Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-04-19
The speech of Gen. ZoIIicoGer.


The speech of Gen. ZoIIicofer.
We Law before our readers to-day the speech
of Gen. ZoLLIcoPFER, the representative of
this District in Congress, on the admission of
Kansas. He has grouped the main facts Of
the Kaneas history with remarkable clearIess
and force, and shown in contrast the grounds
occupied by the friends and opponents of ad-
mission. He has taken comprehensive, yet
concise view of the entire question, and pre-
scented the most cogent and sharply defined
reasons for his course, that we have zen from
any Of the friends of admission. His argu-
IN .nts will bear the test of time and reflection,
and must prevail if the government is to be
administered upon the principles OF justice
equality and observance of law, lad down IN
the Federal Constitution, for the guidance both
of the States and the citizens.
After all that has been said, and all the null
tiplied fimsy pretext. and sophistrles that
have been thrown around this subject, the
naked issue still stands clearly forth, slavery
against ant,-savery. 1t is impossible that
anv number Of new complications, or side is
sues, or strategy, or trickery or party inesse.
can strip it Of this character. 1t and all others
on the same subject, is and will be, body and
substance, spirit and essence, a direct conflict
between the friends and enemies of slavery
extension powerful party is organized
upon this single isolated issue, and will have
and can have no other. 1t is essentially sec
tioaal, its platform antithetical to the consti-
tuition and its progr IS over laws violated and
set at naught. A party so organized Is in
trinsically ephcmeral but its violence, its
recklcssness, it's utter destitution of aationali-
ty and patriotism make il dangerous in pro-
portion to the brevity of its duration. The
history O: Kansas, from its organization as
territory to its present anomalous aud per
pI.xing condition. is startling exposition OF
the aims of this party, and the means employ
ed to accomplish them. 1t has shown that TINS
party-knowing absolutely nothing OF slavery
practically, but opposing it as an abstraction
are willing to set at defiance the laws OF the
territorial and national governments; TO spurn
the just rights of property to break up and
stuff ballot boxes as their nefarious occasions
or their desperate and wanton inclinations
dictate; to hold election judges in violent
duress and compel them to swear falsely to
break I'D settlements and drive peaceful citi-
zens from their property and their homes; to
incite local mobs and general instruction;
10 flood the plains of part OF this Union
with the blood of f llOw-citizens and to erect
a mobocratic government within the national
borders. in di,dain of the Federal authority
and in open violation of positive, written,
weII-known law. Aud further, that these men
in Kansas, are aided ahettcd and supported
by party outside of Kansas encouraging
these men to there deeds of lawlessness FUR
nisling them with the implements and means
of crime. violence and death sending, by the
aid of associat effort and contributions IN
monoy, clothing and provisions, supplies OF
m IN. arms and ammunition; and applaudlng
each fresh outrage with new songs of rejoic-
ing.
Il is this party thus moved and acting, that
has dcclar, d. through its leaders, Its unalter-
able determination to oppose the further eX-
tension of slavery everywhere and under all
circumstances and in the prosecution of this
determination, has planted itself against the
admission of Kansas with a prO-slavcry con-
stitution. To grant the application of Kan
sas and allow Oregon and Minnesota to come
into the Union as free States without oiJec-
ton. would at once remove the slavery qucs-
ton from Congress, leave the free-sollcrs
without platform, without basis OF organ
ization, and the nation at peace. TO admit
Kansas would, therefore, be to kill the black
republican party outright; to reject her would
be their hope, their life. To keep the ques-
ton open, and the repression OF the sober
second thought of the masses of the North,
are the prime objects of these leaders. THIS
is beyond all question their aim, and this, 1t
is equally certain, is the motive to the MAJOR
ity of the opponents of the admission. To
expose this motive to throttle this effort; to
deprive black republ.canism of its food its
ambrosia to eviscerate it to EN- sculate 1t
of its vital power; to fix and establish the
principles of popular sovereignty, finding its
expression in an orderly manner and through
lawful forms and TO bring the people back TO
q nationality of feeling and patriotic action,
we conceive to b. the highest duty of all good
men in every section.