Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-06-30
Gbe &ansas Qnestio1t.
SPEECH OF THE
! o., YILLEDGE L. B0NHAM,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA

In the q. S.of Representatives., May 3, 1858, on
tie Kansas Conference Committee Blu.
Fhse House being mitteeof the Whole,
Mr.. Bonham said = 3 = -.
Mr.. Chairman, I did not, for various reasons,
participate in the debate on the Kansas Senate
bill; nor did expect to take part in the dis.
\ cussion of any branch of that question. On the
passage of the Conference Bill, 7 moved the
previous question, but forebore to occupy the
time of the House to give my reasons for my
vote. Perhaps should not have troubled this
House at all with these reasons. But few
DAYS after the passage of the BILL my honorable
colleague (Mr Boyce) delivered speechin reply
to the honorable member from Mississippi (Mr.
Ouitman) in whose views [ concurred, and who
and myself alone of all Southern Democrats
stood with the opposition on that question.
do not complain of the course my colleague
thought proper to pursue. But that, with other
subsequent events, makes it due to my constit-
uents as well as to myself in my own Judgment,
that should ask the indulgence OF the House
whilst now briefly state those reasons.
The argument for and against the Senate Bill
had been exhausted in discussion exhibiting a
degree of ability seldom surpassed in these de-
Lucrative bodies. And I think an impartial
posterity will bear me out when say that the
preponderancc Of the argument was largely in
favor of the advocates of the BILL 10 my mind
it was concusively proved that the constitution
of Kansas had come up to us with all the sane
tions REQUISITE to valid constitution. The en-
tire Democratic party, with the President at its
head, (the Douglas Democrats excepted) en-
dorsed it. 1t was clearly shown, by precedents
and sound argument, that the convention had
the right to submit that constitution to the pee
ple for ratification or rejection, in part in the
whole, or not at all and in either event it
would he binding on Kansas and acceptable to
us. That she had not the requisite federal pop
ulation, and was presenting herself without q
formal enabling act, might, and ought, under
all the circumstances, to be waived, was conce-
ded by all-denied by none. 1t was not ques-
toned that she would agree to abstain from the
exercise of all right of taxation, and that the
extraordinary claim of seventeen millions OF
acres of. land over and above what other States
similarly situated had received would be aban-
doned, and the four millions gladly accepted.
The Senate bill was the embodiment, as was
supposed by its advocates, OF all that was use
full and needful for her admission. The Green
Puch amendment was distasteful to many Of US
but to secure unity Of action among the friends
of Kansas, it was acquiescedin after some mod
itications. This amendment was, however, a
concession which brought no strength to the
bill. but on the contrary weakened it; for it
led the opponents Of the bill to hope for further
concessions on conference upon the disagree
ING votes of the two Houses. 1t was, however,
considered by many that, although we might
in the language of the late lamented Evans, be
g fighting for shadow, so far as any ultimate
pool could come to the South )" nevertheless
we were contendns for "a principle of vital
importance" viz: the admission Of State with
q pro-slavery constitution; the Importance Of
Which principle was enhanced by tue fact that
such admission might prove-though do not
myself think such would have been necessarily
the Casa barren victory to the South; and
that in proportion as she would gaii but little
bv It. SO much the greater the wrong to the
South of refusing Kansas admission with the
I,ecompton constitution. The passage of the
hill was opposed by the Republicans, on the
Ground of the slavery feature in the constitution
The Douglas Democrats opposed it, mainly, Us
thew alleged, on the ground that the whole con
st;tytion was not. submitted. But think they
deceiye themselves. say it with respect, as
40 not mean to assal the motives OF gentlemen
the free and power of abolition feeling at home
nnconsciously and mperceptibly operated upor
their judgments. The precedents OF the ratif
cation of the federal constitution by the thlr
teen original States by their respective conVen
lions alone, without submission to the people
and the adoption Of their State constitutions
nv more than half of the States of this Union
in the same manner, it would seem, ought tt