was in excess and the talk was of distributing
the surplus among the States, as was done
years ago. There would be some $50, 900 200
in the Treasury which Secretary Cobb said
would not be wanted, for the revenue was in
excess. But soon he suggested that the right
to issue large amount of Treasury notes
would be onvenent-should not want it all
but it would do no harm to authorize the
issue of 500, 100000. Mr.. Cobb had been Il
hard currency man-opposed to Bank notes
and paper promises, but now he wanted the
right to issue notes, and notes to pay notes.
The republicans were opposed to this shift
less way of doing If the government needs
money why not bring in, said they, regu-
lar loan bill, and make suitable provisions to
pay the debts which were to be incurred.
No-they would have the notes. Soon the
urplus was gone, the notes were gone and
more money was wanted and was granted -
He did not believe that would suffice to carry
the Government through. No provision of
any sort had been made to pay the accumula-
ting debt of the country, and he believed in
the end the President would recommend
direct TAXATION rather than an increase OF tariff
because it would be more acceptable to those
at the South, Notwithstanding the rapid
increase of debt, and the diminution of reyen-
ne, the extravaganza of the government was
kept up, With lessening revenue, 500 addi-
tional revenue officers had been appointed
Mr.. Royce thought the times ominous of a
defeat of the Administration party in 1860,
and that the government would pass into the
han a . L.. r Il