The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-04-02
SPEECH OF HON. WILLIAM HOPKINS,

rose 10 address the convention, saying
Mr. President As do not intend TO partici-
pate in the discussion Of these resolutions de-
sire 10 masea ieRsfsmarks explanatory of my
position in this ,coHvention. The Democratic
convention OF my county passed q resolution
disappearing of fthe Presidents Kansas policy J;
they afterwards appointed me one OF the dele
gates to this convention with full knowledge
.of my sentiments. I stated to that conventioas
that if ] would be expected to unite ina -y5te
OF ceDsure on Mr.. Buchanan in TegaTd.s4e- an y
portion of his policy, ttsy had better select an
other agent. A resolution was then offered to
instruct the delegates 10 carry out in the State
Convention the sentiments expressed in the res
olution of disapproyal.
then stated to the convention that if the
resolution should be adopted, l would resign
upon the spot, for [ would suffer political mar
tyrdom before | would unite in vote of CEN
sure upon man to whom had been devoted
all my life, when believed that in all his acts
he was governed by the purest motives and "a
desire to promote tie best interests Of the conR-
Try. After considerable discussion, "a Raotion to
adjourn was carried by large majority A4or The
avowed purpose Of defeating the resolution of
instruction. And now, Mr.. President, trust
that will be pardoned for making an alusion to
the distinguished statesman who now occupies
the Presidential chair. In view ofthe relations
wilicl, have subsisted between as, II seems TO
me, that it would not BIZ improper that should
do so. Almost a quarter Of century ago, in
this very ball, l voted for James Buchanan for
United States Senator 1t was in 1884, the
iirst time be was elected. | also voted for him
subsequently for the same position. Ny native
G,p hin,
name was mentioned in connection with the
atlcr he now holds with 50 much honor to him
Eelf as we'll as to his country. | voted for him
10 two State and two National Conventions, and
there has never been an hour since the first
suggestion of his name in that connection, that
/ would not rather have seen hlm President
;han any other living man. These are ny
feelings to-day. Is il any wonder then, that if
! found myself in position Of antagonism with
one 10 whom had been so long devoted, and
in whose patriotism and craftsmanship had
sech nnbounded confidence, lnat I should pause
before taking ground against any leading meas
computation was first presented, ] cdufd hioG
see, eye to eye with the President, as his annual
message was interpreted by the central organ,
the Washington Union. am free TO confess,
that have always believed, and do now believe,
that the whole constitution ought to have been
submitted 10 the people of Kansas for their ap-
proval or rejection. admit, however, the
correctness Of The Presidents position, when
he saws. that the convention was not bound by
the ferns Of the Kansas Nebraska bill, TO submit
10 an election, the whole constitution. But,
still, maintain that they ought, IN o5edi ence
to public sentiment, as we'll as to The Presidents
expressed desire, 10 have submitted The cQnsi-
tuition TO a popular vote Of those to be governed
by It. This, think, would have been in con-
sonance with The spirit of the organic act. The
President clearly indicated a desire and belief
that this sslsmission should be made, when he
told Gov. Walker, in his instructions, that when
the constitution should be submitted, the peo-
pie must be protected in the right TO vote, un-
Influenced BY fraud or violence. Did he not
also fully indorse the doctrine of submission in
his annual message? What else can be inferred
from bis language-''l trust, however, the eX-
ample set by the last Congress, requiring that
the constitution OF Minnesota should be subject
no the proposed new State, may be followed on
future occasions. And again 81 took II Tor
granted. that the convention Of Kansas would
act in accordance with this example, founded
as it is, upon correct principles, and hence my
instructions 70 Gov. Walker In favor oil submit
ting the constitution TO the people were express
sed in general and unqualified terms" What
more could The President have done to have Sc
cured fair expression of the people OF kansas
upon their constitution? But the convention Te-
! fused to be guided by the wise a nd patriotic
counseI ofthe President; and knew OF no power
under the convention, possessed by the Pfesl-
! dent to compel obedience to his WISHES 10
this respect, and The constitution sent the con-
! stitution 10 Washington without submitting 1t
1 to a vote of The people, and we are now
brought TO tile question what bad best be done
! The President after having exhausted all his
power--which was but adrlsory-to have
/ the people Of Kansas afforded fair opportunity
of voting upon their Constitution, and laling l(
accomplish that Object, now recommends ih'
| immediate admission Of the State, accompanied
| with the suggestion that Congress should Fecog
nize in the act Of admission the right oil the pto
pit. at any and all times TO alter, amend
abolish their constitution, if majority be oppo
sed TO il as il is.-Tbis, he thinks, Will rId Con
gress of the agitation and that II a majority
the people oil that Territory be opposfa 70 81"
very. they can relieve themselves rom IL
readily if not more so, IN that way thah III a'i
other mode In arriving at this CONCLUSION, III
President has doubtless looked over The Whof
ground, at the persistent obstlnaey ol tne on
4 marty in refusing 10 vote at the June elecllo
4 for DELEGATES to the constitutional convention
and the repeated acts of rebellion against th
laws by the same party, as well as the 1raue
and acts of violence that have been perpeuatf
BY the other party. His policy is to localiz
The controversy. and thus "leave the people
the State perfectly free 10 regulate their dome'
tic institutions in their own way" Cannot tn
1 suggestion Of the President be adopted as oas
of compromise, without any sacrifice oil homo