The Washington union., 1858-03-25
THE KANSAS QUESTION.
SPEECH OF HON. WIN. ID. BISHOP,
op CONNECTICUT.


Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Chairman, it would be much more
gratifying TO my feelings at the present time to remain
silent but find that cannot in Justice TO myself and
to those Connecticut democrats whom Ia part represent
permit this occasion pass without expressing my views
on this great question.
find sir that attempt has been made to create the
idea throughout the North that the friends of the admin
istraton from the North restrained by fear
other cause from expressing their sentiments this sub
iect An intmation thrown out the other day by
gentleman from Illinois MIR. MORRIS that but demo
crat from the North had at that tme dared to open his
mouth this subject and that the political cruciSon
which in store for him had frightened the rest OF
out Of our consistency. The gentleman said
~ donb whether a this door
who sustaining i Ieoompton outrage 'ha, does not e n s,cp
a, houc.p " ' "''"
Now, sir, thc.y explains @ ny AAd Inc motives by
"n''n gonse mea aA NJucnced in their action on this
aGGespch ! will not say that they preparing the
Wy ior reelection to this House l will not say that
they have got their fingers upon the public pulse and
administering medicine just that beats faster or
slower; but will say that thank them for the an
nouncement which they make to the country and the
world that there are some northern democrats sill let so
devoid Of political absN so regardless of the evils which
NAV aMan Them, that they willing to meet prema-
tue political grave and fearful retribuon in order
carry out what they believe to be for the best interests of
the country. [Applause the floor and in the gal
erics
Mr. NORRIS of Illinois When the gentleman quotes
from my speech let him quote in connexion with what
follcws.let him quote the whole paragraph ,,ar 4,
Mr. BISHOP I was going to rc''atA shts fssietted
that the gentleman, nfs Nhtihg conferred this compli
ment upon NV OF lis, should have made qualification
wit; for he says:
Relieve question day pressure of the admpstro
on which has marked upon The imprint e n povcr ana M II
day and have no sies , c aemusn, from tn, ~ North eoSs
be found wtrns 70 admit Kansas under the
Now, Mr.. Chairman it is q very great pity that the
gentleman should have marred the beauty of the comp
ment by such qualification What does he mean
Docs he to say that oil these of the North who
stand by the administration on this question ectuote5
by base and unworthy motives nors n6 mean To say
that they have sacrificed tEe political honor and inte
its f te sake of Executive patronage and favor? IL
he to bring this charge against the democracy
Connecticut all have to say is that very much doubt
the popriety and consistency Of representative from IT.
nos calling in question the integrity of Connecticut
democrats until the people of Illinois have paid pco-
pie at least the interest upon the money they them
Laughter and applause .#.
The CHAIRMAN. The Chair fes!s 1t bis duty to say
that applause IN ts galleries be tolerated nor
nror tire oor hopes that these demonstrations of
applause will not be repeated.
Mr.. BISHOP. Now, Mr.. Chairman, before proceeding
to the Kansas question wish to say word two in re-
gard to the position OF the democratic party in Connect
cut upon this important question, which for years has
disturbed the peace and harmony Of the country refer
to the question of slavery Under the constitution, of
the United States, understood by i,s nlncrs the de-
mocrsy of CnheclicNt accord to our brethren of the
South the right to control and manage the institution of
slavery their States to them shall best
accord to them the right TO INTO the Territories
of these United Stetes with their property whenever and
wherever they please, so long they Territories
we accord to them the right to bring into this Union
States either with without slavery according
the legally aud fnirly expressed will of the majority
the people such States ut the time of their admission
We believe, Mr. Chairman, that tesr weiH Some of the
compromises of the constitution Which our fathers were
willing to make IN order to establish this govcnmenta
government which has done for humanity and more
for religion than any which has existed since the world
began
And because Mr. Chairman disposed to accord
those constitutional rights to the South have been de-
nounccd by abotonsts and republicans dough faces
northern men with southern principles The charge
is false We northern with national principles
We take the constitution find it. and not
wish 1t and If gentlemen have any FAULT to hhd
with that let them heap their upon their slave
holding ancestors VI gentlemen really profess such
tments they seem to entertain in regard TO the sin
and wckedncss of the institution, recognised under
the constitution, let them go to New En-. land
grave yard, and there, amid the decaycd and broken
tablets which mark the last resting places Of their faith
ers, they will find monument more conspicuous than
the rest which has not felt the witering effect of time
and which stands bright and beautiful it did upon
the very day when the legislature Of northern
State planted it there feeble token of respect to their
delegate in the national convention and after having
read the inscription which grateful poserity has
gravod upon its polished side let them the vindic
tive feelings Of their philanthropc breasts by nscbing
beneath it, Here lies buried ho has beqrlcathcd
To the country heritage OF nlan,y and shame cursed
be his name forever"
If still their virtuous feelings opprcss them let them
visit the consecatcd soil of Mount Vernon ransack
honorel tomb gather up the bones of the slaveholng
Father OF their Country, clotbe them in the revolution
AIRY garments which lie within the walls yondo
marble building and hang them in eitgy upon the
est tree, they hang in eigy those at the North
who only seek 10 carry out the obligations OF the cons
tuition which such have imposed upon them Zap
plause in the galleries
Mr.. KItGORE rise To question Of order. pro-
test against these demonstrations ofappause from the
ployees of the government in the galleries
The CHAIRMAN The gentleman from Connecticut
will pause The Chair appeals to gentlemen
upon the floor and in the galleries not to make these de
monstratons Of applause They unsuitable to delib
erative body
Mr.. BISHOP. do not ask any applause from the
galleries
The CHAIRMAN. The Chair hopes that gentlemen
win remember that it Is his duty TO preserve order
and will not require that this matter shall be mentioned
again.
Mr.. BISHOP. trust, MIR. Chairman that these views
of the Connecticut democracy satisfactory to all the
conservative of the South and when stand by them
in all their constitutional and just rights they ask and
expect Such democracy this il behooves
southern friends strengthen and encourage, and not to
weaken and destroy. Most of friends feel and apprc
ciate this but there are regret to say actuated
doubt by pure motives, but certainly by misguided
zeal and unfortunate judgment, who doing more
in single day to weaken and paalyze organization
than all the combined forces Of the opposition could
compsh in a year refer TO that class of arguments so
often delivered upon this floor in which the slave
pared with the free aborer of the North in which slavery
set forth moral and religious institution in which
the crime and paupcrism existing Mt the North are attb
tTdu I4 L.. A. -. ,l,n.I