Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-04-20
SPEECH OF HON. c, READr
OF TENEHssEH

the state Of the-UniOn-Mr. READY, of Tenhsssse,
said:
Mr. Chairman propose to discuss the pending
proposition for the admission Of Kansas, under the
Lecompton constitution. In doing So it is not my
intention to 60 into labored defence Of slavery,
to elaborate the question as to whether or not it
can lawfully exist under the Constitution Of the
United States, as erroneous believe to be, the
opinions expressed BY many gentlemen on the
subject. For my present purpose, l am content to
find the Constitution recognizes the lawful exis-
tence Of slavery, BY providing for the reclama-
tiOn Of fugitive slaves; that three-ffths Of the
slave population are to be estimated in apportion-
ing the representatives to Congress 1 might add
the 9th section Of the LIST article in regard to the
importation Of slaves. Suffice it to say sta Lea
seipta ssL" plant myself on the Constitution and
there intend to stand. With its provisions 1 am
satisfied, and / intend to maintain them, and the
Union under them, as long as may be done con-
sisently with the landmarks Of this great American
chart If the day shall ever come when it shall be
trOdden under foot the Union dissolved snd broken
into fragments, neither patriot traitor shall have
cause to say to me "EtfH Bruts2"
Nor is it my purpose to indulge in harsh epithets
towards those who differ with me, or to draw invidi-
comparisons between the morality, intelligence
or prosperity Of the different sections Of the country
as they may be affected one way or the other by
their local laws l thought sthe admission of the
member from Connecticut, Mr. Bishop) upon this
point, was wholesome and appropriate; and | wish
that Northern as we'll as Southern gentlemen wouId
reflect upon, and act in accordance with it. Having
said this, must add, that l am sure there are
few, if any, instances in which Southern men
may have been betrayed into the use Of remarks
Of the character indicated, except in response to
disparaging and offensive arguments applied to
their section. But I drop this aoW, and l trust
forever. Standing, as l have just said, upon the
Constitution, whose platform is broad enough for
all the North and all the South, for myself as q
Southern man, 'tO the manor born, am willing to
meet there the men Of the North, and greet them
political brothers, as long as they are willing to
stand with me, on terms Of harmony and political
equality.
Without further preliminary remsrks, come d.
restly to the discussion of the important measure
| which has occupied so much Of our time Under
Law passed four years since, Kansas was organized
/ as a Territory Her organic law founded upon
the assertion Of great fundamental principle-the
non-intervention Of Congress on the subject OF
slavery in the Territories; to give effect to which,
/ it was necessary to repeal the Missouri Compro-
! mise Finding in the Constitution no grant Of
power TO Congress te restrict slavery in the Terrific
ries, or elsewhere, believed the Compromise was
unconstitutional. J. also, believed 1t viola
4 ton Of our treaty stipulations with France, by
! which we acquired the territory; and that it was
unjust to the South. was, therefore, in faver of
its repeal and Of leaving the people of the territory
perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic
/
! Constitution Of the United States"
| Whatever difference of opinion may have existed
in regard to the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise
when the act was passed, behave very large ma
! iority of the people Of the United States finally
came 10 the conclusion that Congressional nuninte-
vention, as declared in the act was the true doc
| trine on which the question Of slavery was to be
/ settled I was Of that opinion; and l believed in
| common with the friends Of the measure, that il
would harmonic discordant elements, and give
quiet TO the country on the most agtsting subject.
| In the progress Of events, difference Of opinion
was developed as to the construction of the clause
declaring that ''the people Of the Territory were
left perfectly free to form and regulate their de
nestle nstitions in their own way, subject only to
! the Constitution Of the United States"
One side asserted the right of the people of the
Territory in their territorial capacity to establish
/ or prohibit slavery; doctrine which was called
''sQudttsT sovereignty" The other side held, as I
believe correctly, that neither the people in their
territorial capacity, the territorial legislature
have the power either to establish or phOhibit it.
