The Washington union., 1858-02-04
OF WASHINGTON. THURSDAY MORNINGS FEBRUARY A. 1853
AFFAIRS AND LECOMP-
TON CONSTITUTION. .q, \ I
SPEECH OF HON. LucIus Q. c. LAMAR,

TON CONSTITUTION. .r,s Z.
SPEECH OF HON LucIUs Q. G. LAMAR,
sEs1I MISSISSIPPI,
Oa Aercg"aa and Kons aa1s deivsrAd ia the Hoass o,
Representatives, January Is, 1853.
The House being in Committee Of the Whole ON the
state Of the Union and having under consideration the
Presidents annual message, Mr.. LAMAR said
Mr.. CHAIRMAN II IL not my purpose to discuss the va
rious questions involved in onr Central American rca
tions Should avail myself Of future occasion to do
So may he forced reluctantly to dissent from some OF
the views 50 ably presented by my distinguished col
league, Mr.. QurMAN. However painful this may be to
mysef nevertheless feel confident Of his generous In
dugcnce especially when he In my only the
reflex Of his own spirit OF independence q spirit which
runs like stream OF fire through all his acts aud writings
which enabled him few years since to light up the ar
dor OF thousand patriots fire his countrymen to the
assertion Of their rights and at this day enshrnes him Ia
the hearts and affections Of the people of his State with
out distinction Of party
Mr. Chairman, any proposition which has for It's object
the advancement aud progress Of southern institu-
tons, by equitable means will always commend itself to
my cordial approval Others may boast of their widely
extended patriotism and their enlarged and compreen
siye love ot this Union With me- confess that the
promotion Of southern interests is second in Importance
only to the prsservaoR of southern honor. In reading
her history and studying her character. delight lin
ger in the contemplation of that stern and unbroken con-
hdence with which the South has always cllg 10 the In
tegity G her principles and the purity of her honor In
that unfortunate division which has separated our cou
try into sections, natural beyond our control
have assigned to her the weaker section. A numer-
cal minority finds safety and protection alone in
the power of truth and invncibility of right The
South, standing upon this high ground has ever
commanded the respect of her friends and doed the as
saults Of her enemies When ruthless majores have
threatened wrong and injustice their hands have been
stayed only by the Difference which the worst spirits un
conscously pay to the of justice In the long and
bitter contests which have marked internal struggles
the South has made but demandthe constitution of
common country, the claims Of justice and the obi
CATIONS Of States and it is boast to-day that we can
present record unstained with single evidence of vo
lated faith OF attempted wrong The regard for
truth, justice, and honor which characerizes our inter
with the various sections Of own country fur
nishes the safest rules for dealings with other conn
tries Az the constitution is the law Of conduct at
home SO let good faith be the rule of conduct abroad
Ii l could do SO consistently with the honor of my
country, would plant American liberty with southern
upon every inch of American soil believe
that they give to the highest type of civilization
known to modern times, except in those particulars
dwelt upon eaboratey and complacently by the gen
tleman from Massachusetts, Mr. TnAYER In that par
ticular form Of civilization which causes the population
Of country to egrate to other lands for the means of
concede to the North great superiority
over our section. Laughter. There be no doubt
that New England, and especially Massachnsetts is a
splendid country to emgate FROM and in this respect
stands nnriyaed with perhaps the single exception of
Ireland. Laughter And right here l desire to ex-
press my acknowledgements to the gentleman for the very
apt and classical comparison which he instituted between
his section and the ocia genn 1t never occurred to
before but since he has mentioned H. must confess
to the resemblance in many respects between the
cent emigration from New England and the ruption of
the Cloths and Vanals. Laughter It il also due to
candor that should that the gentemans vindcaton
Of the emgant aid societies places the objects and
tves OF that enterprise upon defcnsible grounds
than nf the South enn.nsoh tn ariat
perfectly satisfied that the thing demanded by
s and has resulted in benefit to all parties concerned
that the country benefited by getting rid of the popu
laon and the population greatly benefited by leaving
the country. daughter. k3o ts
TO return from this digression while am southern
man. thoroughly imbued with the spirit of my section
will consent to submit the fate Of noble insti
tutons the hands Of marauding bands violate their
sanctiy by identifying their progress with the of
unlawful expeditions And most especially when see
them receiving the countenance and sanction of dsn
gushed senator whose the Kansas question is
fresh in our recollection.
Before consent to schemes of territorial
quiation to be effected, usual the prowcss of south
en arms and the contribution of southern blood and
treasure desire the question Of the Souths right to
tend her institutions into territory already within the
Union practically and satisfactorily settled by the legis
ation Of this Congress These territorial acquisitions
M have been to the South like the far famed fruit which
grows upon the shores Of the accursed beautiful to
the sight, but dust and ashes to the lips We learn from
the Presidents message that the people Of Kansas hav
ing reached the number that would justify her admission
into the Union State, she has, by her dny-const
tued authorities, taken all the steps necessary to the at
tainment Of this object and will In short time demand
the redemption of the pledge Of the government that she
.shall be admitted, with without slavery, her con-
stitution may prescribe at the time Of such admission
But in advance Of her application, informed by
the distinguished author of the Kansas BILL snd gen.
tlcmcn upon this foor that her has been prejuged
and her claims rejected This presents question be-
fore whose colossal magnitude the wrongs of Walker
and the crminality of Paulding sink into nsigni6
canoe.
propose to examine into the grounds upon which this
violation Of pghted faith is attempted to be justified
The ground principally relied upon Is that the costu
called in pursuance of enabling or authorizing act Of
Congress- but the motion Of the territorial egs
lature Now sir apart from the practice of the govern
lnent which has bcen uniform this subject for
one admit to the fullest extent the propriety and i'm
porance of such net Of Congress- have always held
that the sovereignty these Territories vested in
the people Of these United States that the power of
that this power limited only by the constitution and
the nature of the trust and that before the inhabitants
Of the Territory competent to form constitution and
State government it In necessary that Congress should
first Withdraw its authority the Territories The
cesity of enabling act conccde to the fullest extent
Whenever individuals in Territory undertake to form
State government without the previous assent Of Con.
grcss they my opinion guilty Of gross surpation
and Aagant disregard Of the rights of the United States
and the authority Of Congress Under such circumstances,
1t becomes question purely of discretion with Congress
whether remand them to their territorial condition.
to waive the of authority and to raty the proceed
ings AZ regular and lawful The question presents
itself do the circumstances attending the application OF
Kansas for admission into the Union present such case
Was the convention at Tecompton unauthorized
and revolutionary assembagc, usurpng the sovereignty
4 ,H tha fhnrfv