Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-02-04
Senator Wade,s Remarks.
WAsHINeToN, Jan. 81, 1858.


Senator Wade's Remarks.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1858.
SENArE-Mr. Pugh (Ohio) presented
the joint resolutions Of the Legislaturs OF
Ohio.
Mr.. Wade (ohio) declared that they
were dlsreputable in thir character.
AT the impatient demand of several Sem
ators, they were read. They express their
entire confidence in the integrity and ab;li-
ty of the present Chief Magistrate, and say
that the Administration Commands their
cordial and undivided support. Thew 70.
affirm the doctrine of the Cincinnati Mat.
form; regard the refusal of the Lecompton
Convention to submit the Constitution to
the people, as unfortunate for the peace
of that country; declare it to be their un-
alterable Judgment that every Constitution
of every new State of the Union, unless
otherwise directed by the people, ought to
be submitted to the bona fds electors Of
such Territory for approval or rejection,
and conclude by instructing the Senators
and requesting the Representatives of Ohio
to vote against the admission, of Kansas
under the Lecompton Constitution, or any
other not the clearly expressed will of the
people.
Mr.. Wade remarked that the reason why
he stigmatized the resolutions as disrepu-
sable was that they did not speak out with
the manly independence with which the
Legislature of sovereign State should al
ways speak upon any question of sufficient
importance for expressing any opininion at
all. These resolutions indorse the Presi-
dent, and pledge their authors to support
every lot and title of the Administration,
when they intend to conclude by instruct
ing their senators to go against the only
great and darling measure which the Ad-
ministration has presented. Why not
come directly to the question at issue, and
with that calm dignity which becomes a
sovereign State declare and announce their
purposes and their will Why go crouch
ing like miserable slaves to the Administra-
ton, and bypocritieally declare that they
have the fullest confidence in it when they
mean 10 end by declaring their stern de-
termination to oppose the only important
measure it has brought forward.
The President not only announces his
determination not to allow the people Of
Kansas to make their own Constitution,
but to force them one made by their enc
mics, and compel obedience to it at the
point of the bayonet. Mr.. Wade proposed,
if it should come to that, to resume the
same argument where our fathers left it.
The South had not upon their plantations
more craven-spirited sect of people than
those who passed these resolutions. Laugh
ter. Of course there was no necessity of
instructing him how to vote. Renewed
laughter. If the Executive should persist
in this policy, be was tyrant, and desery-
ed the frowns and reproaches ofevery man.
The resolutions call his policy "unfortu-
nate" but he called it downright knavery
and tyranny, which demanded not argu-
ment, but action. 1t tends to break the
peace and stir up civil war. Not with
standing all this, they do not lose theiI
confidence in him, we instruct you to throw
his message in his face; and for one he
(Wade) was ready to do it. Laughter.
The resolutions were not the voice of the
people of Ohio, and met no sympathy OF
acquiescence from the Republican party
They were crowded down the throats of the
Republicans in the Ohio Legislature by a
cowardly majority, under the gag rule, be-
cause they dared not face the scorn and
contempt which would have been heaped
upon them. Had they permitted the lib
erty of speech the brave and generous peo-
pie of Ohio would have spoken out direct
ly without catering to the favor of any man
bodily and independently would they
have pronounced their will. The resolutions
were passed under the statement that haste
was indispensable, and yet more than ten
days have elapsed, during which time they
have slept in some mans breeches pocket.
He was willing to go with the Legislature
and resist to the death the attempt to force
the Lecompton Constitution, or any other
constitution, not the will of the people, up
on them. This is the first attempt since
the American Revolution to take away the
liberties of the people, and it must be the
last.