/ distinctly announced this position in speech I
made in this House, in 1854, in the discussion Of
the bill for the organization of the Territories Of
Kansas and Nebraska; and no friend of the bill
North South, cOntrOVerted its sOundness. These
conflicting opinions, at least between the sup
| porters Of the bill mentioned must have assumed
| distinct antagonism after its passage. They have
| since entered largely into the creeds Of political
psrtieg; have been held by different members of one
of the great parties end have been elements in the
political contests Of the times. Immigrants he We
/ hocked into the Territory with extraordinary "a
pidty, and under extraordinary auspices, for the
purpose Of giving ascendency to each side of this
/ disputed question of power. They have been
urged on by parZans in the States until arrayed in
deadly hostility against each other. The nara
/ tive of scenes Of violence amongst them mo
doubt often e=aggersted) has but served to arouse
their respective friends in the States until the eI-
hou cd al Of fJo
country, Such is a brief history of the progress
and present state Of affairs in regard to Kansas
She now presents herself with a constitution and
asks for admission into the Union. In view of her
history it is not matter Of surprise that she is
embarrassed every step taken to dvest herself of
her territorial pUplage and assume the character
Of a sovereign State. But, we should remember,
she is asking q high constitutional privilege which
should not be denied her, except on weighty aud
conclusive reasons. Shall she be admitted? l an
sWer in the affirmative.
It is now conceded by all that she has sufficient
population to eLtitle her to admission; and have
not heard it doubted that her constitution is repub
licsn in form. Was it legally formed? If it was
there can be no valid objection to her admission
In July, 1855, the Territorial Legislature passed an
act submitting it 20 the vote of the people TO de-
termine whether they we're in favor of holding a
convention to frame State constitution, prepare
tory for admission into the Union. An election
was accordingly held, in October 1856 the result
Of which was an almost unanimous vote in favor of
the measure In accordance herewith, the Terri
toral Legislature on the 18th Of February 1857,
passed law for making an enumeration of the in
habitants; for registering the qualified voters; and
for the election Of delegates to a convention. The
then Governor, Mr. Geary, vetoed the bill, because
it did not require that the constitution to be framed
should be submitted to a popular vote for adoption
or rejection. Upon re consideration Of the bill in
each house Of the legislative assembly, it was pass
ed over the Governors veto by two third vote: and
consequently, it became valid law. 1t was regu-
larly fairly, and legally enacted, far as we have
any knowledge or information 1t is unusually
guarded in all its provisions with the view of pro
tectng the rights Of every legal voter Of guarding
the ballot-bOx against Frauds and for securing full
and fair expression Of the popular will in the cleo
ton of delegates. There is nothing in it startling
to fair minded men; but much 10 claim their admra-
ton and confidence If 1t differs from previous laws
passed under like circumstances for a like object
the difference was in favor Of the honest legal voter
and against corrupt and bad men. The llth sec
ton Of the law provides "every bona tide inhabi-
tant Of Kansas, being citizen Of the United States
and tWenty-One years Of age whose residence in the
county where he offers to vote shall have been three
months next before said election, shall be entitled
to vote" With this specification Of the quaifcs-
tiOn Of voters emnently just n proper, and the
provided for sscertaining the qualification of
each and every man presenting himself as a voter,
and Of preventing and Furnishing violence, fraud,
and illegslity Of any kind il is nconceivable how
fair raise an objection to it.
In pursuance Of this law, the enumeration of the
inhabitants, and registry Of the voters we're TAKEN
as far as practicable. The voters registered num-
bered 925l falling but little short Of the largest
vote up to that time, cast in the Territory
disappointment was made by the acting governor;
and on the Sd Of June, 1851, in pursuance of the
law the election Of delegates took place. The con-
ventiOn assembled at LecOmptOn, on the first Mon
day Of September, 1857, believe and the constitu-
ton now before us is the result of its labor.
Upon the face Of the record, all is fair; and the
question recurs shall Kansas be admitted as State,
under this constitution?
1t is opposed by some gentlemen, frst because |
there was not an enabling passed by Congress,
while others as strongly opposed, take the ground |
that an enabling act was not necessary. l appre-
bend the grounds Of tue opinion of both classes are
alike inconsistent with the right of admission IN
der the LecOmptOn constitution
hold that -La 81 The ----.---..- ]