Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-04-03
SPEECH OF MR.. WRIGHT,
OF TENNESSEE.

mission Of Kansas into the Union, said that Of al
the Democrats from the Northern States who had
voted for the Kansas-Nebrask BILL only three were
members Ct this Congress. This he gave as a warn.
ing to those Democrats Who lik9 the honorable gen
tleman from New York, Mr.. Soaring, who has just
taken his seat had aYOWed their intention to vote
for the admission Of Kansas. This, sir, was only
enc side Of the pictuFe and desire to call the at
tentiOn Of my friend from Indiana to the other side
ask him where are all those Democrats, from that
section, who voted against that measure It true
that some Of them were returned to Congress, and
are now here as Representatives but most if not
al, Of them have gone into the arms Of the Black
Republican party, and they now help to swell the
ranks Of that great army which is warning upon the
constitutional rights Of one section of this Confed
eracy The first false step from the ranks Of the
Democratic party having been taken they went on and
on and on, until they found themselves in company
which l am cORhdent my friend from Indiana has
no affinity for whatever, and where l am sure
would deeply regret to see him. But sir, have
not risen for the purpose Of delivering lecture to
my friend, nor TO those who agree with him in sen
timent. 1 shall vote for the admission Of Kansas
into the Union under the LecomptOn constitution,
and have obtained the floor for the purpose OF
stating nv reasons for so doing 1 trust that have
not been actuated by selfish motives in coming to
this determination. It is not alone because see in
the accomplishment Of my desire that benefits are
to arise to the State which in part represent but
because believe it to be a measure Of justice by
which peace will be secured to the people of Kansas
and harmony and brotherly feeling restored to the
people Of the whole country. wish TO localize this
question. 1 am anxious that it shall be removed
from these Halls. am DESTROYS to see the country
relieved from an agitation which has resulted in no
good, and which, if continued may lead to the most
fearful consequences. I see but one way by which
these ends can be accomplished, and that is by the
prompt admission of Kansas into the Union. The
a r 4 L. 3 80
hands, and these considerations outweigh all ques-
tons Of mere party or sectional triumph.
In the few remarks which l design TO present in
the advocacy Of this measure, do not propose to
enter upon any new fields of argument. Indeed,
were disposed to do So it would be difficult task
to attempt to add anything to what has already been
said in support Of it. I regard il as question up
on the determination Of which much depends, no
matter which way it may be decided. 1 wish to
approach the subject in spirit CT candOr and fair
ness. do not intend to conceal the fact that the
people Of that portion Of the Confederacy where
live feel and justly feel, that their independence
and equality at stake in the adjustment Of this
question; but, nevertheless will not undertake to
induce others to agree with me by threats mena-
ces I have long since determined neither to say
nor do anything which tends to weaken the attach
ment Of our people to their Government or to sever
the ties which bind together the States Of this Con-
federBcy; but, upon the contrary, sctuaed las be-
heve AMI by an honest zeal for my cOuutry's vel
fare and inspired with brotherly affection for the
people of every section Of the Union-Ncrth South,
East and West-and conscious Of the obligations
which rest on me IS representative of the people,
shall endeavOr to promote, in my humble way, and
with the best judgment l can command, the pros
perity, the happiness and greatness, Of a common
country.
