Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-03-10
Speech of C. S. Chase, of Racine,

SpocCn OIL ". .. Sudse, VI LGttCiuS.
Del;oered u, The Senate of Wisconsin, Feb. H. 5s
Mr.. PREsIDENT:-Befo proceeding
to speak upon the resolutions now un-
der consideration, | would like to have
them read.
The clerk of the Senate read the res
ol,ltions as follows:
Resolped by tie Senate the assembly Concuring,
That Slavery is a most fragrant violation of the
Snalienable rights of mankind, and exists only
Dv the power and force of mi ght over right; it
cannot therefore be established and maintained
in any national territory without violating the
spirit and letter of the constitution of the Uni
ted States.
Resul,rd, That the extra judicial opinion ex-
pressed in the "Dred Scott decision" Is IN pal
pabe violation of the provisions of the Consti-
1q1tion of the United States, and subversive of
the rights of the states, and of civil liberty
Rcsol,ed That the Lecompton Constitution is
a gross and infamous fraud, conceived in the
councils of tvranny-recognized only by the
spirit of Dcspotisnl-advocated only by villainy
pressed upon the people only by the hand of
unrelcnting power, and designed to subvert the
inherent rights of the people of Kansas.
Rtso1,sd, That the Governor of this State be,
and he Is hereby authorised 10 forward copy
of the foregoing resolutions to the President of
the United States, and 20 each of our Senators
and Representatives in Congress.
Mr.. President, ! had not at first in
tended to discuss these resolutions and
the important principle which they
embody, but only to give them my cor
dial and hearty vote but [ cannot sit
here, night after night, and hear great
principles traduced and declaimed
AGAINST by Senators of the other side,
and the position of the Republican
party abused and falsifed, without rails
ing my voice in its defense.
The principles contained in the reso-
buttons under debate, are dear to the
hearts of all the freemen of the North,
and to every true friend of our country.
Not many years since it would have
been surprising-it would have seemed
strange to any candid and thinking OBJ
server, to see the people rise up in this
country and talk about Northern and
Southern party-to speak of sectional
parties and interests-but, sir, aeOao it
has become necessary, and is frequent
" done.
It seems to me, sir, emincntly proper
that at this time, on this occasion, and
in this manner, resolutions embodying
principles like those just read, should
he considered and passed by the Leg
islature of the sovereign State of Wis
consin.
In times like these, when almost eve
ry civilized government upon the globe
is exercised upon the great and funda-
mental principle of HUMAN LIBERTY, a
principle which lies at the foundation
of Republican governments-that prin-
ciplc which was breathed into man with
the breath of life, and which, in his
normal condition, continually prompts
him to exercise those rights which are
SO we'll defined III the Declaration Of
Independence, the Magma Charta OF
this Union-a principle which at this
moment is in danger of receiving from
the Chief Executive of the United
States its death blow, we whom the
people of the State have chosen to act
for them in matters which relate tc
their peace, prosperity and political
safety, should speak freely and plainly
upon the subject embodied in these
resolutions.
An embryo state, peoplcd with set
tiers from all parts Of our country, has
attained to that numerical strength
which in all cases heretofore, has beer
deemed sufficient to entitle a territory
properly applying to admission into the
Union, is now denied that admission
and kept out of the family of States by
the corrupt practices of factious mi
nority who are knocking at the door O
Congress with a constitution 'sconceiv
ed in sin and brought forth in iniquity.
Senators seem displeased because
James Buchanan is called fallen anG
used-up man, but there are facts ant
reasons enough to show that this i
true. He has bent his knee to the slav,
power; he has prostituted his high po
sition in subserviency to the supporter
of slavery; he allows himself to b.
used by them to the full extent of thei
wishes; and they have used him, an(
will do so through his Presidentla
term, and then they will cast him aside
for another less worn and more efficien
instrument He has sacrificed all claim
to the respect of frecmen, and is polit
ically lost and condemned, in the opin
ion of honorable and high minded men
10 aid III defeating the will of TIL