The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-22
KANsAs-THE LEcoMprof CONSTITUTION.
SPEECH OF HON. MARCUS J. PARROT.
DELEGATE FKOM KANSAS,
+ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.,
MARCH 81, 1858.

Mr.. CHAIRMAN: ! need not apologize for ven
turing to avail myself of the indulge,,ce of the
Committee to submit what have TO 50 respect
ing the affairs of Kansas. II any ap, iogy ,cere
necessary, might find it in the fact thAJt Dele
gate from distant Territory [Gen. LANE, of
Oregon has seen fit to go hey ond his own sphere
Of action, and assail my constituents Ia order to
promote the welfare of his own. Tkjs is the
short road to Executive favor. I refrain from
characterizing that speech rs it deserves, only
because / cannot do so consistently with the
ppoprieties of the place. In undertaken to pre-
sent the case of Kansas shall not pg sue that
intangible, impalpable, and somewha protean
political quantity, called popular SOW. reignty'
through the intricate mazes of theoreti inquiry,
but shall rather seek to unfold its practical
workings as developed ia the chosen Sbeatre of
its operations, in the trials of some yesrs. The
standpoint from which my views of tt . subject
are taken is not identical with that occupied by
any other person on either side of this Chamber
belong to no political organization recognised
here. have no party to serve and nose to fear,
in treading this ground. Sectional pasties alone
exist in Kansas No others could exi,. because
the great paramount issue, framed an 4 submit
ted to the people for their decision by Congress,
in the passage of the organic Act, was sectional
questionable question of Slavery Eharing in
this struggle, have striven with my whole heart
and all my strength for the supremacy of that
class of domestic Institutions which experience
has demonstrated to be'best CALCULATED to foster
ameliorate, enlarge, and improve the condition
of the free white laboring men of th, country
and thereby to strengthen the stability of repub-
lican institutions of which this great nterest 10
| in my opinion, the main stays AlthoI RI chosen
as representative by those who fave this sys.
tenn OF government, subsequent deN shipments
have greatly enlarged the number Of those fol
whom | claim to speak
The sectional issue which has her tofore OBJ
tanned, is swallowed up in stIl gre ter issue
precipitated upon US, and upon the W ,ole coun.
try, by the presentation here of the ecomptor
Constitution. When / stand here INV place
to plead for the inherent right Of tn, people o
Kansas to frame their fundamental Jaw, ma,
| claim, without exaggezation, to spe X for ths
whole people of Kansas, irrespectis of theil
party predictions. lt
The Kansas act guaranteed to ex md to al
who should settle under its provisi ms certain
| definitive political privileges, as we for thei
protection as for their guidance, Will the coun
/ try should remain in state of pupi tge. Thi
|. act was characterized by declare ion of tn
| doctrine of non-intervsntion by Cos yress will
the subject of Slavery IN the Territol es, leav
| ing the people thereof perfectly free form ant
regulate their own domestic institute ms in thei
| own way, subject only TO the Constit ton OF tn
| United States" -s..rs,. .I...
/ 1t will appear by an analysis Of. lis genera
declaration, as found in the details Of the bill
that the people were to have the rig of repre-
sentation in this branch of Congress, pc uninter
fupted choice of loyal Legislstu B, and th