Unhappily for mankind, the dangers which we're
foreseen by the fathers Of the Republic and of which
h., fr11
are upon u.s. and threaten us with disasters of such
a character that no man can calculate them. Every
question Of any magnitude which presents itself
assumes sectional cast before it has been long IN
der consideration. If appropriation to pay nee
essary expenses incurred already, about to be in
CURED, is presented, it is not long before some
watchful and housekeeping "freedom. shrieker -
shreWdly discovers in it plot to advance the inter
est Of the " slave power" and thus crush the So
called spirit Of liberty. Is effort made increase
the Army to crush out rebellion in some distant
Territory it is no sooner done than it is iRsungy
said that its object is to aid a tyrannical chief EI
eeutive in forcing upon the necks of an unwilling
and msrtyred people institutions and laws not their
own, and against which they most sOemnly protest
Has officer Of the Navy, in violation Of the laws
of nations, aud in disregard of our oblig of
neutrality invaded neutral territory and taken citi
zens captive, pretenses soon found for COmpli-
menting him for his gallanry and reasons given for
sustaining him; and all this because tits feared that
in the acquisition of more territory in the South by
the progressive and indomitable spirit of our peo-
pie, there will be fields opened to southern en-
terprise, and new outlets for the peculiar" insti
tuition Does new State present her constitution,
and ask for admission into the Federal Union, she
is welcomed to the glorious sisteThOod if she comes
with free-St8te constitution. Our ears are shock
ed with no threats of " disunion and civil war"
nor are our tastes offended by unjust and Unparlia-
mentary reflections upon the characters and insti-
buttons Of other States. But, sir if in the exercise
of her sovereign rights, and in the limits other cOnst
tutiOnsl authority, she sees proper to form consti
tuition like those Of the fifteen southern States and
then asks TO be admitted into the Union on an
equality with the original States, how changed the
scene 1t is Immediately said that slave labor and
free labor cannot exist together. The South is
charged with desire to enCrOach upon the rights Of
the North our insItUtiOnpare abused; our people
are insulted; independence derided and seOrned
Such has been the case, sir in every instance where
slave States have been admitted into the Union. 1t
was 80 with Texas, and Arkansas and Missouri
Even when they have been admitted, it has been
through scenes Of excitement and in some instances
with condition and provisions inconsistent with their
sovereignty, and insulting to their independence.
Sir we have not been unmindful Of these things
We have not been UnObservant Of that power which
has been gradually yet surely grOWingin strength and
Importance, and which to-day threatens to brand US
IS lAleElOEb HuQ NdhsdlsY III d NuulCuGieCJ winch
recognizes us as equals and sovereigns, If we had
been actuated by that aggressive spirit with which
We have been charged, might we not have avoided
his calamity In the original organization Of the
Federal GOvernm mt, there twelve out of thir-
zen States which recognized African slavery as a
part Of their institutions Might not these twelve
States have maintained their supremacy in the Gov
srnment! Might they not, by prudent counsels,
and, had they been actuatJd by selfish considera-
TONS and desires for power, have disregarded prin
,iple and looked only 10 their own safety and indie
DendenCe? But, sir, what has been the history Of
his question? From twelve they have grown to
fifteen, whilst from one, the so-caed free States
rave increased their number TO sixteen, and will
loon be increased to eighteen. And is this sggres-
lion Do these facts sustain that class ofcomplaD.
ng politicians, who, disregarding the history of the
,ast as well their obligations to truth, still
,rste about the "save power" and its aggressions
lpon the interests Of the northern States? Sir, can
my intelligent man in the North, or anywhere else
listen with patience to these men, who, having no
merit Of their own seek to obtain position by per
rersiOn of history and by unwarrauted crusade |
against those whom they ought 70 regard as friends
md not as enemies?
When the Kansas Nebraska bill became law of |
he land, it was hailed a measure which was to /
ring peace to a distracted country. 1t regard
d a measure Of justice which was forever to /
withdraw the question Of slavery from Congress, !
md Leave it where the Constitution left ito be
determined by the people Of the Territory, and to |
e by them settled in their own way, subject only /
o the Constitution of the United States In the |
discussion and settlement of that question it was /
soeraned that there were two parties in this coun-
ry; one contendng for the principle that Congress
lad the power to legislate in all things whatsoever
or the Territories, and calling themselves the Re-
publican partY-s name, which, like their princi-
les was a usurpauOn and fraud, and which " to
e hated needs but to be seem" and the other, the
Democratic party, which, following in the pathway
f the Fathers Of the Republic, and adhering to the
immortal principles Of patriots of the Revolution,
ecsred its devotion to the doctrine Of selfgovern
lent and popular liberty, that the people of the
errtores we're to be secured the right Of framing
heir own constitution in their own way, subject
My to the Constitution of the United States" Up
D this issue the oOntending parties entered the
honorable contest of 1856; and the result was the
deviation Of the present Chief Executive to the head
f the Government. Heartily imbued with the great
Octrine Of nOn-iuteryenuOn, advocating and de-
ending it, because it was not only just but because
It they recognized the soul and life of the FEEDER
Constitution, the Democracy Of the country North
I'D South, staked their existence upon this issue
hey were not guided and directed hv that selfish |