Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-04-09
ELI THAYER'S SPEECH ON
THE KANSAS QUESTION.

We have received a copy Of Hon. Eli
Thayer's speech on the Kansas question,
delivered in the House of Representa-
tiyes on the 25th ult. 1t contains many
good points, well put in the half serious,
half humorous vein so richly illustrated
in Mr.. Thayer's Central America speech.
We think the following extracts-all we
have room for-win be highly relished
by our readers:
THINGS THAT NEED NO Defense.
Itnay be expected, Mr.. Chairman,
that at this time I should say something
in defense of the Pilgrims and OF the
State of Massachusetts for they have
been repeatedly assailed on this floor,
within the last two weeks. But shall
make no defense. There are some things
which 1 never attempt to defend. Among
these are the Falls of Niagara, the White
maintains of New Hampshire, the At
1antic ocean, Plymouth Rock, Bunker
Hill. and the history of Massachusetts.
Any man may assail either or all OF
item with perfect impunity, so far as
am concerned. Any words of fdisparage-
ment or vituperation directed against
either of these objects by any asSaiiant,
excite in me feelings very different from
+bosa of Observation-Disclosures the as
sa;lant comes with bow as long as that
of the Bold Robin Hood, or with bow
of shorter range, like that of the gentle
man from Alabama, (Mr. Shorter.)
(Laughter.)
But deprecate the disposition that
impels these shafts against the sister States
of this confederacy. l deprecate this
sectional animosity whenever l see Ii
eyinccd. have heard too mucn OF the
aagressions of the North and of the ag-
cressions of the South in the past, to be
very much in love with either OF these
ideas. / have never been accustomed to
sneak of the aggressions Of the slave pow
er. and have no purpose of doing so now
or hereafter. If the one hundredth part
of the people of this country can make
dangerous aggressions on the right and
,ltuIu WV - -4L~- ,;-n+yr--,;nn h,1n-
dreth parts of the people, either by the
force of strength or by the IL aT- ho tho lost
macy, assDEee
.ro,,ialn OF 1t.
,PULAR SOVEREIGNTY, PAST AND PRE-
SENT.
For myself, 1 was always in favor oi
popular sovereignty, rightly so called
| am ready, for one, to agree to-day thai
the Territories belonging to this govern
ment shall be opened to settlement at any
time when Congress thinks fit so to oPeT
them; and that the people Of all part
the country shall go into them with tn
assurance of absolute and complete non
iaterve7ation with the assurance tha
whenever any Chief Executive, otficia
or nonresident, shall interfere, by frau
or violence in their affairs, he shall eithe
be impeached or hanged; with the assul
ance that when the people shall have tn
ratio of representation required by Law
and shall come to Congress with col
stitution republican in form, they shall
admitted intothe Union as State. Ihi
sir, is popular sovereignty, and it is VIII
was practiced in this country two cent
ries ago.
The people of Plymouth colony hi
the privilege of choosing their own Go
ernor, and of making their own laws
The same was true of the New Hav'
colony of the Providence Plantations.
They always didit. l believe the Cro'
of England never appointed Govern
for these colonies; certainly not for
last TWO. DuL HClO tAOoN PNOPA0' W.
out ever having exercised the right
self-government, better prepared to g
ern themselves than are our people, {
ucated under our State governments, W
20 into our Territories +? Why, tn
should we continue to have an Ahat
trouble Israel" while he lays the bla
of his own misconduct upon the emigr
aid societies? Why not cut off tn
Territories from all connection with
General Government, legislative or
ecutive? Then we shall have no m
agitation in Congress, and no more C
tention in the Territories. But so l.
as this connection continues, so long
we have a President trying to bias,
his appointments, and perhaps by
United States troops, the will Of the |
pie, so long shall we have agita ton,
we shall have enough of it.
THE DIsUNIOH DEITY.
Well, sir, have nothing to find I
about. lam very well pleased with