Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-02-19
REMARKS OF Mr.. SPEAKER BURCH.
ON THE BRIL- RESOLUTIONS. Mr.. BRAToHEE IN TH


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| CHAIR.
Mr.. Speaker feel somewhat reluctant 10 con.
tinue this debate after the protrscted discussion
which these resolutions have undergone The ability
too, with which Senators upon this side Of the Cham
Der, have justified the course Of Democracy, en-
harnesses me III addressing you. feel hst anything
that may say can be but repetition, and in a
much feebler manner Of the points presented by the
! Senators from Shelby, Lincoln, Msury and Henry,
Walker, Jones, WhitJhOrne and Travis. Tn jusi-
hoaIon by them Of Democratic policy was complete,
their success triumphant.
The characteristic principle Of our Union, the
bounutul and benehcent parent Of US all enters
deeply into the consideration of these resolutions
The grand principle Of our government is that the
majority shall rule, not by meeting in multitu nous
assemDages, but by means Of the representative
system, guaranteed to US by federal constitution
The revolution Of l716, was truly bloody but
successful struggle for the right Of representation
This characteristic feature Of our government is
based upon the principle that is the duty Of the
representative on all important subjects 10 fully
represent the interests and will Of his constituents
If he does not 50 represent them then to the extent
Of ms failure TO do so, and his persistence in such
failure, his course not only conflicts with rspresen
tatve principles but to the same extent with one Of
the most vital principles Of the government and with
the Peryading spirit Of the Constitution Then the
question arises, has Mr.. Bell misrepresented the
PeopleuPOn important occasion Insist that in vot
ing aganstthe passage Ofthe Kansas Bill he misrepre
scented the interests and will Of his cOuntrymeu of
Tennessee on the most important occasion in the
history Of his long service. Then he has violated
the true representative principle of the government
and to that extent disregaded the pervadinR spirit
Of the Constitutions having done so he is unworthy
longer to represent the generous constituency that
has 80 often and 30 greatly hOnered him.
The hansas-Nebraska act opened wide the door
which had since 1920 been bOlted and barred against
Southern Institutions; and whether Southern men
and Southern institutions 20 there or not they have
the right under that act TO 60 It removed in express
terms the badge Of inferiority placed upon the
Southern people by the Missouri restriction, and
placed them far Congressional legislation could
do, on the same broad platform with our Northern
brethren. For voting against this measure of pre-
eminent justice 70 the South we hold that the voice
Of Mr.. Bells countrymen of Tennessee have declared
against him with more than reasonable degree Of
certainty in the recent elections We further hold
with him: when the voice of senator's constituency
declares against him with reasonable certainty that
Senator should not be seen in the Senate u day
afterwards.
It is impossible for the candid mind to DENY that
the voice Of Mr.. Bells countrymen Of Tennessee
has declared against him on the Kansas Nebraska
measure. Of the four representatives from this
State, Taylor Cullum Bugg and EtheridEe, who voted
with Mr. Bell against this measure not of them is
now member Of Congress. Taylor was defeated al
both of the elections held since the passage Of the
Kansas bill Cullum defeated at the first election
after and was not candidate at the recent election
Kansas Democrat, good and true has represented !
his district since the expiration Of his term of office
Bugg has not been candidate since he cast vote
against the bill. His district too has been repre-
scented since the expiration Of his term of Office BY
another Kansas Democrat good and true. EtheridEe
was elected st the first election but at the second
he too was superseded by Kansas DemOcra good and
true. In the gubernatOrial election in 1855 Gov |
johnson was tTiumphantly elected I admit that |
the Kansas bill not then the sole ISSUE indeed
at that time but few men in Tennessee dared to take
sides with MIR. Bell. regret to say that since then
many have taken encouragement from Black Re- |
publican agitation, and are now occupying position
OF antagonlsn TO that bill, which they would have /
scorned TO occupy three years and half ago.
In the Presidential election Of 1856 the democracy
swept the State by an overwhelming majority thus |
emphshosuy declaring that they did not believe |
with Mr. Fillmore, that the Kansas bill was Pan
doras box out Of which have ssled all the political
evils that now atiiCt the country" Again, in 1857
the Democracy carried the State bya still larger
majority elsotng their candidate for Governor and
large majority Of both branches Of the Legislature;
and this General Assembly has spoken its condem-
nation Of Mr.. Bells course, by electing q Kansas
Democrat 10 succeed him. Can any man, free from
partisan bias, doubt for moment that the voice Of
his oountrymen Of Tennessee has declared against
him on this question:
Our friends on the opposite Of the chamber iusti-
ty Mr.. Bells opposition to the Kansas bill because
ss they say, there is sQustter sovereignty in the
oi--becsuse as they say, there is alien suffrage in
The bill-because, IS they say, the peace and hsr-
nOny Of the country required the defeat Of the bill
Suppose, for moment, that there is souatter
sovereignty in ilsuppose that the Territorial Lepis
ature had the power to prohibit slavery ask if
he South would not be in better condition under the
Kansas act, with squstter sovereignty, than under
he Missouri COmprOm Sc The Missouri Compro-
mise erBrss5y prohibited the introduction Of slavery
n Kansas and Nebraska The Kansas act under
be squstter sovereignty construction permitted the
Territorial Legislatures TO determine whether or
lot they would tolerate slavery Under the squatter
Overegnty construction Of the Kansas act the South
lad chance to carry her peculiar institution north
VI $3.50 Under the Missouri Compromise, she had
lot even the ghost Of a chance. / submit it then,
o Senstors that the Kansas act, with the squater
Overeignty construction is preferable to the South
10Th In practice and principle to the Missouri Com
romlse. But insist that there is squstter SOW
rsignty in the act unless il is in the Constitution Of
he United States. What says the act: cit being
he true intent and meaning of this act that Con-
ress Is neither 70 legslate slavery into any terri
DRY or State, nor to exclude it therefrom but TO
rave the people thereof perfectly free to form snd
egulate their domestic institutions in their own c
ray, subject 0Hty to the Constitution Of the United
tatss Under the act the people Of the territories
re left perfectly free TO form and regulate their
omestic institutions, in their way subject only
the Constitution Of the United States" Then, p
the Constitution of the United States does not .
How the people Of a territory, through their Terri
,rial Legislature, to prohibit slavery, there is no
luatter sovereignty in the act Again, if there is
ustter sovereignty in the act Mr. Bell voted to put
there. He voted for that amendment Of Mr. Il
Ouglas which declares that the Missouri reGtric-
on il -" inconsistent with the principle Of non
terventiOn by Congress- with slavery in the States
ID Territories IS recognized by the Legislation Of