The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-09-23


l desired simply TO know, inasmuch as he
had been nominated as the first, last, and
only choice of his party, whether he concur.
red in the platform which that party had
adopted for its government. In a few mo-
ments | will proceed to review the answers
which he has given to these interrogatories;
but in order to relieve his anxiety will first
respond to those which he has presented me.
Mark you, he has not presented intrerogato.
ries which have ever received the sanction
Of the party with which am acting, and
hence he has no other foundation for them
than his own curiosity ["That's a fOct."]
First, he desires to know if the people OF
Kansas shall form a constitution by means
entirely proper and unobjectionabe and ask
admission into the Union as State, before
having the REQUISITE population for member
of Congress, whether would vote for that
admission Well, now regret exceeding
ly that he did not answer that question him
self before he put it to me, in order that we
might understand, and not be left tc infer,
on which side he is. Good.] Mr.. Trum-
bull during the last session of Congress, vot.
ed from the Beginning to the end against
the admission of Oregon, although free
State, because she had not the requisite pop.
ulation for member of Congress. That's
it.] Mr.. Trumbull would not consent, un.
der any circumstances, 10 let State, free
or slave, come into the Union until it had
the requisite population. AS Mr.. Trumbull
is in the field fighting for Mr.. Lincoln,
would like to have Mr.. Lincoln answer his
own question and tell me whether he is
fighting Trumbull on that issue or not
Good, put it to him, and cheers. But
! Will answer his question. In reference to
Kansas; it is my opinion, that as she has
population enough to constitute slave State
she has enough for free State. TCheers. I
will not make Kansas an exceptional
case to the other States of the Union
Sound, and hear, hear. i hold it to be q
sound rule of universal application to re-
quire territory to contain the requisite
population fot member Of Congress- Before
it is admitted as State into the Union. |
made that proposition in the Senate in 1856,
and | renewed it during the last session, in
bill providing that no territory of the Uni
ted States should form a constitution and
apply for admission until it has the requisite
population. On another occasion propos.
cd that neither Kansas or any territory,
should be admitted until it had the requisite
population. Congress did not adopt any of
my propositions containing this general
rule, but did make an exception of Kansas.
will not stand by that exception. Cheers.
Either Kahsas must come in as free State,
with whatever population she may have, or
the rule must be applied to all the other ter
ritories alike. [Cheers.] therefore an.
swer at once, that it having. been decided
that Kansas has people enough for lave
State, hold that she has enough for free
State. ["Good, and applduse.] hope Mr..
Lincoln is satisfied with my answer; He
ought to be, and cheers, and now | would
| like to get his answer to his own interoga-
tory--whether or not he will vote to admit
Kansas before she has the requisite popula-
ton. "Hit him again."l Iwant to know
whether he will vote to admit Oregon be-
fore that territory has the requisite popula.
ton. Mr. Trumbull will not, and the same
reason that cotnmits Mr.. Trumbull against
Oregon, commits him against Kansas, even
if she should apply for admission as free
State. [ You've got him." and cheers.] If
there is any sincerity, any truth in the ar.
gument of Mr. Trumbull in the Senate
against the admission of Oregon because she
had not 90, ,42o people, although her popula.
ton was larger than Kansas, he stands
pledged against the admission Of both Ore
gon and Kansas until they have SO ,42O in.
habitants. Iwould like Mr.. Lincoln to an
swer this question. would like him to
take his own medicine. Laughter Tfhe
differs with MIR. Trumbul, let him answer
his argument against the admission of Ore.
gon, instead of poking questions at me-
["Right, good, good" laughter and cheers
The next question propounded to me by
Mr.. Lincoln is; "can the people of a territory
in any lawlul way against the wishes of any
citizen of the United States, exclude slavery
from their limits prior to the formation of a
State Constitution. answer emphatically
as Mr.. Lincoln has heard me answer hun
dred times from every stump in Illinois, that
in my opinion the people Of territory Gun,
by lawful means, exclude slavery from their
limits prior to the formation of State Con.
stitution." Enthusiastic applause. MIR.
Lincoln knew that had answered that
question over and over again. He heard me
argue the Nebraska. bill on that principle all
over the State in 1854, in 1866 and in 1856,
and he has no excuse for pretending to be
in doubt as to my position on that question.
1t matters not what way the Court may here
after decide as to the abstract question
whether slavery may or may not 60 into a
territory under the constitution, the people
have the lawful means to introduce it or ex.