The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-05-01
pOIhieaf.
SPEECH OF HON. MARCUS ]. PARR0Tr
Delivered in the Q. s. House of Representative,
March 31st, 1859.

ttetlFeIe4
March 3lst. 1s5s.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN need not apologize
for yenturing to avail myself of the in.
diligence of the Committee. to submit
what have 10 say respecting the Attain
of Kansas. If any apology cere neces.
ssrv. might find it in the fact that q
Delegate from distant Territory, fGen
Lane of Oregon has seen fit to go be-
vond his own sphere of action, and assail
nv constituents, IN order to promote the
welfare of his own. This is the short
road to Executive favor. ] refrain from
characterizing that speech as it deserves
only because l cannot do so consistently
with the proprieties of the place. In un.
deftaking to present the case of Kansas
shall not pursue that intangible, impal
pable, and somewhat protean political
quantity, called popular sovereignty
through the intricate mazes of theoretit
inquiry, but shall rather seek to unfold
its practical workings, as developed in
the chosen theatre of its operations, in
the trial of some years. The stand-poin,
from which my views of the subject are
taken is not identical with that occupied
BY any other person on either side of this
Chamber. / belong 10 no political organ
ization recognized here. 1 have no party
to serve, and none to fear in treading this
ground. Sectional parties alone exist in
Kansas. No other could exist, because
the great paramount issue, framed and
submitted to the people for their decis-
ion by Congress, in the passage of the
organic act, was a sectional question-the
question of Slavery. Sharing in this
struggle, / have striyen with my whole
heart and all my strength, for the su-
pemaey of that class of domestic insti-
tutions which experience had demonstra-
ted to be best calculated to foster, ameli-
crate, enlarge, and improve the condition
of the free white iaboring men of the
country, and thereby to strengthen the
stability of Republican institutions, OF
which this great interest is, in my opinion,
the main stay. Although chosen as a
representative by those who favor this
system of government. subsequent devel-
opments have greatly enlarged the num-
Der of these for whom l speak.
The sectional issue which has hereto
fore obtained, is swallowed up in still
greater issue, precipitated upon US and
upon the whole country, by the presenta-
ton here of the Lecompton Constitution.
When | stand here in my place, to plead
for the inherent right of the people OF
Kansas to frame their fundamental law,
/ may claim without exaggeration, to
speak for the whole people of Kansas, IT.
respective of their party predictions.
The Kansas act guaranteed to extend to
all who should settle under its provisions,
certain de6nitiye political privileges, as
we'll for their protection as for their guild
ance, whilst the country should remain in
state of pupilage This act was char
scterized by declaration of the doctrine
of non- intervention by Congress with the
subject OF Slavery in the Territories,
" leaving the people thereof, perfectly free
to form and regulate their own domestic
institutions in their own way, subject only
to the Constitution of the United States -
It will appear by an analysis of this
general declaration, as found in the de-
tails of the bill, that the people were to
have the right of representation in this
branch of Congress, the uninterrupted
choice of local Legislature, and the
supervision of their local and municipal
Affairs. The Constitution of the United
States was extended in terms, over the
Territory, as indeed it would have been
without words to that effect-thus beyond
doubt, securing to the citizens the add
ed privileges flowing from that instru-
ment, of higher and more inviolable
kind than those conferred by simple Stat
Ute law.
These rights combined, made up the
sum of political power in the Territory.
No one will deny that these were prom
ised, or that the faith of the country was
pledged for the fullfiIment of them. Yet
DO they stand to day recorded on your
statute book, the plighted pledge of the
nation, broken, disregarded, dishonered, but
notdisclaimed. These popular privileg-
es and rights, in support of which the
honor of nation was concerned, have
been all, without exception, without the
authority Of law, but in defiance of it,
even without the apology of provocation,
wantonly and continually violated.
Foiceless in this House, and borne
GOWN by a usurped Legislature in its
borders, the Territory has languished
under dreary despotisn, imposed by
i9relgn domination, and maintained by
'ae direct Intervention of the military
arm OF Government. All lawful resist
a sace as well as all appeals for redress.
nave been stigmatized by epithets alike
oaioas and untrue. g s|
without rights of any kind, we have
> eeen without remedy for wrongs, however
aasFsnt. A most merciless and persecu-
uns warfare has been carried on against
US fhe hard earnings of our industry
nave been swept away from us. by the
eand OF robbery our homes filled with
;eal oy the ceaseiess oppression of rufians.
invested with the color of law our lives
= ames seriously imperilled, alternately
~ the periodical incursion of q foreign
;oe' OF the no less remorseless process of
JUDICIAL prescription.
n, ne many have been ruled BY the few.
~aci uoullHaS6G the olQnaDi6a1tSs
alp muse who should have had all the politi-
= =. power, have had none and those who
sSeald W.., have had none, have had al.
"'.n occasional intervals of quiet, but
,O ,os 'ne most part through scenes of yio-
.sace, .l;, oloodshed. and war. this state of
.ss mas gone on until it has been cul-
minated IN the Lec,mpton Constitution,
.s saa upon this. they who have supported
;a,' senefae now make stand. demand
g feinioreement of powerwherewith to
paes moaeag: and if possible to make perma.
.s aea', the vassalage of the people Of
MI. ,nss Constitution, I have to Say, that it
,;es - Vicious In its origin, that the Conven-
aaa.. aae which framed it was fraudulently
tasslsa1ed, tsrs and that the plan of its pre-
ts" suee submission was faliacious, and con-
~ ased as cheat by which to circunvent
tbs G people. In support of this view, in
,a. a's. place let me recur briefly to some
seeedent events in our history. because
Isaam submit that no comprehensive, intel.
soss View of this question can be ar