Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-06-23
Mr. c,ddIur. 10 his Constituents.

ureSSlOual OlslIlCh VI OnAos 1-A- ~ S+tN--l
views the subject of Slavery from the beginning
comments on the exercise of the federal pow
er fo- extending and perpetuating slavery in
Teras-the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
and the Efforts of the Executive to establish
Slavery in Kansas-the action of both branches
Of Congress on the LeeOmPtOn Kansas bill
the adoption of the Montgomery substitute by
the House and its rejection by the Senate-and
states clearly the reasons which governed Mr.
GrDDrSes and his associates in voting for the
Montgomery amended bill. We add the clos
inc portion of the conclusive address of the
venerable " Father of the House to his ever
true constituents:
The proposed amendment denied in the most
unmistakabe language that Kansas was a slave
State as the President hal officially asserted !;
il placed him on the records of our country,
Gaisifer Of truth, and constituted an unqualified
Reputation Of his avowed policy. Nor could
we disguise the conviction that the friends OF
the President IN the Senate would never agree
To the bill when thus amenCed. They could
only accept IT by an abandonment Of the Presi.
dent. and Of his long cherished policy. All
Dem ocratie party were under the control of the
slave power, that that power demanded the un-
conditional admission Of Kansas slave
State, and that several States AID many poiti-
clans were pledged to dissolve the Union unless
Kansas were Internationally admitted with her
Lecompton Constitution. 1t was therefore
morally certain that adhsranee 10 the amended
bill by the House, would constitute defeat Of
the Executive and his party, and would pregent
The enactment Of The LeeOmPiOn COnstitHfiOn
info a laic.
All clearly foresaw that every friend Of tine
President in the House and in the Senate would
vote against the amended bill and as we sup
posed all who voted for the bill were solemnly
pledged to adhere 70 it. We all saw that 10
make Kansas a free state we must first defeat
the Presidents efforts 10 make il a Slace State
His project was before us, was forced upon us
for decision, and must be met and disposed of
before we could take the first step towards
making Kansas free And | speak not for my
self but think for nearly the entire Repub-
Iican psrty in the house of Representatives,
when | say that our object and design in yot-
ing for the amendment WAS TO DEFEAT TIE
SENATE BILL; TO defeat the Executive, and
slave power in their efforts to make Kansas
STARE Ss1te 10 avoid that defeat every fol-
lower of the President both in the House and
In the Senate voted against the amendment.
The result for which we cOntended was at
timed The Senate bill WAS DEFEATED, KaRsas
IS not slaSe STATE, and the President stands
upon the records Of the nation convicted Of Off
cial fllsehOod.
The bill which afterwards became a law, is
most essentially different from that which ori-
ginally passed the Senate 1t could not have
passed had all who voted with us for the
amendment, and for time voted TO adhere, con-
tinued TO vote in conformity to their express
agreement, as understood by Republicans. OF
that bill and those who voted for il, DO not
propose to speak They as well as those who
voted against it, will be judged by the present
and coming generations. t-
But the establishment Of slavery in Kansas
constituted merely an incident in the programme
Of the administration. As before stated, the
acquisition Of territory in Mexico and Central
America, the restoration of tho foreign slave
trade 10 furnish victims to cultivate the territory
thus obtained, the annexation of Cuba, the CON
quest of Hayti and subjee:iDg its people to
slavery were some of the more important objects
for which they were striving. But preparatory
to carrying out these objects, the standing ar
my must be increased; for even despotism is
harmless, without the ply seal power TO en-
fCTee its DEGREES.
As an excuse for this increase Of the army,
war upon the Mormons, on account Of their
polygamy, was suggested, although the right OF
Congress TO prohibit 81 that relic of barbarism"
by law was denied by the democratic party,
whose v4unted maxim had been that the people
of a territory " have the supreme right TO estab-
lsh their own domestic institutions in their
own way"
The defeat of this bill for increasing the ar
my constituted The first stop towards the over
throw ~ the slave power. Reheeting men then
believed thlt the Mormon war would be blood
less. All knew there had been no necessity for
it, and l presume peace has already been OF
soon will be concluded The admission Of
Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution has
been thus far defe-ted, and if the people of
that territory prove true to themselves, 1t never
can succeed.
The attempts made in the Senate to with
draw our naval force from Africa, in order that
pilatieal commerce in human flesh may be
there carried on, has met with signal defeat
the message of the President which had been
prepared, approved by the Cabinet, and ready
10 be tran smitted 10 Congress, recommending
acquisition of territory and annexation Of Cuba,
now rest quietly in The Executive port folio
The mad career of the sGrs POlrer has been stayed
Our cause has reached its eliminating point
The enemies columns are broken and retiring
from the field. Those States and statesmen
who in autumn last declared their intention Of
diSSOlring the Union unless Kansas were i'm
mediately admitted, under the Leeompton Con-
sttutiOn, - now roar you gently sucking
doves" That mock thunder, so long the man
ulaeture Of southern politicians no longer shakes
the political heavens, and many a northern po-
tical driveler has lost his entire stock IN trade
Upon the Republican party now devOlves
the responsibility Of guiding the future admin
istration and government Ii it continue To act
upon the doctrines enuneiated at its formation;
If it continue 10 act in harmOnv with those
great central truths, glorious destiny awaits
il. It's success viii be as certain as Gods at
tribute Of Justice is infaiiBle. But if it pander
10 fossilized error if 1t Yields to stupid preju-
dice, or seeks power by modifying its doctrines,
it will retard the progress of human Liberty 1t
NAV like other parties, consent to be shorn of
its moral power by the soft hand Of eonserya-
tism, and leave the glorious consummation of
our enterprise 10 other hands, and another Or
ganizatiOn. or such results, however, have
no apprehensiOns. The intelligence concerning
the administration Of government acquired by
the people cannot be eradieated from the pop
ular mind. The patriotic sentiments already
awakened and called into active servi,e cannot
be stayed until our country shall be regenerated
and made free.
The great religious, moral and political reyO-
luton now in progress will constitute an inter
esting chapter in the history of our nation
Ii is an enterprise eminently worthy Of 4
Christian people, and appropriate to the age in
which We live II is too important IN its con-
sequence, too vast in its results, TO be consum
mated in one generation Many Of you have
entered upon life since the commencement of
tnis reformation, and those who were there at
the noontide Of their existence and now watch
ing the descending sun as 1t draws nearth hor-
izen of time, and others wha toiled in the heat,
and bore the burthens of the day, have passed
to their reward. To you who survive, tender
cheerful and heartfelt congratulations upon the
progress Of our cause its present state and glO-
- r,r,srncts for the fnfnra To have nariic-