The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-05-20
or One of the principal allegation,

or One OF the principa!~ allegations
against the Republicans, made by the
FIRE eaters At the South, and the Lecomp-
tonites at the North, is that they are
resolved to oppose the admission Of any
moro slave States into the Union, in any
latitude, or under any circumstances
Their recent action in Congress has
placed upon record a triumphant yindi-
cation OF the party against this charge.
The rcfuta,ion is so complete that it viii
require a reckless hardihood to repeal
the accusation. We place it upon record
to silence the SANDERS, which will, We
have no doubt, be reiterated in the ap-
preaching canvas in this State. The
Republicans have placed upon the Jour-
mails Of Congress undoubtable testimony
of their adoption Of the great principles
OF popular sovereignty, guarantees to
the people Of every. inchoate. State the
right to frame their own domestic insti-
tutions in accordance with their convic-
tons and interests. They went unani-
mously into the support Of Crittenden's
bill, which guaranteed this fundamental
principle on the broadcast basis, purpose
~ to exhibit their devotion TO this prin-
ciple, and to falsify the Lecompton SLAM
ders that they were factionists, and de-
termined opponents to the creation of
new slave states. In the discussion OF
the Crittenden bill in the House, the
leading Republicans took especial pains
to avow their adoption Of the popular
sovereignty principle. in order to dis
abuse the South Of the false impression,
that they were uncompromisinsly OPP
posed to the admission Of any more slave
territory.
Humphrey Marshall, of Kentucky, in
his speech on the 29th of April, said "the
plain, foir, equitable proposition to SUBJ
NIT the question to the decision of the
people, is the proposition of the Critten
den Montgomery amendment. The
gentlemen on the Republican side of the
House who voted for tho proposition
voted for it with their eyes open, and
understood the full scope Of its princi-
pies.
They voted for it not only as an amend
ment, but they voted for it to make il an
Ill
standing that it embraced the principle, that
If il was the will OF the people CT Kansas
that she should be slave State, they con-
coded that she should be.n
At this point Mr.. Marshall was interrupt-
ed by several members, aud Mr.. Sherman
of Ohio, Ring in his place, By general con-
sent, representing the Republican party, said,
Il desire to say that / agree in every par
ticular with the sentiment just uttered by the
gentleman from Kentucky; and will say,
that so far as my knowledge extends, every
Republican member of the House read care
fully considered, and pondered over the Crit
tenden amenoment and voted for it with his
eyes OPEN" Mr.. Giddiugs also united with
Mr.. Sherman, and the sentiment met an un-
divided response from the entire opposition.
Here, then, is the record, showing that all
those, north and south, who opposed Le-
compton and favored the Crittenden Com
promise, were united TO vindcate the prin-
ciple and the right of the people to form
their State Constitution rs they pleased,
which principle and which right the admin
istration and the Leeompton party have com
bined to deny and destroy.
This concession of the Republicans re
moves the subject Of slavery entirely
from our Federal politics, and makes it
strictly local question for itself. 1t
was peace offering to tho South, and
had the Crittenden bill been adopted, it
would have produced a reconciliation Of
the sectional issues, that would have Civ
en- peace and harmony to the country
But the Lecompton party desired no
compromise. for they control the South
through Its fears, and their power de-
ponds upon the agitation OF the question.
and keeping alive the alarm in the slave
States of the premeditated, unjust agrees
sions of the North. The present position
ofthe Republican party affords broad
basis on which the anti -Lecomptonites
Of every political affinity can unite to
defeat the infamous designs and princi.
pies Of the Lecomptontes.