Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-04-21
NEW SERlES--VOL. llI.-NO. Is.

OtOr dlu not lall TO ScS thnt the senator
from Virginia on Friday last, in his able
and eloquent speech, pointed out clearly
the power in the Legislature to get clear
Of slavery in that Territory without any
amendment of the Constitution whatever:
Therefore answer that, so far as regards
the question Of slavery, taking these eau
scs together, the power is complete in the
Legislature as it now stands.
Mr.. Doolittlc-Let me understand tho
Senator. Is it complete with the slavery
article in or with it out?
Mr. Bigler--l said if the slavery article
had been voted out
Mr. Doolittle-What then?
Mr. Bigler-Then slavery would have
been completely abolished in the Terrific
ry by the people. That is what said. |
knew what the Senator had in view, that
bee use the schedule protected the prop
crty value in slaves, he would hold that
the posterty of slaves were to remain III
bondage; that there was no power in the
Legislature to wipe out that remnant or
root of the institution. That is where he
is mistaken, Now, sir, | want to notice
another point.
Mr.. Doolittle-I wish to put one further
question TO the honorable Senator, with
his leave.
Mr.. Biglcr-If the honorable Senator
will allow me, ] wish to proceed to anoth-
or point in the case
Mr.. Doolittlc 1t is on this point.
Mr.. Bigler-It is now nearly o'clock
in the morning, and have several. points
to make before that hour.
Now | wish to mark the extraordinary
course and policy which has from time to
time marked the conduct of the anti-sla-
very party in Kansas. do not intend to
review their acts of folly and insubordina-
ton in standing out against the laws, nor
their constant and persistent efforts to pro-
duce violence rebellion and civil war
Governor Walkers dispatches are full and
complete on this point. lie describes,thd
Republican party as in open rebellion to
the laws during nearly all his service, and
as plotting for the overthrow of the gov
crnmcnt. Against the other party, the
Lecompton party, he made no complaints
prior to his departure from the Territory,
! But | wish to look for thcs evidence in
the career Of the Republican par
ty in Kansas that they ever desired to set
tie the question of slavery. can find no
evidence that they did so'desire; but mtclf
that they did not. In the language of
n distinguished New York politician, (Jno.
| Van Burcn) do not understand this
free State party in Kansas who are all the
while trying to make Kansas q slave State"
! The remark is witty and true. The free
State party in Kansas have never exeIcif
scd their power when they could touch the
question of slavery. In June last, wheif
| they had the opportunity of voting for
delegates to make free State. and when
they daily boasted of being three or five
to one of the population they would not
vote. Different preteXts were set up in
viiierent parts Of the Territory as | know
of my personal knowledge, Some said
1--WE will not VOTE because the laws under
which this Convention is to assemble arc
! bogus laws" Others said, none shall
vote because all were not registered"
! ! am sorry that do not see my friend
| from Massachusetts in his seat for as he
! took the liberty, the other day, Of asking
me u question relating to my experience
| in Kansas, he would not take it unkind il
! I asked him one touching his career ~
that noted country. | heard it said ou
moro than one occasion that during that
honorable Senator's tour in that Territory
he had advised the free State party not 10
vote and that he also concurred in tho
policy of attempting to make Kansas a
free State by allowing the pro-slavery par
ty to elect all the delegates to make the
Constitution. l know not whether tho
rumor be correct or not. 1t is not impor-
tant to my purpose.
But it is significant fact that the Re.
publicans or free-State party did not vote
! in June, when the fate of slavery was in
! ,.,1,.,1 1,l n,,,1,,,. I.
| ing was at stake but offices and delegate
in Congress, they did vote-they did rush
to the polls and carry the election, regard
less of the humiliation implied in the re-
cognition Of the "bogus laws" Then,
again, inDccembcr following, on the direct
question whether slavery should or should
not exist in the new State of Kansas, these
anti.slavery men did not vote. The 'bo-
gus laws and the bogus convention, for
bid that they should condescend to vote
against slavery, and they did not VOTE
! But less than month afterwards, when
the question ef slavery was not involved,
when office, and honors, and emoluments
were staked, they readily got over their
scruples of conscience against the Lecomp-
ton usurpation and rallied to the polls and
secured all the offices under what they
term the "Lecompton sWlndle.' Comment
cannot add to the strength of this history
1t is painfully significant. When it was
necessary to get office tho "bogus laws"
were promptly recognized when slavery
was at stake they shrunk from it as from
the touch of death. Constantly Doasting
their power and determination to make
Kansas a free state, these anti-slayery
men carefully refrained from dealing the
blow, when the institution came within
their reach. They boasted of the power
but would not do the deed. The country
is agtated rom one extremity to the 9TH
er about an alledgcd design to force sla-
very into Kansas and yet, sir, within the
last nine months, the party claiming to
have the,absolute power and the will 10
I do the deed, have had two opportunities
of abolishing and forever interdicting the
institution; but they would not. How
| many opportunities must they have? How