Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-30
ADMISSION OF KANSAS.
speech OF Hon. Horace Maynard.

In the U. S. HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES, March ooh
1858, IN fdpor of The admission Of Kansas nth the
LecorfaOn Constitution
Mr.. MAYNARD Mr.. Chairman, l feel that
an apology is due to you and to the commit
tee on nv part, for presuming to trespass
longer on their patience in the discussion of
this subject, on which they have heard so
much. i originally intended to take no part
in it. My purpose was to cast my vote sans
phrase and to leave il on record to Vindcate
itself; but reasons of personal nature. as
we'll as of a nature affecting the few gentle
men on this floor with whom have the honor
to concur in sentiment, have induced me to
seek an opportunity to state the reasons why
and the principles on which, | shall vote for
the admission of Kansas State under the
Lecompton constitution. 1t might be enough
to say that after discussion of upwards OF
months, l have neither seen nor heard as
signed any sufficient phrase, the rule is on the
opposition to show reason why | should not
thus vote; for, in legal cause. if any they have
or can show, why Kansas, with that constitu-
ton, should not be admitted. | take it, sir,
that when the people of Territory, being
citizens Of the United States, in numbers suf
ficient to give them Representative in Con-
gress, united body polite, under con-
stitutiOn republican in its form, come here
and apply to us to be admitted as a State,
their right to admission is complete. We
might, as has been done in some instances in
the history of the country, by factious OppOsi-
ton, deny that right; and the people so APP
plying may have no legal means of enforcing
1t. The remedy may not ibe in their power;
bat, as hold, their right is nevertheless com
plete.
/ have been told by a gentleman having the
best means of knowing, and having no interest
whatever in Misrepresentation, that the in
habitants of the Territory, at the present time
number upwards of one hundred thousand
That statement have seen no one cOntrOvert
AS to the numerical sufficiency of her pOpula-
ton, | have not heard it seriously doubted
i think that you, Mr.. Chairman. Mr.. BOCoCK,
made the statement, the other day ON the floor
and that statement remains uncOntradicted in
any of the speeches that have had the honor
to listen to. These people, Mr.. Chairman
come here with a constitution that, suppose
no one will deny is republican in its FORM
and ask to be admitted. Now, sir, why
should they not be admitted? What is the
reason?
MIR. GIDDISGs. The gentleman asks why
Kansas should not be admitted? / will assign
the reason why she should not be- 1t is that
they ask to give them power in this body
in the election of President of the United
States and in the Federal Government. in
proportion to the number of their slaves al
lowing three slaves in that Territory to equal
one such man as he [Mr. MAYNARDl and |.
dignity in this way.
Mr. MAYNARD. L am very glad that the
gentleman has mentioned that point and
probably shall allude to it before | sit down
That is an old idea, which has been repeated
again and again, and which has been SUIT
fered to pass unchallenged and uncontra-
dicted, to my utter surprise and amaZement.
But was going on to speak of the reason
why are told Kansas should not be admit
ted under this constitution. The reason is
because her constitution dOcs-what: Es-
tablish slavery? Not bit of it. 1t does not
do that But because it recognizes a property
in slaves that are already there. Because it
provides that these slaves shall not he eman-
cipated, except on one of two conditions:
either that the consent of the owner shall first
be obtained, that the pecunary value of
the slave shall be paid him in money; and
that so long as slavery is recognized in Kan
sas, the emigrant who comes there shall be
permtted to introduce the slaves which he
actually and bona Jide owns.
That sir, is the reason why the opposition
on this side of the House insist that Kansas
shall not be admitted into the Union under
the Lecompton constitution.
But, sir, what are the preteXts which they
set up? One is, that the convention which
framed that convention had no authority to
frame State constitution. The second is
that after they had framed the constitution
they did not submit il for ratification or
rejection at the ballot-boX. The third is, that
the constitution in itself does not contain any
provision by which it may he changed until
1864. The fourth is, that because in the cleo
ton under the convention which framed the
constitution, held on the 2lst of December,
frauds interviewed at the ballot-boX.
New, sir, shall not attempt to discuss these
various preteXts, or either of them. They
have been discussed, ably and ngeniously dis
oaA f,rt ha los thr, tl,l. np1i
discussion has advanced one step since the
first arguments which were made In the other
end OF the Capitol at the very outset of the
session, confess have not been able to see
it. The arguments have been varied; the
phraseology has been changed; form and yari-
ety have been given To illustration, but the
discussion stands to the logic of the mind ex-
actly where IL did after the first week or ten
DAYS OF the session. And, sir, we might
stand here and refine and discuss the question
of the sovereignty of the people; whether that
sovereignty is subject To be delegated; whether
Ii is divisiDle or indivisible; whether il is com
plete or only partial; we might dwell here up
on the various questions of political meta
physics to our dying day, and We would new
er arrive one step nearer "A result that would
b. either conclusive satisfactory. And
what is the use of il! What does all IL amount
20, Other gentlemen may differ with me in
opinion; speak only for myself | would
bud no man 10 my opinion. | profess TO bind
no man TO my opinions, but, sir, in my opin-
ion, let these questions be discussed as ably AS
they may be, and decided either the one way
or the other, aud IL will amount TO nothing Ia
settling the great point which we have before
us for our ultimate decision. | know that
man who wants to pursue a particular course
for reasons best known to himself who does
not dixie TO give the true reason, will some
times be very ingenious in assigning false
rSa L
which are not his real reasons do not In
tend by this or by any other remarks shall
make, 10 be offensive; mean not 10 be Often
sive 10 any one, and hope that every gentle
man will understand me, that II in The heat of
debate, shall use any language that shall jar |
upon the feelings of any member of this |
House, shall be ready To mrke all due rep |
aration.
We may just as we'll come right up 10 the /
question There is no use la heating about /
the bush. We have been told repeatedly by /
gentlemen on this side OF the House, when /
pressed for reply, that il every man. woman
and child, in Kansas, We're in favor OF admit
ting her into the Union "A slave State they
would resist it, This is the very last expires
sion of sentiment we have heard on this floor,
from the honorable gentleman from Illinois,
(Mr. FARNswoRTH,l who has just taken his
seat, and who closed With an ennneiation. i
understood him 10 make an appeal 10 eod-to
say with solemn emphasis, 30 help me Cod
1 will never vote for the admission oi another
slave State into the Unioa.' There, cir. Is
the ground we have 10 stand upon, the ground
we have to contest. aud we might as well come
right up TO the point Ike true soidiefs. ana
Ike men meet IL When Gre,k meets
Greek then comes the tug OF war;" But, SIR,
they mast meet upon the plains oi heiias