The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-01

Mr.. Wade, of Ohio, knew of no means OF
putting stop TO political excitement except by
removing the cause of excitement. The real
issue was between slave labor and free labor
1t was q strife between them for political power
and territorial dominion, and it was lifesnd
death struggle, which would never be ended till
| one side or the other went to the wall. Slavery
and Freedom could never be made to harmonic
All the specifics of political doctors to quiet
agitation had failed. 1t had been supposed
thar if, by some chicanery, the agitation could
have been kept out of Congress, it would cease
in ,ae country but the mistake was in forget
anl' that the agitation in the country created
agEetion in Congress, instead of being origin
ateH III Congress and spreading into the country.
AF. Ready, of Tennessee, contended that Sla-
ver1 was recognised in the Constitution of the
Unified States by the fugitive clause, by the
classe In relation to apportioument of Repre-.
sen1atives, and by that relating to the discon-
tine snce of tn, slave trade. he was content
to he his sta l. upon the Constitution, and to
me, the North there as political brothers.
N. Gooch, of Massachusetts,, (successor of
Mr., Banks, commended, first, that the Lecomp
ton CONSTITUTION did not represent the will of
hepeople and, second, that it had not the
authority of law. The organic act did not au-
thos:ze the Legislature to call Constitutional
CoAvention and if it did, both the Legisla,
turssnd the Convention had violated the pro.
visions of the act of Congress, according to the
Presidents Interpretation of it. he hoped they
would remit this Constitution to the people of
Kspsss, to be passed upon, or to form a new
one, about the legality and popular approval
of which there could be no question.
Mr. Taylor, of Louisiana said Kansas was
mere incident to the real issue. He denied
that the influence of Slavery was blighting, or
that it degraded labor. 1t was true that the
North enjoyed unexampled prosperity, but tn az
was in great measure attributable to the
civil connections of Europe, whence men mi
grated to the North. The South has made
comparatively slow progress, but it was solely
by natural increase of her native population
and the steady pursuits of industry. The North
ought not to exult over this accidental advan-
tage. That state of things was not likely to
continue. he thought there was no danger
that the South would be pushed to the wall in
this contest. There was only small portion
OF the public domain remaining for the North,
for the future Pacific States were destined to
employ the inferior race of Asia as quasi slaves.
Those who controlled the labor of Coolies would
never sympathize with those who opposed
negro Slavery, and the fell spirit of sectional
hate would be quelled. If the present crisis
were safely passed, the danger would be ended
forever.
Mr. Olin, of New York, defended the people
of Kansas against the charge of being rebels.
The Presidents message not only libelled them,
but ibelled human nature ITSELF he contend
ed that Congress had constitutionally plenary
power over the Territories, by which it could
govern and mould their Constitutions, and that
the Federal Constitution could not, by any fair
Interpretation, be construed as recognising
Slavery, or the right of property in slaves.
Mr.. Bennett, of New York, condemned the
course of the majority of the Kansas committee
in refusing to 20 into an investigation as or.
dered by the House. The Lecompton Consti.
tuition was the fraudulent product of legislative
usurpation, stamped with infamy from begin
ming to end. he contended that the people of
Kansas had already legally and regularly con-
demned, rejected, and repudated the Lecomp-
ton Constitution, and that Congress had rot
even before them any application of the people
of Kansas to be admitted into the Union. There
was not an aristocracy in Europe that had half
the power of the slave owners in this Govern
ment, and the great mass of the people would
not stand it much longer. Nobody could hold
any Office, unless he bowed bis neck and assent
ed to the newest dogma of the Slavery propa.
gandists.
Mr.. Wilson, of Indiana, said the people of
Kansas had, from the foundation of their Terri
tnrial Government, been robbed of the rights of
suffrage, of representation, of legislation, and
of forming their State Constitution. Their
Legislature was first forced upon them by the
people of Missouri, and had since been sustain
ed by force and fraud.
Mr.. Ssndidge, of Louisiana, obtained the
floor, when the Committee rose, and at FIVE
minutes past eight o'clock the House adjourned.