Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-04-21


mcfo formal objections io Tho admission
of KanH. asn -hDa-hov thry car talk
about IuioImollIna. or itcul1itioi or
usurpn.i0usaul frauds They have rlum-
81 uimia n lUr Kansas ou the Topeka
Constilutor-o movement commenced
without the authority olany law, Terrific.
rial or Congressional. aud in dcrogntIon OF
the authority of the United States u
was conceived iu yovcd rebellion sond
prosecuted in monance OF the Federal nu.
thority. Nor was IL sustained 10y the pop
ular will IL had its origin i'm q mass
meeting of one political party and had
the sanction, 10. advocates say, of seven
teen hundred votes at the polls; whilst
its enemies ,ay it did not receive exec 'd-
ing scvcn hundred votes in all. In no
particular then, does it stand so well rs
the LcCOmptOn movement, either as to
regularity ormthority. Nor will tho his
orian be able to understand how major
lty of five to one have been So constantly
oppressed in that unhappy TcTitory-hoW
one man has usurpcd the rights and pow
crs Of five or six or ten rs we are told
In one breath it is asserted that the free
State party are as five to one, or ten to
one: and i'm the next, that they have been
hunted down. driven from their property,
and deprived OF their political rights
Some lOgiCians have a convenient mode OF
making out propositions but this Is a
little too sharp. have noticed, in the
discussion, that Governor Walker is given,
by the Senators on the other side, rs con-
elusive authority rs to the nineteen dis
franchsed counties; as to the great
strength Of the tree-State party, and the
malpracticcs of the other party; but
when he testified officially as to the re-
bellious movements and the mischevious
designs of the Topekaites, his views are
promptly discarded and denounced. This
is not fair to him. or to the country. The
Governor has made up an issue against
this party, and it should be met and an
swered.
But Mr.. President, holding, as ] do,
that the application of the People Of Kan
sas for admission as a State has been made
in due form-that their appearance at the
doors of Congress, with Constitution and
State Government is the legal and concld-
sive evidence of their application for adj
mission, conclude that an allowable OPP
portunitv is presented to admit them as a
State and it is to the alternatives thus
presented that wish to turn my thoughts
for a few minutes.
Mr. Harlan rise to q question of or
der. 1t is very evident there is not q
quorum of Senators present, and object
to any Senators proceeding with the dis
cussion of questions involved in the bill
before the senate.
Mr.. Bigler-I shall be done in a few
minutes.
The Presiding Officer, (Mr. Slidell in
the chair.) 1t is the impression of the
chair that the Senator from Pennsylvania
was allowed to proceed by unanimous con
sent.
Mr.. Bigler-I yielded the floor to the
Senator to explain. not to make objec-
tons have the floor. got unanimous
consent and therefore | shall proceed.
Mr.. Harlan-Of course, then, | shall
have no further objection
Mr.. Bigler-I must be allowed to fiat
ter myself with this interruption. | take
it the Senator does not like my speech.
Mr.. Harlan--Allow me to explain.
suppose that heremarks ofthe honorable
Senator, judging from their applicability,
would be better delivered to the Senate
than to vacant seats.
Mr.. Bgler--I have no idea that | can
say anything that will influence the gen
tlemen of the.Senate. They know as much
about the subject as | do. Well, sir,
have held that the application is legal and
proper, and that may vote for the ad
mission of Kansas as State, if | deem il
wise to do so.
On the great question of admission OIL
rejection, have reflected long and ser
ously, and am a firm believer in the poll
cy of admission. think it best for Kan.
sas, and for the whole family of States.-
And | believe, in addition, sir, that 81
soon as the popular mind is turned from
the unpleasant strife in Kansas--iron
that war of elimination and recrimna
tion--of alleged fraud and usurpations oi
the one hand, and persistent rebellion anC
violence on the other, to contemplate
and count the consequences of admission
against those ofrejection, the measure vii
encounter much less opposition from til
people. What great wrong can flow iron
admission What interest or right of tn
people is to be damaged? Our ears ar
daily assaulted,with graphic descriptions q
the great wrong of forcing a governmcn
upon the people of Kansas. Yet no on
.. DIupOSto W w NlllS. W e lllUkt no govern
ment for them. They make it for then
selves. If they do not like it, after the
get into the Union they can abolish it am
adopt'other forms. No power on the fac
of the earth, outside of the Territory. vii
dare to dispute their right to do this
That there is nothing in the Constitution
to interfere with this right for singh
day, has been made so clear by the Pres
dent, and by Senators, that shall no
discuss it again. 1t is a little singular
however, that this allegation of the wan
ofpower in the people, by virtue of thei
''inalienable and indefeasable right" to a
ter, amend or supersede their form o
government at pleasure, should come fror
the advocates, par excellence, of popula
sovereignty. Not only this particular
but as to the right of the people to max
n State Constitution through the agenc
Of delegates, have these cxpounders G
popular sovereignty sought to impose s,
rious restrictions upon the rights of tn
people. They would persuade the peopl
that they are on the side ofpopularright,