Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1858-07-22
GLASGOW, MO, THU URSDAY, July 90 1888

| immense applause. ri' -H.
Fellow citizens: While / devoted m,
best energies-all my energies, mental anC
physical-to the vindication of that grea
principle, and whilst the result has beer
such as will enable the people Of Kansas tc
come into the Union with such constitu.
tion as they desire, yet the credit of this
great moral victory is 10 be divided among
a large number of men of various and dif-
ferent political creeds. prolonged ap-
planse.) / was rejoiced when found IN
this great contest the Republican party
coming up manfully and sustaining the prin-
clple that the people OF each territory,
when coming into the Union, have the right
TO decide for themselves (cheers) whether
slavery shall or shall not exist within their
limits: A voice, 'sHope they will stick
TO it, +" and great cheering. ..
have seen the time when all parties did
not recognize the right OF people to have
slavery or freedom, TO tolerate or prohibit
slavery, as they deemed best; but claimed
that power for the Congress of the United
States, regardless of the wishes OF the peo-
pie to be affected by it, and when | found
upon the Crittenden- Montgomery Bill the
Republicans and Americans of the North
and L may say, too, some glorious Ameri-
cans and old line Wings from the South
cheers like Critenden and his patriotic
associates, joined with portion of the De-
mocracy 10 carry out and vIndicate the right
of the people to decide whether slavery
should or should not exist within the limits
of Kansas, | was reioiced within my secret
soul, for | saw an indication that the Amer
lean people, when they come 10 understand
The principle, would give it their cordial
support. Cheers. ....
The Criltenden-M Montgomery bill was as
fair and as perfect an exposition Of the doc
trine of popular sovereignty as could be
carried out by any bill that man ever de-
vised. Ii proposed to refer The Lecompton
Constitution back 10 the people Of Kansas,
and give Them the right TO accept or reject
ii rs they pleased at fair election, held in
pursuance of law, ana in the event of their
rejecting il and forming another in lis stead,
10 permit them 10 come into The Union on
an equal footing with the original States.-I
1t was fair and just in all Of its provisions!
| gave it my cordial support, and was re-
joced when | found that it passed the
House OF Representatives, and at one time
| entertained high hope that it would pass
the Senate. Applause.
l regard the great principle of popular
sovereignty as having been vindicated end
made triumphant in this land as a perma-
nent rule Of public policy in the crganiza-
lion of Territories and the admission of
new States. Cheers
Illinois took her position upon this prin-
cipte many years ago. You all recolect
that in 1880, after the passage OF the Com !
promise measures of that year, when | re- /
turned TO my home there was great d,satls-
faction expressed at my bourse in support
ing those measures. I Shame. appeared
before the people of Chicago at a mass meet
ing, and vindicated each ard every one of
hose neasuresj and by reference 10 MY
speech on that occasion, which was printed .
md circulated broadcast throughout the
State at the time, You will find that | then
md there said that those measures were al
ounded upon The great principle that every
people ought 10 possess the right to form
md regulate their own domestic institutions
Il their own way, and tha, that right being
possessed by the eople Of the States, saw
10 reason why tie same principle should
lot be extended to all of the territories Of
he United States.
A general election was held in this State
few months afterwards, for members Of
he Legislature, pending which, oil these
Iuestions were thoroughly eanvassed and
discussed, and the nominees Of the different
'arties instructed in regard 10 the wishes Of
heir constituents apon them. When that
lection was over and the legislature as
embed, ;hey proceeded TO consider the
merits of those compromise measures and
he principles upon which they were predi-
sted. And what was the result OF their
ction? They passed resolutions, first re-
ealing the WIlmot proviSo instructions,
nd in lien thereof adopted another resolu-
on, in which they declared the great prin-
lp!e which asserts the right OF the people {
} make their own form Of government, and
Stablish their own Institutions. That res :
luton is as follows: Etc.,.
ReSoired, That our liberty and indepen- {
ence are based upon the right oi the people {
, form for themselves such government I
) they may choose; that this great prinei- a
lie, the birthright of freemen. the gift of
eaveH, secured 10 us by the hlood Of our $
neestors, ought 10 be extended to future q
enerations, aud no limitation ought 10 be
pplied TO this power in The organization of I
~ territory OF The United States Of either
Territorial Government or State Consti,u- '
on, provided the Government so established Q
lall be republican and in conformity with S
Q Constitution of the United States. y
That resolution, declaring the great prin- v
pie Of seli-government as applicable TO a
e Territories and new States, passed the S
ouse of Representatives OF this State BY v
vote OF 81 in the affirmative 10 only four "
the negative. Thus you find that an ex- q
ession of public opinion, enlightened, ed O
:ated, intelligent public opinion on this y
iestion by the representatives. of Illinois,
1861, approaches nearer, 10 unanimity b
an has ever been obtained on any one 81
question. That resolution
Is entered on the Journal OF the Legisla- IT