The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-05-08
Congress-.

/
subject. Mr.. Mason moved to lay it on the
table, which was agreed to.
The report of the Kansas Conference
| Committee was taken up.
Mr. Broderick said after the matter had
! bean so ably discussed, he would not make
| heightened speech He would vote against
the Conference bill for several reasons.
! The most potent of which was that Kansas
/ could not come into the Union as free
/ State during the continuance Of the power
/ of the present Administration. Kansas with
| a population of 80, 900 now, and if she does
not accept Lecompton she must wait five or
! six years for the requisite population to en-
title her to representation. The original
bill was less Objectionable to him than this
| Conference substitute
| Mr.. Seward objected TO the Conference
report, because it presented a false issue to
the people. The question of public lands
has nothing to do with that, inasmuch as
the lands are the dowry Of all new States
/ The land question does not occupy one line
Of the 1900 quarto pages of the Kansas de-
bate A.; it therefore Is a ieigned issue; beside,
the question Of numbers is equally new,
dating only from the Conference, viz: that
Kansas has enough population for slave
State, and just half enough for free State.
Further, he objected to the bill because it
bears equivocation on its face; it purports
to be submission OF her dOwry, but it sub
rnits the Lecompton Constitution, and it is
so regarded by the Democratic press. Thus
indirectness and cquivocation on the
5ill, and double entenders in leg
islaton are an immortality. Moreover, if
YOU make a slave barrier across this lati-
tude OF 4Go you interpose barrier to prog
ress more insurmountable than the Rocky
Mountains or the Sierra Nevada. 1t amused
him when he heard patriotic men talk Of re-
moving the Capitol; if you contine slavery
within its legitimate limits, the Capitol Of
an empire that may grasp the equator; no
such destiny awaits 1t ii you separate by
slave barrier the Atlantic from the Pacific
free States. Further, this bill Is nothing but
Lccompton with variation; You toss coin
and bid Kansas cry eagle or llberty-It she
says eagle you give her slavery if the etiigy
liberty you give slavery still. W hat thinks
the Senator fro n Pa, representing the first
free State, the Senator from the land Of RO-
ger Williams, the Senator from California,
whose State was saved from slavery by
efforts other than his, and the Senator from
Ind But they have another question TO
settle with their people at home. What an
swer will they give to this proposal, which
of liberty. \ friend here asks what will
the people of New jersey say: he could
himself answer, because the blood Of the
men " no hazarded their lives and means fo-
lis II-erty flowed through his veins; he
knows the blue hills OF New jersey, and viii
answer that the votes given for LccomptOn
will b. the last slave votes given for the next
ten years. Addressing himself next to the
election board, he said ghosts on the StyX
are nc; more thick and CLOUDY than are the
spirits Of the departed Governors OF Kansas
who attempted TO give correct returns. lie
had no confidence in the President. As an .
element Of that board, he expected that
some would cry shame, that he had detained
the President: but it would be remembered
that once men in Virginia cried shame on
Patrick Henry; nor were men wanting in
Rome to cry shame on Cato. They were no
friends TO liberty who in SenateS fear 10 OPP
pose kings and presidents. lie went on to
speak of the bill under its aspect of compro-
mise, saying it offered very little freedom
and great deal Of slavery.
Here Mr. Bigler ammo Unced that the bill
had passed the House, which created con-
siderable sensation Oh the floor and in the
Galleries
Mr. Seward: The announcement causes
me no discouragement; it is little matter
practically whether it is the last defeat or
the first victory.
After some words Of explanation b.
Messrs. Bigler and Cameron, a. to the order
Of the vote, the question was taken-yeas
81; NAYS -.
Mr. Hunter moved that the Senate recon
slider its amendments TO the efficiency bill
Carried by - against ..
The Senate then ad]oni.ct
T., e.. U,,,c. i.,.n..ts.-eiN IN mi iIuc
the Kansas conference report VA ;uken up
Mr. Clark of y. l., Bryan, Of Texas, gavs
their reasons tor opposing the report. Nj.
Shorter. Of Ga, and Cox, of ONO, gave rea-
sons for supporting it. y long converse
ton then ensucd between Cox and Camp /
bell of Ohio, the first maintaining that the .
conference report suhStanti .ly did, while .
the other conteuded it dill not, submit the .
Lecompton Constitution 10 a vote OF the 7
people.
Mr.. Haskins of New York said that Mr.
Cox at a certain time was not only opposed .
70 the Const tuition, but on Monday last,
late in the afternoon came to his desk and .
read letter which he had written to the (
Ohio Statesman, denouncing the report OF
the Committee of Conference as the most .
Infamous that could be made, and dcnounc- T.
ing the chairman for having male such
report.
Mr. Cox-Tha. is not true.
Mr.. Haskin-I can prove it ~ gentle /
man from Illinois, NJ. Harris.
Mr. Cox-l can furnish the letter. lCEies
Of order.
The Speaker requested the gentlemen to
take their seats.
Mr.. Houston, Of Ala, interposed, saying
the remarks of Mr.. llaskn were irrelevant
- 1.
sure.
There was much confusion and excitement
during these proceedings
The Speaker reminded Mr.. Haskin that
his remarks were assuming a personal char
acter He could give reasons for or against /
the bill, but not indulge in personalities.
Nj. Cox replied that he had stated yester- /
day that his fir,t impression was against the
conference report, and now repeated that it
did not entirely meet his views in his letter ,
to the OHIO Stateman. He gave his opinion !
and objections at that time. His first i'm /
preston was against the report, because he
thought it Disseminated against free and .
in favor of a slave State. He had contend |
ed with Governor Walker, hearing from him |
that next fall Kansas will have population |
sufficient under the general rates for a mem |
Der of Congress, and he took the reports as
the best he could get. The gentleman from
New York did not insinuate that he was
Judas That gentleman knew full well that
no one from the Administration, or any 9TH /
err source, had dared to approach him on |
the subject. Laughter on the Republican /
side He had acted with an honest mind |
and pure heart for himself, and any man !
who insnuated to the contrary was not wor- |
thy of place on this floor, nor would he !
be if he had betrayed confidence and proved |
recreant to all he had heretofore said or |
done. He appealed to Heaven for the rec
ttude of his intention. The constitution |
was practical, though not in form submitted
% thn neonle of Kansas they would nave q |