The Kanzas news., 1858-05-01
Speech Of Marcus J. Parrott,
gpErReArE FROM KAszAs.. 9HT
Deiiserea in the U.S. iHouserof Rspre-
sentatiEes, March 31st, 1888.


apology soere necessary, ] might find it in
the fact that Delegate from distant Ter
ritory {Gen. Lane, of Oregon, has seen fit
to 90 beyond 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. I refrain from char
acterising that speech as It deserves, only
because / cannot do SO consistently with the
proprieties of the place. In undertaking to
present the case of Kanzas, shall not pur-
sue that intangible impalpable. and some
what protean political quantity, called sspop-
ular sovereignty" through the intricate ma
zes of theoretic inquiry, but oshall rather
seek 10 unfold tspractical workings as devel
oped in the chosen theatre of its operations,
in the trials of some years. The stand
point from which my views of this subject
are taken is not identi with that occupied
by any other person on either side of this
Chamber. I belong to no political organi-
zation recognised here have no party to
serve, and none to fear, in treading this
ground Sectional parties alone exist in
Kanzas. No. others could exist, because the
great paramount issue, framed and submit
ted to the people for their decision by Con-,
gress, in the passage of the organic act,
Slavery. Sharing in this struggle, have
striven with my. whole heart and all my
strength for, the supremacy of that class of
domestic institutions which experience has
demonstrated to be best calculated to foster,
ameliorate, enlarge, and improve the condi
ton of the free white laboring men of the
country, and thereby to strengthen the sta
blity of republican institutions, of which
IL
main stay. Althe ugh chosen as Repre-
sentative by those who favor this system of
government, subsequent developments have
greatlycenlsrged the number ofthose for
whom claim to speaks sI9isy Z
The sectional issue which has heretofore
obtained, is swallowed up in still greater
issue, precipitated upon us, and upon the
whole country, by the presentation here of
the Lecompten Gems sGtution. 2 When l stand
here in my place to plead for the inherent
right of the people of Kanzas to frame their
fundamental law, may claim, without ex-
aggeration, to speak for the whole people of
Kanzas, irrespective of their party predi-
lections. -" @
The Kanzas act GUARANTEED 10 extend to all
who should settle under its provisions GER
tain de6nitive political privileges, as well
for their protection as for their guidance,
whilst the country should remain in state
of pupilage. This act was characterised by
a declaration of the doctrine of nen-iterven-
ton by Congress with the subject of Slavery
in the Territories, "leaving the people there
ofrperfectly freeEtn form and regulate theif
own domestic, institutions in their own way,
subject only to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States'' zf --..e.- -,.5f f.ffFR ~fur4-
It will appear by an analysis of this gen
eral declaration, as found in the details of
the bill, that the people were to have the
right of representation in this branch of
Congress, the uninterrupted choice of a To-
cal Legislature, and the supervision of their
local and municipal affairs. The Constitu-
ton 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 citizens the
added privileges flowing from that ihsstrrui--
ment, of a higher and more inviolable kind
than those conferred by simple statute law,
These rights combined, made up the ag-
gregate or sum of political power pledged TO
the people of the Territory. No one viii
deny that these were promised, or that the
iath OF the country was pledged for the
iulhlment of them. Yet do they stand to-
DAY recorded on Your statute book, the plight
ed pledges q, the nation, broken. disregard
ed dishonored, but not ,disclaimed. These
popular rights and privileges, in support Of
which the honor of the nation was concern
ed, have been all, without exception, with
out the authority of law, but in defiance of
it, even without the apology of provocation,
Wantonly and continually violated.
Foleeless In this House, and borne down
DY usurped Legislature within Its borders,
the Territory has languished under dreary
despotism, imposed by foreign domination,
and maintained by the direct intervention of
the military arm of the Government. Ali
lawful resistance, as well as all appeals for
redress, have sbeenzstigmaIized by epithets
Ailke odioas uRd kntraegs ir4 .t53sff9IG
Without rights of any kind, We have been
"tnout remedy for wrongs. however lfia
grant A most merciless and prosecuting
W nafiare has been carried on against u.s.
Inc hard earnings of our industry have
oeen swept away from us by the hand of
iOooery; our homes filled with fear blythe
easeiess oppression of rufians invested with
le color OF law; our lives at times serious
lmPerllied, alternately by the periodical
-ucursion OF foreign foe, or the no less re-
'ncfseess process of judicial prescription.
~ Inc many have been ruled by the few
.he invaders dominated the inhabitants:
'noSe who should have had all the political
O"er, have had none; and those who should
lave had none, have had dn With occa-
1.Oaai intervals of quiet. but for the most
a pa.1 through scenes of violence. bloodshed,
u IVA, var. this state of things has gone on
lHi II has eliminated in the Lecompton
sns'itatloh: and upon this, they who have
5pPOfted this scheme nov make stand
x;,I x;dIanaing arelnforoement OF power where
sa n 70 prolong. and if possile to make per
tb;s tbnt. G the yassalage of the people. OF
.;r;oo constitution | have TO say. that it was