Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-03-20
MIR. CRITTENDEN.

upon the Stage OF acuOn III 'ho 1877 reyS Il
the Republic"-in the glorious days Of the
Clay's the Webster's, the, Calhoun's, the Pres
toms, and even the Lowndes; and he whose
name stands at the head of this article stands
at the head of these. Age, experience in pub
lie life, long service in the Senate, and in the
Cabinet, eminent abilities, unrivalled powers
of oratory, manliness of character, an integ-
rty untarnished, and high and lofty aims as a
statesman, combine to place Mr.. CRITTEsDES
in the front rank of American statesmen, and
to give weight to his opinions, and force to
his words which none can or are disposed to
question. Such being the character and posi-
ton of Mr. O., and besides, belonging neither
to the Democratic nor to the Republicans party,
the course he might think proper to take in
regard to the admission Of Kansas under the
Lecompton Constitution, has been matter Of
anxious speculation and inquiry he has, how
ever, deemed it proper to keep his own coun-
sci until the time shoull come for him to ex-
press his views publicly on the floor Of the
Senate; carefully examining the subject mean
time, SO as to arrive ut just conclusion in
regard to the whole matter. He has now
spoken; and words of wisdom have flowed
from his lips.
AS Mr.. CRIrTENDES obtained the floor at the
close of the session on Tuesday, it was known
that he would speak at one o'clock the next
day and accordingly the galleries were crowd
ed at an early hour, and when the time arrived,
it appeared as il quorum of the House of
Representatives were present as listeners; and
seldom have we seen SO attentive, and appar-
emily interested an audience. 1t reminded us of
the scenes Of 1850, when Mr. Clay put forth,
for several successive months, his giant powers,
renovated, it seemed, for the occasion, bat cx-
hausted in the superhuman effort and labor :
a tax upon his physical powers which finally
bore him to his grave. We shall not go into
an analysis Of Mr. CRITTESDEs's speech, because
we intend to publish it entire, and because we
doubt not it will be read by every man who
has sense enough to form an opinion. Suffice il
to say, it was worthy of his palmiest days, and
called forth from the lips Of many the enthusi-
astic exclamation, he is indeed THE NoBLEsT
ROMAN OF THEM ALL"'
He opposed the admission of Kansas under
the Lecompton Constitution, upon the ground
that the people of that Territory had never
been permitted to govern themselves" or to
! form and regulate their domestic institutions
| in their own way" that fraud had been prac
| tised upon them from the very beginning; that
| no election had been free from fraud and VIC
lence; that they had had no voice in forming
the Lecompton Constitution, and were not &c
be permitted to have any. That the schedule
to that Constitution provided the means o
committing faud upon them, and that tn,
whole political power had been placed with tina
view in the hands Of one man, (Calhoun,) ant
he one Of the authors of the fraud that hat
already been perpctrated That the peopl,
were not allowed to vote for or against tn,
Constitution, but only to vote for it with sla
very, or without slavery; and not even to d.
this without first taking an oath 10 support tina
Constitution A most unhcard Of condition
Such being the case, Mr.. G. declared that b,
would not be instrumental in imposing any
such Constitution upon any people, especially
upon those who protested against it as obnox.
ious and hateful to them.
What the effect Of Mr.. C's speech may be,
remains to be tested; but from the long faces
of the Lecomptonites who listened to it, we
should infer that they considered it as exceed
ingly damaging; and we cannot but think that
its influence up,n the public mind in Ken
lucky, Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia, Della
ware, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Iii.
nois, viii be very great
P. s. Since the above was written, Mr..
ToomBs replied 10 Mr.. CRrTrENpES, and the
latter rejoined. We did not hear Mr.. TooMBs's
speech, but understand that he strongly init
mated that the rejection Of the Lecompton Con-
stitution would be the cause Of disruption Of
the Union. In his rejoinder, Mr.. CRrrTENDEN
took the lofty stand Of patriot, placing him
self above all parties and partizan influences.
lie thought his age and his long services war;
ranted him, when he took his seat in the Sen
ate, in disconnecting himself with parties, and
In looking solely to thegreat interests and well
fare Of his county. He was a citizen Of the
United States; and, as such, it bee me him 10
know no section nor party. APPLAUSE in the
galleries..
He regretted that the subject Of slavery was
made anincidcnt ofthis debate. Itreally formed
no legitimate element OF the Kansas discussion,
which he had hoped would be conducted on
high considerations Of equality and political
justice. He was Southern man, and always
desired 10 see his section in the right Sc
feeling, he was constrained in the pending issue
TO advise that which seemed 10 him right as a
true son Of the South, and at the same time as
a loyal citizen Of the United States. He prayed
that the South might ever bask in the sun.
shine Of prosperity, and that peace might re-
turn and reign throughout all the land.
Mr.. BELL then took the floor, and spoke with
great earncstncss and ability in reply 10 Mr..
ToouBs. His speech was lengthy, but every
line will be found marked with power, and
pregnant with lofty sentiments
Messrs. CsurESpES and BELL must neces
sarily vote with the Republican Senators; bu
while they doso, they are no more 10 be classet
with that party than with the Democratic
party. 1eaeas "a ~