Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-05-20

politicians yielded this, you, gentlemen of
the Democratic party, would not have it! 1t
will be for you to 60 to the South and tell
the South what there was in that amend
ment, what there was in that principle, that
fell short of all your requirements. Was
it that you could not stand the proclamatory
power of the President, in case the people
Of Kansas adopted another constitutional
Then, be it remarked that when the bill, as
offered by Mr.. CriItenden IN the Senate, re-
quired that, if they adopted another consti-
tuition in Kansas, ii should be sent to Con-
gress, members of the Democratic party op
pc sed it on the ground that ii did not close
the question, but kept the Kansas imbroglie
open. When the Montgomery-C ~rittenden
amendment provided for closing it, as We
supposed would suit you, you then opposed
it. because it pouLd be giving TO much po,ger
to the President!
MIR. Speaker, | have tried in this matter
to do exactly what was right. l have kept
in my minds eye, all the time, the tenden-
cies see before me in this country. |
knew that the Gulf States had made plat
} forms upon which, it was said they would
feel bound to secede from the Union. | am
told to go forward, lest they do secede.-
Now, sir, who is so bold N this assembly
as to raise and say that he is a disunionist?
Not one. Who is there in this assembly
who will rise in his place and say that he
will q, 10 the Southern States with the
black flag of disunion unfurled for that peo-
pie 20 follow! There is a silence, sir, over
this House, in response to that inquiry, like
the silence of the grave. Secession! dis
union! Why. sir, "'tis the eye of child
hood that fears the printed devil" l have
, no fe ar of disunion. | have no fear thai
the people of the South will listen for a mo.
ment to the whispers OF disuniun. They
are chivalrous, brave, and true; and woe to
the politician who proclaims himself a dis
unionist!
But, sir, | had heard OF discontents, and
| was careful; and | choose to say to the
5 South, that, when | exer,ed myself to ger
these Republican members to put them
selves upon that vote, | did so with an eye
? to the fact that there were platforms formed
= a. the South which | did hope that vote
would sink forever and forever. Now | an
: here TO render also that party the tribute
of my hearty and sincere thanks, my homes
{ and profound obligation, that their patriot
ism was equal to the task of giving that
vote, which | believe thew did with a desire
t to estab lisb peace and concord between al
sections and with the hope that that vote
= would accomplish it.
Now, sir, who in the South wants t.
e establish a sectional Southern party? The
Democrats are not content with the pro
S position that the doctrine of popular severe
ignty shall be carried forward, and that the
people of Kansas may have a State free Of
slave, as they prefer. They now proceed
one step beyond that. read from a papel
of Tuesday. April 81, the Richmond South.
a will read a single sentence, to let you SEE
the manner in which the progress of lhi,
controversy is regarded, and the point which
y we have reached:
ain the mean time, if the Senate bill
. pass, Kansas may come into the Union as q
D slave State, or she cannot come at all. Thar
is the issue"
81 You who represent the South, | ask yor
A in the most solemn earnestness if that i.
e the issue upon which you propose to go tt
d the coun'ryl | ask you if that is the issue
: upon which you are prepared to precipitatt
? the South! Your platform made the decla,
alton that the people Of Kansas might de
terhine t is matter-that the people o
4 Kansas Iwere to Shave the right to vote
D whether they would be a free State or
slave State.
: But you are understood in the country BY
Y this bill to have made up the issue, as | un.
i derstand it, that she shall come here as
. slave State, Or she is not to come at all
= Does it not result from that proposition tina
D you are attempting to inaugurate in TIN
country an aggressive pro-slavery party-
a party that does not stand upon the con.
stitutional tights Of the people of all sec
tons, but a Southern pro slavery party
, which proposes to hiunt its banners in the
face o. the other sections, ana to say t.
5 them that they must bow down to your jug
g%ernaut!
The people of Kentucky are not ready t.
Il = u tuh loi- L bdhc HtbcT III TIE WnDi
course OF my legis alive experience under
, stood a point in controversy better than
> do this which you Democrats propose, ant
never before were my conclusions So firmly
r fixed as to the absolute 0ropriety of my
political course. am willi0g that tn,
/, principle, the philosophy, the morality, anc
/, the prudence of my aclion may be judged
of by the people OF my native State; and a:
| only seek to do TO others what woult
they should do 10 me, | shall abide in the
confidence that Kentucky will sustain nv
feeble effort to act with justice, with moder.
alton, and with ~foirness IN those acts Of
legislation which relate to the rights of all
but which are to oe Illustrated by our course
in the case of Kansas, as an exponent Of
the principles we follow. | yield the floor.
IA Cd