Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-11
KAN s AS AFT AIR S.
ExTRAcTs FROM A SPEECH BY
MR.. HICKMAN, OF PENN 4.
In the House, January 9, 1858

MT. Hun ~. SuOulQ uOL uaVe SUIfgU!
the floor at this time, but for the fact that ST.
lence would leave my views liable to an un.
pleasant mis-construction. / was an early
earnest and sincere advocate of Mr. Buchan.
ans election to the Presidency OF the United
States, believing that his elevation would large
ly promote the present peace and lasting well
fare of nv country His life had been pub
lie one. and his character was that of an edu-
Gated statesman and just man. | esteemed
him as eminently worthy of the largest conf
dence and warmeSt regard of the American
people. as could not doubt his Administra-
ton wonld alike reflect his wisdom experience,
and nice appreciation of justice and that un-
der it the rights of the people, Of all the peo-
pie, would be scrupuiously regarded. l did
not expect infallibility iii his management OF
public affairs, and do not now expect it ; and
when | shall meet with what may regard as
error, trust to be pardoned for the frankness
with which shall always proclaim my opinions
Until heard the ANIMAL message read, |
had expected to be able to Weld to its doc
trines an honest and decided support but
from its Kansas policy | must strongly dis
cent. | am unable TO give it my support
regret exceedingly the tendency of the Exc
cutiye recommendation, which, to nv mind,
is to place the President in a position of an
tagonism to the majority in Kansas 1t leads
TO an lSsue between power on the one hand,
and the people on the other In such a case.
| never can hesitate in determining whose
cause shall espouSe, or what verdict | ought
to render. | am not unmindfrl of the fact that
the former is quite as likely to triumph With
the wrong as the latter with the right and
that the ambitions may well hesitate when re-
solves on success are to decide for whom to do
battle. The great influence of executive pat
ronage : the full extent of executive power in
this country is but feebly comprehended. We
are apt to underrate it vastly If unscrupu-
!ouSly exercised, it becomes crushing despo-
tism, as indefensible as that controlled bv the
greatest of tvrants-combination can seldom
resist it, individuals never But these con-
sideratiODs, clearly as they have presented
themselves to my mind. can never induce me
to espouse political heresy
think / may, with great truth. saw that
the enactment Of tie law organizing the Ter
ritories Of Kansas and Nebraska, including the
repeal Of the Missouri compromise, was not.
originally, popular movement at the North.
It was regarded with suspicion, and belie7ed
to be impolitic if not unjust Mr. Buchanan
himself, By expressing the wish, in his Read
ing letter, that that line should be extended
to the Pacific ocean, gave to the compromise
a sanctity Of popularity additional to that de-
rived from thTtY-four years aeqaesceuce aEd
when its contemplated destruction was annonnc-
ed, it was received with great astonishmeut
aud deep regret. 1t was honestly believed, bY
very many, to be a movement to advance the
peculiar interests Of the South at the expense
of those for whose benefit the territory north
Of the line had been dedicated TO freedom.-
TIE doctrine OF popular soye7eigats by which
it was accompanied made it at first bat tole-
yable. though. e-entuallr, palatabie. Could
the future history CT Kansas have then been
read, as it has since transpired to this mo-
meat the repeated frauds ard usurBations
qracticed and imposed upon her people her
agonizing and fruitless cries for Justice the
cruel end crushing sympathy of high Federal
officers with her opyresSorS her appeal for
free institutions derided bY, rufians. and sla-
very fastened upon her in bold defiance of her
rights could all this hare bsen f0reseea. the
northern advocate of that legislation could nol
have breasted for q single moment the w:ther-
ing tornado such wrongs would have raised
against him. These unjust consequences. not
naturally flowing from The legislation SPOKEN
OF, have now resulted and if hey wou.d not
have been tolerated then. why should they be
now Have we an oTerpuS Of political paw
er which should induce Us TO carry 80 exhaust
ing burden with patience Once taken III
hT the party they would cling to it l;se the
Man Of the Mountain 10 the back Of the sal
iOr cnOsIug il an2 sinking il TO the eaFtn. I,
is too soon for Us to forget what UTerpower.
ing strength We brought TO the polls in 1852
and the EfeaH=-yes. sir. the mear.S-bv which
it was TeckleSsv frittered a~sT before 1856
Mr. Chairman. an upon point fee
deeply, and if shall express myself with
warmth and decision must be uar,loned. As
long as | am capable Of app-eciating truth,
can neTer lend myself to the attempt now
being made, with high saacticus, to undermine
the foundation upcn which the modern terri.
! torial legislation rests, and to falsfr pledges
upon the faith Of which the LAST presidential
election was accomplished. The vital princi-
| pie, the soul OF the Nebraska Kansas bill, is
to be blasted. The majority are not neres.
sarily to rule If can read recent events at
all, / learn so much from them Let the peo-
pie understand this teach them the whole
| truth, and then hear their response. ThiDk
you the mighty millions OF the North, the
East. and the West will be quieted as chill
dren By baubles 2 viii they allow legisla,
ton TO be construed one way today, and en-.
forced different Way tomorrow In short
will they submit always TO stake Grou game
where they never can win? If they are 50
mserably made up, 50 destitute OF real man
hood. they are truly cnly ft to be the white
Slaves of whom We hare occasionally hesrd
and from NJ soci pity them. The name oi
freeman f.s them rot. bat hangs upon thsG,
- IKE Efa-t's rr5@
Upcl d+ar1sA tisiaf"
Ny co1rse is ry own others are rot IN
swerasse for it; and I would not ir,psicsts