Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-05-08

HON. JOHN A. GILMER,
OF NORTH CAROLINA,
On the Admission of Kansas under the
LecomptOn Constitution,

On the Admission of Kansas under the
Lecompton Constitution,
DELIVERED
In THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
March 80, 1858.
Mr.. Chairman, have been an attentive listener
to the arguments on this Lecompton question for
three months. Whilst some of the speeches have
been calm and considerate, I feel constrained to
say that by far, the larger number have been vio-
lent and extremely sectional, tending directly to
weaken the respect, which the North and the
South should have for each other, and which is
essential to the safety Of the Union itself have
heard and read speeches delivered both in this
House, and IN the other end Of this Capitol, by
gentlemen from the North and from the South,
the true spirit and meaning Of which is dssunio,
True, most, II not all, profess to love the Union
and The Constitution. Their speeches are filed
with expressions of high veneration for the Con-
stituton of our fathers. They indulge in patriotic
strains Their addresses are robed in the most
beautiful habilments, overlooking with profess
sions and assurances most imposing. The spirit
Of disanion Is, however, the core. 1t is pre-
scented, and perusal and handling secured, as
you would an asp, in casket of beautiful flowers.
The design Is evidently 10 infuse the poisonous
spirit Of disunion-where, for IL, there could be
no reception, were proper labels attached. Pro-
fessions OF patriotism uttered in loud and elo-
quent tones, for peace and harmony, whilst the
evident drift Is TO exasPerate and make wider the
breach.
With pain and regret am forced to the belief.
there are gentlemen on this floor, who, while they
oppose the admission Of Kansas with the Lecomp-
ton Constitution, do really desire the bill 70 pass
for the sake OF certain consequence disastrous
70 the peace and harmony Of the country, which
they expect 10 grow out OF it.
On the other hand, j fear that among other
gentlemen, advocating this measure, there are
some, whose regret Is, that the Lccompton Con.
stitution and the manner Of securing It's presenta
ton here, were not more odious TO the people OF
Kansas and the free tates, so that their ultimate
ebject might DO the sooner secured BY a bloody
conflict Of Northern and outhern arms on the
plains Of Kansas, and, In case of failure in this,
such bitter sectional excitement, shall certainly
ensue, a. 10 produce fusion Of al political par.
ties in the free States, combined m q purely sec
tonsl party, against similar fusion of all parties
In the slave States, by which disunion IL made
certain in the end. These speeches win not
pertcularize. They have unfortunately zone forth
TO the country-those of the North TO be read
In the South, that they there may have samples
OF how Northern people hate and despise South.
ern men; and those Of the South to be read In the
North, that they may know how they are scorned
and detested by the citizens of the South.
The dcsigns and purposes Of both aides. a h
70 be feared, are the same--to arouse. driIL and
prepare for strife the minds of a great people
now happy, with bright prospects for the future.
and Who By their united cnerejes In advancing
the industrial and literary interests of the vboJc
country, are doing much more for the true bappi.
ness and prosperity Of ms ALL
Without intending 70 be offensive or personal.
must be permitted 10 say, envy not the man
who can look on our country az Il ia, and
NIL ~<x. anti t~x~S "a HIT I
severed and divided The man who can conten.
plate that terrible day, when, by reason Of civil
war, our beautiful and growing cities, towns, and
villages, shall be consumed by frc--our manufscl
tories rszcd TO the ground-our commerce broken
up-our lovely fields and gardens made the for.
aging grounds Of ribaldrous soldiery-aIl internsl
tonsl trade and communication cut off-all NUM-
cipsl and hmily peace destroyed--our sons drag
geo rom their bomcs--amid the signs and tcsrp
snecoouste mothers and sisters, 10 the bloody
nesos o. c'vl strife; and all this growing out Of
4nesuon ss 70 how, when, or IN What manner, forty
thousand people ONLY, in EadLss, shah settle for
themselves their own domestic sffsirs-or rather,
how ny Snail soonest get clear Of few slsves-E |
and get two ~frsesetF Senators and enc R~pre- |
sentative In Congress. l say such . man bss ,,o |
feeling IN common with ys-apd non, 7 trr.t |
with the great body of the honest yeom.nry AZ
his country, Of az sections. = |
We have cur troubles, admit We have had |
'ecticnsl troubIes Of similar kind before. W.
nave bad, - now, disunion threatened, but thanks
% the good sense Of the people, they have never |
ret inclined 70 take the prescriptions Of tbose |
-ho bosstingIy decline TO sing peans 10 the |
Unionf
England, from whom we derive our nature and
many Of the free principles of which we boast,
nso her troubles. She has had her dissensions--
ner white and Red roses--ber land hes been
anssd with blood In civil strife--snd once the
nesd o. ner King was brought 30 the bIock--but
,e. PecPse were .ttsched TO their government |
'no tnen CONSTITUTION. The storm passed away. |