Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-04-17
SPEECH
HON. JOHN A, GILMER,.
OF NORTH CAROLINA.

=
On the Admission of Kansas under the
Lecompton Constitution,
IN Tie House Of Rsprsssntativss, March 80, 1858.
Mr.. Chairman, / have been an attentive listener
to the arguments on this Lecompton question for
three months. Whilst some Of the speeches have
been calm and considerate, / feel constrained to
say that, by lar, the larger number have been yio-
lent and extremely sectional, tending directly TO
weaken the respect, which the North and the
South should have for each other, and which is
essential TO the safety of the Union itself have
heard and read speeches delivered both In this
House, and in the other end of this Capitol, by
gentlemen from the North and from the South,
the true spirit and meaning of which is .disus;on
and the Constitution. Their speeches are filed
with expressions Of high veneration for the Con-
stituton Of our fathers. They indulge in patriotic
strains Their addresses are robed in the most
beautiful habiments, overfowing with profess
sions and assurances most imposing. The spirit
Of disu,.ion is, however, the core. It is pre-
sented, and perusal and handling secured, as
you would an asp, in casket of beautiful flowers.
The design is evidently to infuse the poisonous
spirit Of disunion-where, for u, there could be
no reception, were proper labels attached Pro-
fessi0ns OF patriotism uttered in loud and elo-
quent tones for peace and harmony, whilst the
evident drift is to exasperate and make wider the
breach. .53Iy ,laf s.fr n it G,s5 51ta
With pain and regret am forced to the belief,
: there are gentlemen on this floor, who, while they
oppose the admission of Kansas with the Lecomp-
ton Constitution, do really desire the bill to pass
for the sake of certain consequences, disastrous
to the peace and harmony of the country, which
they expect to grow out Of it.
On the other hand, / fear that among other
gentlemen, advocating this measure, there are
some, whose regret is, that the Lecompton Con-
stituton and the manner of securing its presenta-
ton here, were not more odious to the people of
Kansas and the free States 80 that their ultimate
object might be the sooner secured by bloody
conflict of Northern and Southern arms on the
plains of Kansas, and, in case of failure in this
such bitter sectional excitement shall certainly
ensue, as to produce fusion of all political par
ties in the free States, combined as purely SEQ
tional party, against similar fusion of all parties
in the slave States, by which disunion is made
certain in the end. These speeches will not
particularize. They have unfortunately gone forth
to the country-those Of the North to be read
in the South, that they there may have samples
OF how Northern people hate and despise South
ern men and those Of the South to be read in the
North, that they may know how they are scorned
and detested by the citizens of the South ,,i,,a
The designs and purposes of both sides, 1t is
to be feared, are the same-to arouse drill, and
prepare, for strife the minds of a great people
now happy, with bright prospects for the future,
and who, by their united energies, in advancing
the Industrial and literary interests of the whole
country, are doing much more for the true happi-
ness and prosperity of MS all g
Without intending to be offensive or personal,
must be permitted to say, envy not the man
who can look on our country as IL is, and
with composure anticipate It's condition, when
severed and divided The man who can contem-
plate that terrible day, when, by reason of civil
war, our beautiful and growing cities, towns, and
villages, shall be consumed by ire-opr manufac-
tories razed to the ground---our commerce broken
up-our lovely fields and gardens made the for
aging grounds of ribaldrous soldiery-all interna-
tional trade and communication cut of-all muni-
cipal and family peace destroyed--our sons drag
ged from their bomes-amid the sghs and tears
Of affectionate mothers and sisters, to the bloody
fields Of civil strfei and all this g7owing out Of .
question as TO how, when, or ia Whh manner, forty
thousand people ONLY, in Kansas shall ,settle for
themselves their own domestic affairs-or rather,
how they shall soonest get clear of few slaves
and get two " Frse-Soir Senators and one Repre-
tentative m Congress. say such man has no
feeling in common with me--and none, trust,
with the great body Of the honest yeomanry Of
this country, of all sections. ,f $780,. ef
We have our troubles, admit We have had
sectional troubles Of similar kind before. We
have had, as now, disunion threatened, but thanks
TO the good sense of the people, they have never
yet inclined TO take the prescriptions Of those
who boastingiy decline to sing peans to the
Unioni .g itnrra
England, from whom we derive our nature and
many Of the free principles of which we boast,
had her troubles. She has had her dissensons-
her White and Red roses-her land has been
tinged with blood IN civil strife-and once the
head Of her King was brought 10 the block--but
her people we're attached TO their government
and their Constitution The storm passed away.
The political atmosphere again became pure and
heaIthful; and the government was maintained
and improved. And it is my honest conviction,
that there Is too much good eense in the people
OF these United States 70 be led away with the
idea Of disurion, account Of any difficulties
growing out Of this question, surrounded by such
pecuiisr circumstances. predict they will not
unless nisled aud deceived. But-fguratively
lspeskng--they win brngto the block The politi-
cal heads Of oil who shall insist on any such
remedy for such complaint
Mr.. Chairman, it is not TO be disguised, that
our Southern people are anxious about appear.
ances for the future. They see the free States
In number and In Representation already In the
majority IN both Houses Of Congress, and this
majority soon to be largely increased; that while
the South falls into this minority they have wit
messed, for the last Few years, among many people
Of the free States, increasing spirit Of bitter
hostility TO the South and her institutions. But
let us like statesmen be calm, briefly trsee the
history Of this thing, and inquire why il is
Though by the census, the actual figures show
that the natural increase Of population in the
slave States has been equal 10 the natural native
increase Of the free States, yet the free States
have oxcened us in the settlement OF new Terrific
ries and raising mp new States. ~
In the first place we Of the Southern States
have been, and now are, the advocates of Free
trade, and many for direct taxes. We have op-
posed the policy Of discrimination In favor OF our
own domestic industry in the old States, in regu-
lating aud raising revenue, and no more than
enough TO deffay the expenses Of the Government
economically administered.
ae To this policy we have made in substance, sue
cessful opposition--thereby in good degree cut
ting of much Of the inducements that would have
retained the industrious and energetic population
In the old States, who, In consequence have moved
70 the Territories there settled made new and free
States, and became producers instead of con-
suners Of the earth's productions.
In the second place, majority OF Southern
politicians have uniformly favored the policy of
inviting, alluring persuading and in fact hiring
ep'igrants-not only tho ctizens Of tho States,
but Of the whole world, 10 move and settle In our
Territories. Homestesds, by way ofpre-emptions,
IN the Territories, are offered 10 all the world
The language OF the whole policy il in snbstance