Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-05-13
Gen. Cameronls Speech.

1ust before the vote was taken on the hau'
sls bill. in the Senate of the United States,
Gen. CAMERON arose TO address the Senate,
and made few brief remarks reminding Sen
ator BIGLER that he misrepreSentcd his con
stituents by voting for the bill reported by the
Committee of Conference -
Senator CAMERON said before the vote
is taken desire to say a word or two in rela-
ton to my own course. II was my intention
ct all early part of the session to say something
upon the general subject Of Kansas affairs, but
| am, as you all know. not much OF public
speaker, having bat little capacity ia that
say, aud no taste for it, often felt disposed
10 take part i'll the debate ; but when pro-
posed to do SO, deferred TO others and some
times when fe!t like going on l found that
some gentleman was discussing the qaestlon'bet-
ter than | could hope to do. | rise at this
time only to Gay that disapprove Of the pro-
position nov before the Senate much more
thar did of the original attempt TO force on
the people of Kansas constitution which they
we're unwilling to take. The original billwas
q plan proposition. for which men might have
voted honestly, without subjecting their motives
10 censure This look upon as difereut affair.
This, to my mind, is a trick 10 impose upon
weak men. or to enable corrupt men to make
the impression upon their constituents at home
that they have been acting honestly. IIi
should have said nothing Oh this sub ject Eow
if nv respected colleague had not been Ill sucl!
hot haste to announce TO the Senator from
New York, while he WAS discussing the pr0po-
sifion that the vote had been carried in the
other House against the wishes OF the treemcn
Of Kansas. His act was SO dfgreut from
what I expected from an honorable Senator
from PENNSYLVANIA, that was surprised at 1t.
! have always heretofore understood that no
ulau in the whole State Of Pennsylvania was
more positive and decided III the expression Of
lis belief before the people, that Kansas woad
not only he free State, but that she should
not have State constitution at all, unless it
should be voted for by a majority Of her citi-
zens. His whole course in life, until he came
here, was in favor OF frecmen aud Of the Free
Labor of the Northern States. His own bis
tory was such as naturally to make him an ad
vocate of frcemen aud free labor Why he
has changed bis course here is no business OF
EiLe but it does seem TO ME in bad taste
that should act as he does, as he certainly knows
that not only the whole Opposition party in
Pennsylvania, but very large majority of the
party to which he belongs in that State are
opposed to this measure, and opposed to the
conduct of the President OF the United States
in regard to it !; and cannot permit him to
come here and make the impression that he
believes the people Of Pennsylvania are in IA
vor Of il nor can remain quiet, much as |
dislike to talk in public, when the impression
is attempted to be made that the people Of
Pennsylvania are with hin or with the Presi-
dent o: the United States upon this subject
If the vote were TO be taken tomorrow, the
people of Pennsylvania, by hundred thou
alnd majority. would decide that the President
OF the United States had deceived them in re-
gard to this matter, and would prove also that
my colleague is mjsrcpFcsontius lis constituents
GA this great question.
The people of Pennsylvania are conservative,
and on all questions connected with slavery
they have always taken I'D l5ralo course
but, sir, tell YOU that if any man. who was
in their confidence IN the year 1885, could have
convinced them that, by any possible means
u constitution could be forced upon the people
OF Kansas in opposition to their wishes and
without q vote Of the people Mr.. Buchanan
could never have received the electoral vote Of
Pennsylvania lie 90 as it to the conduct Of
bimseif, and the active influence Of his friends
7ii oFcr thc otiLr, asserting Jb8t ny nature
Kansas must be free, and that 10 man would
dare, no matter what his position was, to at
tempt TO put upon her constitution unless her
people had the free aud inil right to vote for
or against it. The President, himself, thought
50 until lately. Every body knows that SO
late as the 7th Of July last, he wrote letter
. distinguished man in Kansas, telling him
that the constitution must be submitted to the
people of the Territory for their fair and free
vote, or it would not be adopted or sanctioned
by the Government
repeat, that do not desire to occupy the
time Of the Senate now. lam dcsirous that
the vote shall be taken. \ majority, by some
means or other, has decided against US in the
other House tic majority here, we know, IS
against Us, and it is idle to talk when 4 strong
majority will vote against Us.