The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-10


Tie House being in Committee Of the Whole the
state of the Union
Mr.. WARD said
Mn. CHAIRMAN The subject OF admitting Kansas
State under the Lecompon constitution has been fully
and ably discussed by the distinguished members Of this
honorable body that view be presented Of the
immediate points ia issue 1t has occupied the attention
of Congress until the whole country must be
weaicd OF the discussion 1t is matter of deep regret
that so large portion of the time of this Congress has
been thus absorbed. The nation has just passed through
of those periodical financial rcvulsions which
from inflated issue of bank paper overading and specn
laon, leaving thousands In hopeless bankruptcy all
branches Of industry arrested and parayzcd
and yet nearly four months of the session gone and not
effort made, word of hope consolation uttered
any Of relief brought forward in Congress
that exhibits an interest or sympathy even with those
upon whom calamity has fallen heavily. sectional
aud political excitement has cngenered which, while
1t may not precpte dissolution of the Union weakens
that bond Of ernal intercourse which should always exist
between different sections of our common country My
position early taken from deep conviction of duty
to the nation and my party; my constituents have left
free to take such my Judgment dictated,
and whether it meets with their appreciation not,
know they will accord to honesty of intention and
rectitude of purpose. While my immediate con-
stucnts have contided in my Judgment have not been
unndfu that the united democracy of the city OF New
York of which my district is q part and the local
gantons have cordially approved Of the action of their
representatives that sustain the admission OF Kansas un
der the Lecompton constitution that the democratic
press, the democratic members of the legislature, and
the leading Of the party present an unbroke front
in support OF the administration and exhibit unity OF
action that has been witnessed in State for many
years upon prominent public question In addition to
this concentration OF public opinion, have not been in
sensible to other influences. The city OF New York
Is the largest commercial city in the Union. in
1856 81 tiye-eghths of the total imports into the
United States imported into that city; one
third of the exports one-third Of tho domestic pro-
duce and over e-half Of the foreign produce
rf..Jt tbarnfr md thp
house there within the time forty three and
half millions Of dollars upon dutiable imports; its bank
ing capital exclusive of that Of private bankers, in 1851
amounted to sixty five and half millions and besides
has millions invested in other corporations and in do
mestic manufacture and trade These too but part
of the vast interests that centre there These
of wealth. power and greatness cannot but suffer by the
continued agitation OF this Kansas question: ending as 1t
may in disturbing the harmony of the Union without
sulting in any practical gsod to the persons the slavery
altors desire to benefit 1t is not to be denied that
commercial people, and that to commerce we arc
indebted for our advancement growth and prosperity as
nation The majestic vessels which carry products
to other cmcs penetrating every seaport, bear with
them civilization and instruct other nations that
here exists that cannot be dsregacd. The commercial
prosperity Of my city the whole country, the onward
progress of commerce. and the agricultural and the other
departments of industry, believe are Involved In the pnb
lie questions which from time to time ag ate the country
Impressed with the value and Importance of tho Union to
my constituents find addition party consider
ations for pursuing best calculated to end the
present agitation and restore amity and good
feeling No who has observed closely the events in
Kansas for the last few years fail to trace to its prop
the present excitement and perceive the urgent
necessity of investing the people of that Territory with
the rights of sovereignty that they exercise the
function of State government and relieve Congress from
further interference. No analogy be made between
the grievances of the American colonies prior to tho
olution, attempted by my colleague, Mr.. HAsKIN,
and the alleged complaints of a part OF the people in
Kansas In the former case Great Britain persisted in
4 a1uffat
sircs in the most speedy way to confer all power upon
the citizens of that Territory, to manage their af
fairs in their way subject to the constitution OF the
| United States.
Mr. Chairman from the course the debate has taken,
an apprehension would prevail with those not cognizant
OF the facts that foul and deep wrong about to be
perpctmtcd upon the people OF Kansas that the provi
sons Of the Kansas Nebraska net to be violated and
the platform adopted at the Cincinnati Convention rcla
ting to the question of slavery ignored 10 demonstrate
that this camor it is proper that should briefly
refer to few antecedent events The act referred to-
passed in 1854 has this provision when admitted ~
State, the said Territory, or any portion OF the same
shall DO received into the Union with or without slavery
their constitution may prescribe at the time of their ad
mssioD IT being the true intent and meaning Of this ac
not to legsatc slavery into any State Territory,
to exclude it ereirom but TO leave the people Thereof
perfectly free 20 form and regulate their domestic nstu
tons in their way subject only to the constitution
the United States The territorial government of Kar
sas was organized under the act containing this sec
ton The resolutions of the Cincinnati Convention
lating to slavery and territorial organization fol
lows
And tlat we may distinctly the which
party. subsg exclusively slavery agitaton relics
icly of the people North and souh 10 ihe constitution
ssIu Tba. claiming oowslp with, and desiring the co
operation regard the preservation Of tho Union under tn
paramount jsucand repudaing all cctonn
parties platforms concerning domestic slavery which seek
treason and armed resistance TO lay
in the Territories and whose ayowcd purposes consuMmaeu
civil ana dsunio American democracy recos
the principles contained IN the organic laws osaba
ing aud Nebraska AZ mboyng the on
sound slavery question which M
great national o people this whole
the Cox
SrAK InKRiroRy on IN TIE DISTINCT
CoirMmA. -
That OF iS50-confnc
democratic and wh parties in national
people the election OF 1882 and rightly applied 10 h
| organization of Territories in 1854
the uniform application Of this democratic principle
tho organization Of Territories and to the admission Of States
domestic slavery they elect the equal right
of all will original of III
the crpetity and expsnsio
of this Union embracing
harmony every urc American state that be constituted or
| naxed With q republican form Of government
rf That recognise the right the people Of all the Terr
Nebraska acting through the legally
fairly majority actual residents. and wbenovc
the number o inhabitants juhs II, to frm constitution wit
or yibou domestic slavery upo
' | terms Of perfect equality with the other states"
II will be observed that neither the act nor resouto
contemplated that the constitution Of Kansas should
submitted to the people. They intended unquestiona
bly, the people should have the power to regulate thc
domestic Institutions but whether through snbmisso
| or a convention was left undetermined sentiment an
feeling however grew up during the canvass that t
slavery clausn should be submitted, and acluicscc
in, which would have been full compliance with the NJ
and the platform leaving the constitution otherwise
n he Eimed in such manner the people Judged best
do not mention these facts approbatoy OF the non-s'
a. - A xt.k Al -..y,. ..1. .Axx