Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-04-14
SPEECH OF HON. B. F. WADE,
ON TIRE
ADMISSION OF KANSAS,
LECOMfTON CONSTITUTION.
CONCLUDED.
UNDER Tue

CONCLUDED.
A running discussion here took plact
10 regard 10 the meeting of the commit
tee and its deliberations, in which Mr.
Bigler re- affirmed what he had said abou
The striking out OF the clause for submit
ting the Constitution 10 the people. L
was finally cut shor; BY the mo:ion TO ed
journ. On the following Monday, M
WADE resumed
THE LITTLE MYSTERIES OF POLITICS
Mr.. President, when | alluded OF Sat
urday 10 that enab ing act which was in
the Toombs bill, had no idea that was
about to wake up so many "reminiscences,
as | have, in almost every direction, in
this Chamber. | called attention TO il,
not with any purpose whatever of rais-
ing any question over the manner in
which clause in that bill seemed to have
been stricken out. | do not care who
struck il out; do not care what deliber-
aiions were had about il. The reason,
and the only reason, why ! alluded TO il
was, that thought the Senator from Lou
isiaua, Mr.. Benjamin, in calling at,en-
ton TO ii, had given ii consequence TO
which it was not entitled; andl had somr
observations that thought proper to make
on that point But the Senator from Penn
sylvania, Mr. Bigler;] always exceed
insly Jealous of any impuialion as 10 his
differing with the President cn any ques-
ton, supposed that some one was about
arraigning him for departure from the
Democratic faith on This subject. Now,
sir, should have been the last man in
the world to suspect him of any such
thing Isupposed he and the President t
were jus, as much alike as the Siamese
twins. [Laughlcr.] supposed what
one thought ihe other thought; what be.
fel one, always befel the other at The same
tinie have no doubt that he is always
orthodox. | hardly know, from his re-
marks who was the great discoverer OF
This improved idea of popular sovereignty.
The President, 10 be sure, tells US that,
in regard 10 submitting Constitutions 10
The people, be formerly held that this
Constitution must be submitted 20 The peo-
that they mus, have fair opportunity 10
vote on il, and must net be Interrupted BY
fraud or violence; but in his late mes.
sage he tells us that his mind al that period
was fixed entirely on the Slavery clause;
he did not think Of anything else. | un-
dersiand the Senator from Pennsylvania
to have declared on Saturday that he for
merly held that Constitution certainly
should be submitted 10 the people, for
their approval or dissent; but he also OBJ
served that he, like The President, when
he said SO. thought of nothing except the
Slavery clause. do not know but thai
il may be prudent, in the view of some,
10 withhold the whole of a Constitution
from the consideration of people who
are to live under il at the time. 1t might
be an overdose; it might be lille too
much for the stomachs Of the people 10
take whole Constitution; ana if Tho peo
pie are not to Judge of it, who c, n o tile
ter than Doctor Buchanan, or the Senator
from Pennsylvania They give it to the
people BY clauses; they suppose there are
some things 100 high for the consideration
of the people, when they co ne TO inves-
tigate a G ms itu!ion. There are other
matters, if undelsian1 hem. which il is
safe to intrust the people with, aud they |
are 10 be the Judges of whal shall be sub
miited.
But, sir, was LED 10 this cours, Of re
mark from the zeal of gentlemen 10 de-
fine their positions on this subject.
suppose it is principle of The Demo
cratic party always TO be in line with the
President on all subjscts. | suppose, if
he takes snuff, every true Democrat ought
10 sneeze, or else be read out of the par
~; and suppose ali true Democrats are
willing to do that. | have taken it for
granted thai sach would be the fact
But | will stale my object in calling at
tention TO The Toombs bill. Twas not in
vited iato famous council where all the
clauses of that bill we're taken under con-
sideration, and vel doubt not that un-
derstand il Just about as well as they did
and they will correct me if do not state
il Alright A bill admitting Kansas un
der what was called the Topeka Consti-
tuition had lately passed the House of
Representatives, at the period at which
the Toombs bill was framed. IL was
sent here; and this body had voted it down.
The Republicans voted for it, and the
Democracy voted against il. We were
outnumbered. and The Topeka Constitu
tion was killed. As the Presidential
was approaching, it did no!
look exactly right, considering the COM
motions that had taken place in Kansas
Territory, that, after voting down The
the people of The Territory
had given you, you should 60 into The
canvass without substituting anything for /
il. If | was to guess now, | should think
that council was held for the purpose of
getting up very plausible measure,
which they knew the Republicans would
have to vote against, and which could moi
pass the House of Representatives. and
which would be very good thing TO take
on the stump in the canvass. My opinion
is, that that is about all The importance /
hat is to be attached to what was called
The Toombs bill.
do not care much what clauses it had !
IN it. 1t was plausible enough on its face, I
know, except in this particular; and
was off my guard in relation to it. q
lid not look to see whether it had that or 8
loi; did not care whether it had it or ,
lot. knew then, as now, that the Ad
had everything their own
way in that Territory; and when you /
provide for officers 10 execute your law, d
f il were made by angels from heaven, it a
Yould be perverted tc the very worst of f