Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-08

egafeS VINO were In favor OF OOeylIg Tue "isH'
of the people; and majority in favor oil SUD
hitting their action, no matter what Il was 10
popular approval or rejection at the polls -
What that Convention will do, what 1t will
not do we have not the means OF knowing
But we know that any attempt TO force pre-
slavery constitution upon the people, without
.the opportunity OF voting II down al Inc polls
will De regarded, alter the recent expression u
sentiment, as so decidedly unjust, oppressive
and unworthy OF a tree people. that the people
of the United States will not sanction 1t. II
woul. add thousands 10 the vote of the RePub'
lican party IN every State OF the UnIon' and
give 10 that organization what II has never hdd
yet-a show OF justice and truth.
"sTo the Democratic members OF that Con
vention, the course is PLAZA The people have
decided in favor OF Tree State; though they
have not voted on the naked issue of tree
State" or slave State" they have voted prac-
tlcally in favor of a free State Two thirds of
the Democratic party in Kansas have voted
with the free State party at the recent cleo
ton, IN order to make the popular decision
more emphatic. As Kansas must be tree
State, even those persons IN the Territory whp
are known as 'pro.,ltvery' mrn, must reco2-
ME m the late election d decision which must
not be sllghted or put at defiance. To that eN
preston OF the popular will, there should De a
graceful, If Lot a cheerful submission Kansas
is TO be free State That fact being ascer.
tanned, let the Convention frame a constitution
to suit her best interests upon all other cues
tons, and let the prohibition OF slavery be put
in, clearly, and without bubble, plainly, without
Disguise, explicitly, broadly, and firmly. Let
the Convention then submit that constitution TO
the people. Ii il be adopted. Kansas will come
into the Union at the next session, and the Re
publican party will expire Tor the want OF sus-
tenauce. II any members OF the Convention
desire 70 proOng the controversy, or 10 hav"
regular. direct vote upon slave State amt free
State, let free state constIt,ton-tue Topeka
constitution. Invested of such OF rs provisions
as time has shown to b. unsuItable-and a slave
State cons tuition be prepared. Let them both
be submitted to the people-the vote 10 be tree
State constitution, yes or Gree State constltu'
ton, no." slave State constitution yes, or
! slave State constitution. no Let them, II
! they desire 10 vote III favor OF slave State,
have the opportunity; but let the constitution
be submitted TO the popular vote, aud at an
early day.
LET the present Convention submit this
matter TO the people without delay, and have
! ttc long controversy settled finally, ana in the
! only efac'ua manner taat i possible. IN six
months after the admission Of Kansas, BucN
Repubhcauism will be 10 more.
/ And this is the article which John Calhoun
when driven 20 corner, represented 10 the
President and Cabinet as the one from which he
derived the plan not TO submit the constitution
TO the people at all And this poor, paltry
falsehood framed by Calhoun as an apology Tor
conduct Of which even ne was ashamed. Is taken
up by Smith, and gravely repeated 10 the House
of Representatives. The statement when made
by Smith has not even the questionable excuse
which Calhoun might have offered Tor ITS iabr
cation. Smith had not been member OF the
Lecompton Conventions like Calhoun, and there
fore was not driven by personal motives 10
hide hi, own political turp.tuie by IIsrhood
The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will suspend
the reading. THIS is part OF the speech d
the gentleman from Illinois; aud the Chair
in as kind and polite manner as possible
notified the gentleman from Illinois that II
was not in order to indulge in personalities.
Mr.. MORRIS, Of Illinois. Well, sir, the
only part Of the editorial that | cared any
thiog about, has been read. | wanted the
editor of tie Times TO speak for himself in
regard to this matter. He states in that ed.
tOrial-and that was one OF jet in having it
read-that he took pains to have Calhoun
indicate, when he heard ne was making the
charge that his course in Kansas was based
upon an article which had appeared in toe
Times, 70 what article ne referred; and Cal.
houn responded that he referred 20 the arti.
Gle quoted there, which is identicA!ly the
same article which my colleague Mr.. Mar
shall incorporated in his speech. Now, sir,
| have done with that branch of the SUI, ject
1t fixes the Misrepresentation where 1t be
longs.
The gentleman has again referred to q con
versatiOn which he says occurred with me IN
nv private room. When this matter was be-
tore the House some time ago | remarked:
II invited the gentleman TO my room Tor tae
purpo5e-as think the gentleman Will bear me
wItness-mainIy of introducing TO hIm an old
soldier friend, who formerly lived IN Virginia.
aud who had coEae on mere Tor the purpose Of
obtaining a pension and was Grs .rOas Of enlist
ing tue members OF the House IN MS favor.
To that remark the gentleman irOm NIr-
GINA replied as follows:
Its said by the gentleman from Illinois, Mr..
! Morris, that this conversation occurred IN MS
room, in the presence OF his family. That Is
true, sir; but ! went to consult with him, he
has stated, and this public subject came up in
conversation alter that private matter was dis
posed Of
He came to my private room to consult
with the old soldier. as | stated, and rs he
bas admitted. Now, sir, that old soldier,
/ the member from Virginia, and myself and
/ family. were the only persons present at that
/ interview. | desire that old soldier - speak
/ for himself ~ 70 what was said on that occ8-
/ sion. ! ask that the affidavit which | send
! to the Clerks desk may be read as a part OF
my speech. Not word or line Of it was
written or dictated by me, ner do | know
who did write it. Ii embodies bis own re-
collections of the facts.
The affidavit was read, as follows:
STATE OF ILLINOIS, MCDOYoUGH COUNTY. So:
The undersigned, Thomas SmIthers being
duly sworn doth depose and say, that he was at
Washington city during part OF the winter last
past, tor the purpose OF prosecuting claim tor
a pension: aud while there some time N tie
month OF December, h, aifianf, spent an evening
al the room OF Hon J \. Morris. and Was IN
formed by said Morris that * Governor smith.
OF Virginia, would be there 10 SEE alhan, ~ re-
ference TO said claim. Atiiant further states
that said SmI n came 10 said room about malt.
past seven o'clock, p. m, Of said day, and re-
manned there from one half 10 three quarters OF
all hour. That the only persons present were
the SAID Smith Morris and his wife, and aiiant,
aAd atnant now most positively states that no
such statements as said Smith hts attributed 10
catI .rh dol, raI k,.