Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-04-03
MIR. CRITTENDEN's
REJOLNDER TO MIR. TOOMBS

rendered necessary py tue remarks OF my Hienu
from Georgia. / have listened to him with great
pleasure, and have cause to thank him for much
that he has said.
knew, sir, that Mr.. Clay was not the author Oh
the Missouri compromise knew that ne dd not
draw the bill; but knew from his own declara-
tons In conversation, and In his speeches. that ne
did approve and concur In its passage. he gave
it his sanction. He thought tnere was notl'ing
unconstitutional in II. ! have been brought up
In the opinion that wasnot only constitutional but
oneaos me most beneficial acts that had ever been
pasaed by Congress. II produced you, sir reve.
nue az peace and goodwill among the people Of
the United States, and that is above all price,
Whatever sanction it may have failed to derive
from the names Of the great men who PASSED 1t, IL
has received abundanty from the people OF the
United States, who, for the thirty odd years that
il remained on our statute book, gave u their APP
proyal and support During all that period II gave
peace to the country. 1t was for that valued It.
hailed that compromise when twas first made.
have cherished il ever since. IL had become
fixed in my mind as part and parcel Of our politi-
cal system. regarded Mr., Clay, as did the whole
country. as entitled to the credit of that great
measure. And il was for this that his countrymen
conferred upon him the proudcst and the noblest
OF his titles--the pacificator Of his country.
Sir, / have not been able TO cast away these
impressions admit the SupremeCourt 70 be
the great arbter, as the gentleman asserts, and
while dlffer from IL, 20 not inc iesS uuHit itS
constitution al and Supreme power In all the matters
that come within it, Jurisdiction, and ] am not
wanting in confidence and respect for II, But yet
we cannot always yield up our long settled convc-
tons, even to the authority Of that high tribunal.
find myself now IN that condition, and must be
permitted to retain the opinion long established in
my mind, that the Missouri compromise was con-
NV friend TMr. TooxBsl has said that soine gen
tlemen seemed disposed 10 give no ,conHdence
whatever TO the action of aany Of the Territorial
Legislatures Of Kansas until they fell into the
hands of the Black Republicans, Certainly he
cannot intend such an imputation for me? Mr..
TOXINS signihed by . shake Of the head that he did
not. regard II merely as tho Legislature of the
Territory--the actual Legislature How its mem-
bers may be divided in politics. do not know; nor
do care; nor was it at all material for, my pur
pose II Is enough for me that II is the Legislature
OF the Territory and that il appointed vote to be
taken upon this constitution the 4th of january.
The vote was taken and the result was as reported
to us. have heard nothing to impeach that vote,
nor any single fact alleged against it. The result
Of It was majority Of ten thousand against the
constitution. q Certainly those ten thousand have
at least as good right to be claimed against it
the six thousand returned as having voted on the
2lst Of December have to be counted in favor Of
IT, That was my object. 1t was to show that
there was majority against this instrument, and
assuming all this action to be equally legitimate,
the members of the convention had no more right
to order vote to be taken BY the people on any
part of the constitution than the Territorial Leg
islature had to order an election to be taken
ON the whole constitution. Both proceeded
from organised recognised bodies, one the Legis-
lature, the other the convention. When, there
fore, the common appeal is made to us, and the
constitution is brought before us, it seems to me
that we ought equally to take into consideration
both these facts. Furthermore, adyerted to the
evidence going to show that from the six thousand
in favor Of the constitution there were many spu-
rious and fraudulent votes to be deducted.
q Mr. President, ] acknowledge that forms are not
only useful but, in many cases, necessary. agree
that at an election thirds of the people stay
away from mere apathy or negligence, the votes Of
those who do act, and do vote, must be efectual,
and must control. ] agree, also, that the return
is necessary form, and that the revision Of that
return 10 subject only 70 the particular authority
appointed for it and when that Is done, there is
end of the case-because there is no further tri-
bunal TO which an appeal can be taken; but sup
posed and argued that when this constitution was
presented before us, the supreme power, called
upon now 70 recognize the validity of these acts
called upon to recognize what was the will OF the
people, in respect TO them, we have right TO look
to ali the evidence, as well to that which Is fur
nished in form as to that which impeaches It for
fraud. -,
q. have spoken on these conclusions, and shall
cot ON them in voting against the acceptance of
this Lecompton consultation, Ny friend, Mr..
ToonBsl have no doubt, in perfect sincerity,
regrets that my conclusions have forced me TO
this course; but I have followed my convictions
aud mean to do my duty IS understand it, i
confess IL Is painful to me to differ with such
friend on any occasion 30 important as the present.
Mr.. President, am mot wanting, think in
vvifk
our neighbors. Although we have common coun-
try 10 look TO, and ought 10 have common patriot
lam which would embrace the whole, our natural az
fectons and our natural feelings bind more close
~ 20 those with whom we are more Immediately as
socsted, to whom We are more nearly assimiated in
manners --customs and institutions--aye, peculiar
instituti ms am not wantingin those sympathies;
but what IL my duty % one belonging 70 particu-
lar session, by his nativity, and b. bis residence
what ID my duty when great question Of this sort
comes upfg What ID my duty 10 those neigbbou,
10 whom by natural sympathies and affections am
most boundf Isit mot my duty tn this house Of our
common councils 10 give the best counsel and adj
vice can, or am Ito inquire whether this 10 10 be
regarded a. sectional question, and follow Whist
tiousl membsrsi .Is IL mot ruther my duty 70 my
friends 70 give them the best counsel can i want
10 zee the South always right How am i to ac-
complsh thatf By advising always what my best
Judgment thinks 10 right and sndssvoring TO pre-
vail upon her to take that course "a not that my
Jdutyf IL mot that my duty 70 my common coun-
try, and more especially 10 Il NOT ny duty 10 Ii ~
with whom circumstances more nearly connect mel
i have done that. should have been grsti6ed II
the South had taken the same view Of this subject
fhat have, i sm sure she would have lost moth
ing BY H. The question Of slAvery,A. NOT In the
case think there is MOI one gentleman here who
entertaiDs Ne hope thak Knzsss ever be rcsiiy
a slave fState.f Hit be made so, Il win continue
only for moment little fevsrish moment filed
up with strife and angry controversy. No gentle
man here beneves II Win really and permanently be
q slave BeS<s. There d nothing then 70 be gained
by ths South, - Iregard the subj ct' The element
OF slavery 10 only thrown in for the purpose Of
rousing feeling on tho one aide or the other. II
is no real element In the question before us, be-
cause no man has any hope chat Kansas WIN be
q slave State saWe leSvn thas from every source.
The hope of IL was disclaimed before the Kspsas-
Nebraska bin was passed; that view Ia now turned
into conviction by AL that has occurred since, and
there is nobody who deceivcs himself 20 much, or
would deceive the South 20 mech - 70 tell her
that Kansas win Be made slavs, State BY the
adoption Of this constitution, except u may be for
that miserable and feverish period 70 which have
.lluded, and which would be Hued up N 4 ssrssg'e