Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-05-13

Legitimate means.
What viii be the next efiectg This
House will in the next Congress. he
filled by men sent here to rectify this
wrong. and the South will be compel
ed to accede to that demand or TO re-
si4 Her pride may be wounded; her
scnSibilitics are to be affected; and then
the next movement OF those who play
to her prejudiees will be to drag her
over the precipice OF disunion. IN that
moment when she smarts under the
effect of stung and wounded pride. 1t
is exactly because / see these conSe-
quenceS ahead. that aIa to-day firm
and steady in opposition. | look for
ward on the path before u. and | see
it leads TO that alternative which have
said is most likely 10 occur. and my
duty and patriotism alike demand that
/ should resist this bill. and advocate
tha; equality which is equity between
all sections OF nay country. Itake that
position. and cheerfully l shall rest up
on it, satisfied that | am right. and |
shall be sustained in it By patriotic
constituency.
Sir. it were bootless to return to the
Senate Bill; but. as i am upon the
floor. | Will recapitulate in briet terms
for ! do not want to detain the House
= the heads and points upon which my
own opinions have turned thus far. and
by which my course has been guided.
heard the gentleman from Georgia
{ MIR. Stephens) Yesterday PROFOUND
the question to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Davis whether he
believed the Territorial Legislature.
which called the convention in kanzas,
had the power to call convention9-
10 not know what response was made
but | desire to say to the gentleman
from Georgia. and to the country, that
that very point is the hanging point
upon which my convictions on this
matter turn. do not believe that the
Territorial Legislature possessed the
power to initiate a convention 10 such
degree as to bind either kanzas OF
the Congress of the United State. ]
believe that when that convention was
assem- bled, and when it had drafted n
constitution, the want of the pre-as-
sent of Congress prevented the instru-
ment from binding Congress; and if it
did not bind Congress, it could not
bind the people of Kanzas. If ] had
time, could demonstrate that propo-
sition.
And, Sir, when the people of Kan
zas sent up to Us. through her delegate
upon this floor, who has legal status
here, by the resolutions of her Legis-
lature. which is a legal body-through
her vote on the 4th Of January, regu-
lar or irregular-through the Terrific
rial Governor, who was the Federal
appointee-and through the Territori
al SecTetary-through all these chan
nels, the clear, distinct declaration,
1--WE are not willing that this Consti-
tuition shall be the fundamental. polit
ical law OF the State" believing as ]
did, and as yet do. that the Lcgisla
ture which initiated it, had no legal
right to do so. that the President who
consented had 10 jurisdiction. and
therefore his consent yielded no addi-
tional power. / felt myself bound to
pause, and listen to the voice OF the
people. Sir. no specious sophistries
could dissuad me, and no casuistry be-
tray me. After all. it finally comes to
this, whether we are to obey the dictunn
of the convention or the will Of the
people. While | had liberty to act.
while it was within my congressional
/ function to act. l did not hesitate to
take that position which had tenden-
cy to give the lairest chance to The
people Of Ranzas 10 make constitution
TO suit Memseiyes, before establishing
relations with them by law, under
which relations might be called npon
next week to compel them. Jy force
ct arms. to obey that instrument as
their Constitution.
But, sir, | will not dwell on the
Senate bill. or the amendment of the
House, but shall cohfne myself TO this
report We have had a conference;
and say that, in my opinion. the con-
ference have submitted the question so
that the people OF Kanzas may get
hold Of it, but can get hold of ii only
at the expense Of stultilyinS them
selves. 1t is accompanied with dis
abling act. which. in my opinion,
makes aninvidious distinction between
the Free and Slave States Of the coun-
Try in regard to their institutions,
which will have tendency to wound
the pride OF the majority, and TO
establish n rule OF action that II l.
unsafe for MS TO purpose. We. who
belong to that section OF the country
that is in a minority OF representation.
ought to be wonderfully careful that,
whenever we institute rule Of action
here, it shall be based upon immutable
principles Of justice and constitutional
right.
Now, sir. without wishing to detain
the House, l plant myself upon these
propositions as indicating the reasons
why ] oppose this bill. Let Us have
another conference. if you pleas
Strike off that disabling act and leave
the enabling act, and it viii come suf-
ficiently close to the Crittenden- Mont.
goinery amendment for ne to vote foi
il; because what | wanted at the com.
menccment. and what | wanted at :he
close. is fair settlement II the hanzas
digieaity. | do no, want. and never
have wanted, to leave the kanzas
difficulty open. Had a majority of tho
members OF this House been Of my
h. I ..,.,ll k.-n l.. =