Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-02-13


as much as Southern men.) 1t was true there haC
been Intervention in Kansas, but it was the inter
vention OF Stanton and Walker against slavery
and the South, and in favor Of the North TIL,
South had achieved victory over Intervention b,
the Federal Government against slavery ant
against the South.
i JOHN A. BINGHAM OF OHIO.
Mr. Bingham, of Ohio, spoke upon. the Kansa
question, which lie considered of paramount i'm
portance. 1t question between Executive
despotism and popular liberty. The President ant
his friends by entreaties and threats seekin,
to compel this body to endorse the Lecompton con
stitu tion and give it the sanction Of law; but h
trusted no member Of the House would be nGueR
ced in the discharge Of his duty by any such i'm
proper and unauthorized interference. He woulc
never sanction that instrument, notwithstanding
the influence of the President, and notwithstand
ing the threat of distinguished Southern Senator
that his State would go out of the Union.
| The Lecompton constitution was against the viii
of the peoplc Of Kansas, against the Constitution
of the United States and against the principles o
eternal justice. This was the first time in the
history of our Government that attempt had
been made TO establish by Federal authority a
State constitution and government, not only with
out but against the consent OF the people OF the
proposed State State constitutions had been sent
to Congress without any formal ratification by the
people, but that was only when the Convention
represent the people. In Kansas the delegates
were chosen illegally. by a small part Of the peo-
pie only less than fourth of the legal voters
pursuant to enactments passed by body of usur-
pers, and their constitution, the joint product of
local and federal usurpation, was notoricusly repu-
dated and disavowed by the great body of the
people: And now that the rights of the people
were cloven down, now that popular sovereignty
was strangled they were told to acquiesce in the
outrage, for the sake of thepeace and quiet of the
whole country. 1t was not the first time that ty-
rannical acts had been dignifed with the title Of
peace measures. They now told that "all is
quiet in Kansas" 1t was but The itful lull which
precedes the storm. Let them look 10 it that by
their act the freemen Of Kansas were not pressed
to that point at which forbearance ceases to be n
virtue and becomes a crime. Kansas filled
with freemen who know their rights and dare main
tain them, who have fortitude to endure and cour
age to dare. Let those who keep watch and ward
on the constitution look to it these men be not drv
en- to the dread election of submission to dishonor
or resistance with blood. Notwithstanding the
calutnnies of those who prOfcssed to doubt the
manhood of the men Of Kansas, they would never
submit to the Lecompton constitution unless it
were perpetually maintained by a Federal army.
Resistance would be duty. not crime, patriotism
not treason. They could Justify their rebellion by
the organic act by the Declaration of Indepen
dence. and by the principles of eternal justice
Let them appeal to the American nation and they
will not appeal in vain.
Z The great principle of selfgoyernment was not
to be set aside by the puerile conceits of dcma
gogues, whether embodied in an Executive mes
sage or an Executive organ. The Lecompton
constitution trampled upon that great principle
1t was the natural and inherent right of the
people of the Territory Of Kansas alone to form
their constitution, and the delegates at Lecompton
had no power to usurp the prerogatve of their
masters, the people. The language of the Presi-
dents message If it meant any thing, meant that
the people of Kansas had power of self
government except by Federal grant, which was
IN direct contraventiOn of the principles of the
Kansas. n ebraska bill. The suggestion that the
organic act was in effect enabling act was an
afterthought. Side by side with that lame plea
was the Presidents citation Of the precedent OF
Tennessee. The people of n Territory might
wave their right to formal ratification of a con
stiution, framed by their delegates, but the
people of Kansas had never so waived their rights
The Convention was not legally chosen, and the
Convention and its work have been and still are
repudiated by the people, who were known 20 be
ready TO day to take up arms against it. The pro.
position was that Congress should coercc the peo.
pie into accepting this constitution. lie called
this not popular sovereignty, but Federal usurfa'
ton and despOtism.
lie denied the assertion of the Presidents mes.
sage that the question of slavery to be sub,
mitted TO the POPULAR vote the only question
submitted was whether the further importation of
slaves should be permitted or not. The President
had falsied the record in stating that there would
or could be a legitimate election, and fair oppor-
tunity to vote upon the LecomptOn constitution.
He proceeded to comment upon the iniquitous
provisions cf the Lecumptun constitution. which
he contended rested upon the bold malignant,
atheisc principle that men are not created free
and equal, and denounced the argument of the
President, derived from the "Dred Scott" decision,
that the slaves in Kansas have gone there under
the Constitution of the United States, and are
already the property Of their masters. The
President needed to go but step further and
say that all the people of Kansas are property of
their masters.
MR.. ANDERSON OF MISSOURI.
Mr.. Anderson, of Missouri, addressed tho com
mittee on Kansas affairs and in support OF the
Lecompton constitution first defining his position
as member Of the American party. lie belong
ed to a party, he said, which believed that the
wsesu and best relation between the white and
black races was that Of master and servant; and
which desired to maintain the peace and harmony
of the States of the Union. lie found himself
now in position when he must act with one or
the other of the great political parties in the
House upon the great subject of our domestic
subject which he was forced toI
believe was hurrying the nation to point where
Divine interpositon alone could avert disunion.
He had no hesitancy, under these circumstances
in deciding to support the Administration In its
attempt to stay the progress of the eneroachments
upon the South. In this position he would un-
ioubtedly be sustained by the American party
which had no sympathy with the Republicans.
The Territory of Kansas had been the scene Of
the most unprecedented outrages and violations OF
law and order. Never had Territory been set
lied by such an ungovernable, reckless 2eo
pie. They had been the source OF an endless
trouble to the Government and country, and now
the majority of the people of the country demand
ed the immediate admission of Kansas State,
to put an end 10 the trouble and agitation, and
leave these people to manage their own affairs as
best they might. There was nothing in the pro-
,eedings of the people of Kansas in the formation
Of their constitution to justify Congress in retus'
ing her admission as State The kansas-Ne'
braska bill authorized the people to elect repre-
sentatives to Territorial Legislature, which they
lid, that the Lecompton Legislature passed an act
providing for the election of delegates to Conven'
ion to frame constitution. Under that act dei
a .A..I