Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-03-26
coNGREss sIoN4L

WAsIffFGroH, March T7.--SkHArz M
Criltendtn spokc on the Kaasas bill. He re.
ferred to the right of the psople to govern
themselves as a great principle, and appica-
BILE to The present circumstances. Ths
President, he sad, has recomnende with
unnusul earnes,ness, the admission of Kansas
under the Lecomptom Constitution.
1t was qaestiod in his mind only OF ffacts,
whether the Leconapfom Constitution comes
with such authority and sanction as obligs
US 10 recognise it as The Constitution Of
X snsas.
He taouglG i ~ 4. The evidence Of
Gsg. Walker sn1 Stanton show that il is
ayanst the " ii of an overwhelming maj lrity
of the people.
NJ Criitendcn recspitulated the state
psent5 of the various frauds in the eleciions
unI then examined the Legality Of the LIS
cJn Json Constitution, declaring that it was
not The Constitution of Kansus, bui only Of
the conventicn II which framed it. The vote
often thousand on the 4tti of January shows
that it was not the Constitution of the Peo-
pie. They tell you that it is particularly
obnoxious to them because it is tanned win
fraul Il is one of G series Of frauds insti
gated for the purpose of getting and keeping
possession of the Government of Kan6es
from the first election carried by armed inva-
ders from Missouri down to the present day.
Hence, he concluded, to imprss it upon K4n-
sas wonid be plain and paipabEe violation
OF the right of the people to govern them
selves; but, continued Mr.. Cfittenden, the
Constitution carries on its lace the evidence
of corruption. The persons who framed il
know that it contained provisions which the
Fee State men could not aseRt u; there
fore none were allowed to oppose, tbs SID
very provisions and all. The ak thousand
votes shown ia it's favor were put In with
the view o: exhibiting a suitable majority
and in order not to make the fraud too mon
strons. they went just beyond the line
Fraudulent latent was apparent throughout
and now be asked, can gentlemen ignore
these frauds in the face OF internal eyinence
and conclusive testimony! The people OF
Kansas say that it is not their Constitution.
and ask US to send it back to be submitted
to vote of the people. Can we. he asked.
refuse such a request--can Senators turo
from such evidence to legal technicalities
of presumptious lawl They ought to lock
to truth and principle withou: searching for
presumptions and precedents. Holding these
principles, he said he could not put forth
his name to aid the admission Of Kansas
under the Constitution.
He then asked, what can the South gain
by the admission of Kansas under that con
stituion! No Senator believes that sue
can be "a slave state. The laws, climate and
geography forbid it. In support of the view
he quoted the sentiments OF sevefsi mem
bers of Congress, including Mr.. Kettt.
Mr.. Hammond--"Did Mr.. Keiit say so!'
Mr. Crittenden--It was SO reported"
Mr.. Hammond--"Mr. Kett quoted pas
sage to that effect, but DID not endorse IT,"
Mr. sCrittenden resumed, contending that
the majority of the people of Kansas should
be allowed to make such constitution as
they pleased. That, he said,. is the great
American principle. That is the principle
of the South itself. He then spoke discur-
siveIy on various topics Hs was, he said.
according to terms new used, Nor.hrrn DEM
ocrat. He mad lived all his life in SJui!'-
ern cliinate--was ready To defend his rights
there; but in the same reso!Ute spiril with
which he wuutl defend his own lights. hs
would defend The rights of others. He re-
! ueated tia; he did not believe that Kansas
| could be a slave State. The South was
deceived in that respect. In referring to the
Missouri Compromise, he said that IL would
have been better to have let it stand. The
S0uth could gain nothing by 1t, nor could
the North ,Nbut it was'haliowed as q bond OF
| the Union.
In speaking of the Missouri Compromise, :,
Mr.. Criitcnden said that it's acc accomplishments
was hailed us one of The greatest acts of
the great leader, Henry Clay. 1t brought
peace TO the country by localizing slavery.
and should not have been broken. He ~ss
! growing older and less Susceptible 10 new
impressions, aud weuld hsve been content
TO have rested upon that Compromise. Has
its repeal hr,ught peGcet The reverse OF
peace. 1t has brcugh: us trouble.
Turning t. Kansas, he said that he would
vote ios her admission il he thought that It
would bring PeaceI but Ire lid not believe it
wnuI. Il is said the sdmission viii localies
! the ducstioii OF slssery in that Territory
! Tie didn't believe it. II that question is to
| be debated, ii will be debated here; bot it,
nusl be debated in the right way. There
snoulI be no excitement. Why should his
lrie;,ds oi the North use such invecives--iu|
vGc;ivrs, he might say, of the most a'rocFoOs
| kind? Why should wS no, live in peace and
harmony us our fathers did. We are tinted
| in language and in blood, and yet the great
destinies of the future are forgotten, while
tbs pet'Y sui ct Of disagreement 's norsed
into colossal proportions.
la alluJing TO previous debates, he said ne
was much gratifei in learning from them ths
com pRrat.ve resources OF the two sections
of our country. The Senator from South
| Carolina had detailed the resources OF tn"
South anG the gentleman from Maine had
| given thuse of the North; and while listen
ing to them, it seemed to him that this was
the mos; national Union in the world.
Ii these SECTIONS apart would make ma
,un Of which any man might be proud to ee
citizen, what magnificent Union It makes
when you put both together! Where al
discord is lulied, what summer sea CT pros
perity lies before US!
In conclusion, he said he should vote on
the question a Senator Of the United
States oi America. aud mt "a seclionSi
man. lie owed no allegiance To no section
The course lie would approve OF would be TO
pass u law by which the constitution shall be
! submitted 10 the vote OF the people, aud II 1t
| be ratified he would admit Kansas into the
( Uniou.
! RousE.-Mr Quitmsn appealed to the
House to take up the Army bill and deoate
! upon il until il was disposed Of wncn ne
! suppo sej would be tomorrow.
! Mr.. Pendloton advocated an increase OF