The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-22


profit aud where the slave never live with comfort
AND WHAT Interest have OF the North on the other
hand to force our peculiar Institutions even IL we had
the power southern people whose climate interests
and existence depend upon colored labor ?
There H. in my opinion but one common rounf upon
which the people Of the North and the SOUTH and every
portion Of the American continent can stand aud live
together N peace and that is that the people Of every
state and every Territory shall be LETT perfectly free to
do aS they please upon all things touching their local and
domestic concerns, SO long they do violate con-
stnon OF the United States. 1t was on this principle
that resisted the admission OF Kansas into the Union
under the Leeompton constitutions have always stated
and now repeat that did object TO Iecompton on
the ground OF the slavery clauses ntaned In that con
sation II the people Of Kansas wanted slavery was
willing they should have it, Ii they wanted the Leeomp-
/ ton constitution they had right to it,
did not believe the Leconlpton constitution was the
aet and deed OF the people Of Kansas that il
their will and hence deny the rghtu authority Of any
power ON earth TO force it upon them without their CON
sent VIII not So into the evidence to determine the
question Of fcs whether il did nabody the will OF the
people not leave that question 10 be determined
by the vote lust August when that constitution was re-
lected by vote Of eight to will only test the
principle by reversing the case and spposin that the
ab0tonsts had possessed the power ia the federal uo,
eminent that all the federal Offices in the Territory had
been filed with abotonhs that they had succeeded In
securing convention TO form constitution composed Of
abolition delegates who elected by Just such means
and under the circumstances as the Lecompton con-
yention, and that after the convention had assembled II
had been ascetned by an election in the Territory that
4
rtory and that consequently anti slavery constitution
would have been voted down II submitted 10 the people
and that the aboItionists under those circumstances
should have attempted to force antsLlyery constt-
ton pro-slayery people Would you southern men
have deenles such proceeding r Just towards your
selves Would you have submitted it II you would
not could it be fair just Kansas to take the Ie
compton constitution against the wishes OF the people
am not going to reopen the old controversy or argue
III merits am content to state the principle and only
hope that ii may be faithfully applied in future leaving
IN TAX of
ended, and trust it VII be renewed Let all asper
tiles engendered by it die with the contest few words
more and have done find that getting hoarss
from recent exposure, and will not be able touch on
some points upon wach would have desired to have
said few words. Ii to maintain this
government on the principles of State rights and State
sovereignty the republic may last forever and all the
| peope Of the states may live in peace.
Here several gentlemen called the speaker give
his views on Cuba to which he responded briefly. but
| emphaticallyl
1t destiny to have Cuba and YOU cannot prevent
it if you try. This declaration was received with loud
and ng-continned expressions of enthusiasm Ii il
folly to debate about the acquisition of Cuba nai-
rally belongs TO the American continent Lying at the
mouth of the Mississippi the heart the American con-
tnent and the body OF the American nation it was
merely question Of time the receiving Cuba when
just and peaceable opportunity presented itself
Whether it next yr the year after should be
ready when the occasion invited The true of
Central America and OF Mexico Will you say we have
territory enough We had territory enough when there
only thirteen States but in years we needed
more. Florida Texas, and California acquired lust
population increased. When the CLAYTON. Buwer
treaty, in 1880, was sent to the Senate for ratification
fought Il To the death. / was then asked what did
want with Central America / said we did not want il
then, but the time would come when would want it.
They asked me what my objection to the treaty was and
told them objected 10 that part declaring that neither
Great Britain the United should coIonize any
portion Of Central America II said would make a
treaty pledng ourselves not to do in the what our
necessity safety might compel us TO do then told
IIStIp
Mr. Souie we'll knows, that Central America so far
OFT we would never want IT, told them il was a good
way o-hnlf way Caliiorniaand on the direct road
to it. The senator graphic and significant description
OF the geographical position Of Central America re-
ceiyed with the heartest cheers and laughter 1t our
duty to open the public highways between the Atlantic
and Pacific and the Gulf States fought every treaty
with European powers that gave them any concern in the
affairs of the American continent. Perhaps I may be
permitted to state conversation had ut the time with
the British minister. Mr.. Bulwer considered the treaty
good one because reciprocal pledgng that neither
Great Britain the United States should interfere in
Central America II that was fair argument, said
would amend the argument and insert the Asia in
the treaty, that ID would readncither Great Britain
the United States would colonize or acquire territory
in Central America Asia But you have no interest in
Asia Mr Buiwer said No said l. nor have you in Cen
trail America But, slid he, yen viii establish
rights in Asia To which replied that we meant they
should never do so IN Central America
Those small feeble powers incapable of self gov
ernment experience proved past demonstration and
the interests of Chseniom required that somebody
should do it, Hence, should adopt a policy
in consonnnce with expansive destiny do not wish
to force things. We live in rapid age-I don
ritoy flser than cvilize and Americanze IT, am
no fbuster am not in favor of unlawful expeditions
But am not in favor Of playing miserable constsIulary
power for England France Let us acquire peaceabiy
Just much as b good for tho country That policy
not in favor of unless the groat principle OF State
rights interference with the right the people of
the Territories to settle domestic questions
shall be maintained Ii that policy shall prevail
future shall be more glorious than that of any that
liyrl fin. G,,a ~ ,i,e yr,I, III, ..1' .,cr
,r' \, ~. uoaii''S ' ave for thousands of wears
a. tA viii be peace and harmony in the free
'ttes and the slave States The more DEGREES of Ia,
ssie and longitude the greater the variety of nro
ductioDs the better Then We shall have The pr;nc;
o. rec trade among the great staples OF the world ma
KING us the greatest commercial agricultural Yuanufc
Lifting ana productive country the face OF the soha
lhese are my views OF foreign politics HAD NV atten-
Won not been directed to them would not have spoken
or these SUBJECTS My votes in Congr- were always in
Wassiy with these opinions 1t matters not yhetbcr
you desire more territory wish 10 acrrrs h. Tia
country cannot help but increase When we cease grow
ing we shall begin to decline hence our course X onward
On these principles fathers under Divine nsn,,aon
believe, formed the federal constitution
Mt Douglas then retired after returning thanks To his
Listeners fof hearing h,m with such patience and kind
Res and remarked that he had spoken OF the aotopss
moro mildly than he In the habit OF doing when
before them
SUPREME COURT OF THE TNrrED