Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-04-14

thereafter slavery shall not exist in the new
State of Kansas" the institution would have
been abolished, and there would have been
abolished, and there would have been COM
plete authority in the Legislature to have
wiped out the remnant of slavery, that had
been previously planted in the Territory.
Mr.. Doolittle. / desire to ask the SEN
ator, does not the sch edule expressly estab-
, lish that property in slaves in the Territory
shall not be interfered with
Mr. Bigler. The property value in slaves
is protected. never heard anybody even in
Kansas object to that. But the Senator is
certainty aware that there is another provis-
ion in that constitution, which says that the
Legislature shall not emancipate the slaves
without remuneration of the owners; they
shall interdict the immigration of slaves into
the Territory so long similar persons are
held in bondage in the Territory.
Mr., Doolittle. That is in the slavery
ticle.
| Mr.. Biger. But they can, by making
compensation, cmancipate the slaves. The
! Legislature has that power, The Senator
from Virginia. on Friday last, in his able
and eloquent speech, pointed cut clearly the
power in the Legislature to get clear of sla-
very in that Territory without any amend
| ment of the constitution whatever. There
/ fore l answer that, so far as regards the ques-
ton of slavery, taking these clauses together
/ the power is complete in the Legislature as
/ it now stands.
Mr.. Doolittle Let me understand the
! Senator. Is it complete with the slavery art
icle in or with it out :?
! Mr.. Bigler. / said if the slavery article
/ had been voted out.
Mr.. Doolittle. Well what then?
| Riolor Then sloyarv wou1d have
I been completely abolished in the Territory by
the people That is what l said. [ knew
what the Senator had In view, that, because
the schedule potected the property value in
slaves, he would hold that the prosterity of
the slaves were to remain in bondage that
there was no power in the Legislature to
( wipe out that remnant or root of the lnstltu-
tion. That is where he is mistaken.
Now, | wish to notice the extraordinary
course and policy which has from time to
time marked the conduct of the anti-slavery
party in Kansas 1 do not intend to review
their acts of folly and insubordinatioh in
standin out against the laws; nor their con-
slant and persistent efforts to produce vio-
lence, rebellion, and civil war. Governor
Walkers dispatches are full and complete On
this point lie describes the Republican party
as in open rebellion to the laws during nearly
al blS scINlcc, anu aS Pio'unS ioi 'ho o'|i
throw of the Government. Against the other
party, the Lccomptou party, lie made no
complaints prior to his departure from the
Territory. But wish to look for the evi-
dences III the career Of the Republican party
in Kansas that they ever desired to settle the
question Of slavery. l can find no evidence
that they did so desire; but much that they
did not. In the language of distinguished
New York politician, (John Van Burcn,) /
do not understand ''this free State party in
Kansas, who are all the while trying to make
Kansas slave State" The remark is wit
tv and true. Tie free State PARTY in Kan
sas have never exercised their power when
they could touch the question of slavery
In june last, when they had the opportunity
of voting for delegates to make a free State,
and when they daily boastcd of being three or
five TO one of the population, they would not
vote. Different pretexts were set up IN differ
cnt parts of the Territory, as | know of my
personal knowledge. Some said. I'VE will
, not vote because the laws under which this
convention are to assemble are bogus laws. -
5 Others said, ''none shall vote, because al
, were not registered"
| am sorry that [ do not see my friend
, from Massachusetts, in his seat for as he took
t the liberty, the other day, of asking me /
1 question relating to my experience in Kan.
sas, he would not take it uukiHd if [ asked
e him one touching his career in that noted
= country | heard it said on more occasions
1 than one that during that honorable Senator
] tour in the Territory he had advised the free
' State party In Kansas not to vote; and tha
he also coucurred in the policy Of attempting
/ to make Kansas free State by allowing th'
pro-slavery party to elect all the delegates tt
make the constitution. l know not whether
t the rumor be correct or not. 1t is not i'm
c portant to my purpose. But it is signi6
4 cant fact that the Republican, or free-Statt
party, did not vote in June when the fate o.
i slavery was involved and that in October
t when nothing was at stake but Offices and ;
< Delegate in Congress, they did vote-they
1 did rush to the polls and carry the election
regardless of the humiliation implied in th
: recognition of the .'bogus laws" Then. a
a gam, in December following, on the direc
e question of whether slavery should or shoul,
q not exist in the new State of Kansas, thes
, anti-slavery men did not vote. The ''bogu
e laws" and the bogus convention" forbi
: that they should condescend to vote agaiDs
: slavery, and they did net vote. But les
o than month afterwards. when the question
a of slavery was not involved, when Office an
e honor and emoluments were staked, the,
s readily got over tusir @ scruP.es oe eonscicne
y against the Lecomp.on usurpation, ana Ta!
: lied to the polls and secured all the Office
!; under, what they term, the 'Lecompton swim
. de-" Comment cannot add to the streng
of this history. 1t is painfully significant
Q When it was necessary to get office. the 'bo
: gus laws" were promptly recognized whe
slavery was at stake they were shrunk fror
as from the touch of death. CONSTANT
n boasting their power and determination t
make Kansas free State, these auti-slaver
, men carefully refrained from dealing the blow