The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-06-12
Political.
SPEECH OF HON. WILLIAM H.sEwARD.

conclusion. Inc length OF time 1t has 0c-
cunied nav account in a degree for the
decline of excitement. Repetition ofthe
.,me topics, and even of the same argu-
cants not indeed too frequent for duly
snlightening the minds Of the people OF
the United States, yet too frequently for
Datient endurance here, is further cause.
think, however, that something is due
sIso to the change of form which the SUBJ
ieet has at last assumed. We began with
bigh-soundipg themes, nothing less than
popular sovereignty, and we arose speed
iIy and Justly into the region of the rights
of human nature. The question wore
this dignity when we gave it to the COM
mittee of conference. 1t comes back from
the conference chamber, reduced into a
mere artifce-if it were respectful,
should say triek-of legislative legerde-
main. 1t is assumed that one or both OF
two irreconcilable factions are to be de-
ceived all that seems to be left for us to
discuss, or the public TO consider; is, who
is the dupe?
This, Mr.. President, is that kind of de-
bate for which have the least taste, and
think, the least talent. Among my
earliest recollections is one that person
named Redheifer put into operation in
the city of Philadelphia, and in the
Deighborhood of Congress, curious COM
bnation of mechanism, or perpetual mo-
ton, which was to supercede water, wind
aud steam, and every other motive power
Itworked effectively. beautifully, perfect
ly; but when the public expectation was
satisfied with this great success, Congress
the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and ev-
erybody else, demanded that the machine
should be Immediately taken to pieces.
Concluding Justly that there was human
agent within or connected. with it, they
wanted to see whether that living main
spring was concealed in the upper or the
neither compartment of the engine. wheth-
er in the chamber above or the cellar be-
low, or in an adjoining or distant house
or street. | felt no interest in that search
The machine was a very good thing as
it was it would be a very worthless
thing when the secret should be found
out.
So also, / remember that in later
years German, with invention character
istic of his nation and his race, put into
action in the city of New York an autom-
atom chess-player. 1t was constructed sc
skillfully, and so mysteriously endowed
with such intelligence, that though a ere.
alton of the human hand, it would moi
only beat every adversary, but would
even shrek out the cry +" check" to the
dsmay of the vanquished competitor
Just so soon as it was certain that the ma
chine was perfect, all the world clamored
to have it taken to pieces, to ascertain the
Whereabouts of the hidden intelligence
which mysteriously directed the move.
ments of the emblematical figures on the
chess board. l took no interest in tha
question was satisfied with the chess
player as it was, and knew that all the
world would like it less when they came
to learn more of what remained to bt
known about it. / acted in those cases
on this principle that no one was de.
ceived by these ingenious contrivances ex
cePt those who wanted to be duped. ST.
it is with the bill of the conference
committee on Kansas. It was got
ten up to favor purpose of self f-decept-
ion; gotten up with care, so that it could
not be explained satisfactorily by the one
faction to the other, or even to itself.
Mr. President, after this explanation,
might pass over the details of the bill
might do so all the more reasonably
because the puzzle which it presents ha
been explained satisfactorily, triumphant
ly, by the very astute Senator from Yer
mont. (Mr CoLLAMER,) by the honorable
Senator from Ohio, (Mr. WADE, always
effective, and by all my other associate
on this side of the chamber, as well as b,
the distinguished Senators from Illinoi
and Michigan. Ishall be therefore, verl
brief in my analysis of this bill.
In the first place, Mr.. President, i
makes up and submits to the people o
Kansas, and to the country, foreign,
fictitious, false issue, in place OF tn
truce one. The true issue, is the question
whether the people of Kansas shall o
snail not, as condition of coming int
the Union, have right to accept or reiec
Tue Lecompton Constitution. Now, be i
understood, that Congress gives to ever,
new State when it comes into the Union
a dowry, taken from the public land
within its borders. Every new State re
eelves 1t in every case. Practically speak
Ing, no question is ever raised in Congress
upon the subject of giving such dowry
of upon the extent of the dowry to be as
s'gned. The Lecompton Convention sen
70 US an application or demand fora dow
r. =, much larger than is usually granted
Inc Senate passed bill to admit Kansa
INTO the Union, which left the subject o
she dowry outside, and postponed it to
,u'afe day, and contented themselves witt
oarely dlsclaiming any assent to the de
had made. ~ oii'-0
a Inc House of Representatives treatet
Tl a,le matter substantially in the same way
aney turned to the Minnesota bill. ant
.pP'ed from it into their Kansas bill whicl
.Iey sent to the Senate, a provision b,
~ ch hansas should receive a dowry ex
= equal to that assigned to Minneso
-. i ne Senate raised no special objec
S oa 20 that part of the House bill. In
u ueea' from the beginning of the debat
Sf Sfi'll the appointment of the committe
=, cOIiefenee, noquestiou of the amour
u va saIue OF the dowry was ever heard @
e'her House. Each was ready to ac
NC With the other on this point
fa.u "uea the bill came back from the con
to.L uce chamber, we found recital in
tv .ne enect that there is difference be
sbor. congress and the people of Kansa
vi sae amount of the dowry upol
s;.;a en congress desires to submit a promo
tbaoat oa 70 that people. The bill proceeds
rarosl ro,slore, to submit that proposition. Th
cporIer tells me that the debate of thi
Al eess, eioi as published in the Congression
n.s., uooe, NIL up eighteen hundred quartz
af f and that of this immense voIum
ana sO.as !: which has been poured out here
b-o.is, : now flowing in rivers over thi
n;e5 a land, nine hundred pages are occu
8, I win the subject of Kansas. Now
nssi VIII listen with respect and kind
/" any Senator who win shsw me i