Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-03-25
Proeeedings of Ccngress.

his speech by referring to the right Of the
people to govern themselves as great prin-
ciple, and applicable to the present circum-
stances. The President, he said, has rec
commended with unusual earnestness the ad-
mission of Kansas under the Lecompton
constitution. 1t is question IN his mlnd
only of facts whether the Lecompton Con-
stitution comes with such authority and
sanction as oblige us to recognize 1t as the
Constitution of Kansas. He thought it
did not. The evidence of Governor Wal
ker, and Mr. Stanton, show that 1T IS
against the will of an overwhelming ma
jority of the people.
He recaptulated the statements OF va
rious frauds i'm the election held in Kansas,
and then examined the legality of the Le-
compton Constitution, declaring that 1t was
not the Constitution of Kansas, but only of
the Convention that framed it. The vote
of ten thousand inhabitants of Kansas on
the 4th of january shows that it is not the
Constitution of the People They tell you
it is particularly obnoxious to them, because
tainted with fraud. 1t is one of a series of
frauds, instigated for the purpose of get
ting and keeping possession of the govern
ment of Kansas, from the first election,
carried by armed invaders from Missouri,
down to the present day. Hence, he con-
cluded, to impose it upon Kansas would be
a plain and palpable violation of the right
Al nlo To fhatncnlupS Rnt
continued Mr. Crittenden, the LecOmpton
Constitution carries on its face the evidence
of corruption. Those who framed it knew
it contained provisions that the Free State
men could not assent to. Therefore, none
were allowed to vote unless sworn to sup
port it, slavery provisions and all
The six thousand votes in its favor were
put in with the view of exhibiting a suit
able majority, and in order not to make the
fraud too monstrous, they went just beyond
the line Fraudulent intent was apparent
throughout, and how he asked, can gentle
men ignore these frauds in the face Of inter-
nal evidence and concurrent testimony
The people of Kansas say it is not their
constitution, and ask us to send it back
to be submitted to vote of the peo-
pie Can we, he asked, refuse such re-
quest? Can Senators turn from such ey-
idence to legal technicalities and presump-
tions of law? They ought to look to truth
and principle without searching for pre-
sumptions and preeedents. Holding these
principles, he said, he would not put his
hand to the admission of Kansas under the
Leeompton Constitution
Mr. Crittenden then asked, What can
the South gain by the admission of Kan
sas under that constitution? No Senator
believes that she can be Slave State
The laws of climate and geography forbid
it. In support of this view he quoted the
sentiments of several members of Congress,
including Mr. Keitt
Mr.. Hammond, 6. C.)--Did Mr. Keitt
say so?
Mr. Crittenden-It was so reported
Mr. Hammond-Mr Keitt quoted pas
sage to that effect, but did not endorse it,
Mr.. Crittenden resumed, contending that
the people Of Kansas should be allowed to
make such constitution as they please
That, said he, is the great American prin-
ciple, that is the principle of the South it
self He then spoke discursiyely on vari-
Gus topics. He was, he said, according to
the terms now used, a Southern Democrat;
he had lived all his life in Southern eli
mate, and was ready to defend his rights
there, but in the resolute spirit in which
he would defend his own rights he would
defend the rights of others. He repeated
that he did not believe that Kansas could
be Slave State The South was deceiy-
ed in that respect
Referring to the Missouri Compromise,
he said it would have been better to let it
stand. The South could gain nothing by
it, nor the North, but it was hallowed as a
bond of union. It's accomplishment was
hailed as one of the greatest acts of that
great leader, Henry Clay. 1t brought
peace to the country by localizing Slavery,
and should not have been broken. He-was
growing older, less susceptible to new i'm
prcssions, and would have been content to
have rested upon that Compromise.
1t has brought us the reverse of peace
it has brought us trouble Turning to
Kansas, he said he would vote for her ad-
mission if he thought it would bring her
peace; but he did not believe it would 1t
is said her admission will localize the ques-
ton of slavery in that territory He did
not believe it. If that question is to be de-
batcd, it will be debated here But it must
be debated in the right way. There should
be no excitement. Why should his friends
of the North use such inyectives-inyec-
tives, he must say, of the most atrocious
kind ? Why should we not live in peace
and harmony, as our fathers did? We are
united in language and in blood and yet
the destinies of the future are forgotten,
while this petty subject of disagreement is
nursed into colossal proportions
A lln1iao. 20 bo 4 L II