The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-05-12
REMARKS OF MR.. LAWRENCE
LION THE ENGLISH BILL 81

w IlE Z ENULiOu DILL.
|. Mr. LAWRENCE viii my colleague
yield to me for one moment?
Mr.. Cox. I will yield to my colleague
for moment, but 1 do not withdraw
the call for the previous question.
Mr.. LAWRENCE. Mr.. Speaker. with
the permission of my colleague. Mr.. Cox
and promising to renew his demand for
the previous question, I wish to submit
u few remarks explanatory of the vote /
am about to give on the conference prop
ostion for the admission of Kansas. -
This is due not aloae to myself and my
iconstituents but to she Democratic party
ofmy State aud of the nation. .,s,,
AS it is we'll known to every member
upon this floor, have for months OPP
posed the ndrission of Kansas under the
Lecompton constitution, without It's first
being submitted to vote of the people.
This / believed to be the doctrine of
popular sovereignty as declared in the
Kansas and Nebraska bill, and as reaf-
frned in the Cincinnati platform. sbi,s
To me there is no force in the objnc-
ton that the Ltcompton constitutions is
not expressly submitted It is, beyond
all doubt, substantial submissions BY
one form of ballot, the people can reject
that instruments; by another form of ballot
they can vitalize it Without the fat of
the people in its behalf, tits as though it
had never been made. Gentlemen may
quibble about the form, but while I get
the Substance L shall not object. 7q g i
Nor is there any ,rlth in the charge
thatit is bribe offered to the people Of
Kansas, in the shape of l"nd grants, to
accept the Lecompeon constitution. THE
quantity now offered them is the quantity
usually granted to new States. It is the
same granted by the L,ecompton-ordinance
tits the same granted by the Crttenden.
| Monig gou,ery amendment for which vo-
ted. In this view of it, therefore, can.
not object. sso5'tspl, l'5t@ss as
I am free to say, however, that it is not
in every respect such bin as I would
! have preferred, but under all The circum-
stances surrounding this vexed question
with due regard to the peace and quiet
Of the country, and the restoration OF
! union and harmony to that party of which
it is my pride and boast to be an humble
member, have concluded to give my
votefor this measure. ul6A eEff 81 Il a.
i In arriving at this conclusion, I cheer
fully say |, have made sacrifices; other
gentlemen have done likewise. Let nae
now sindulge the hope that this question
/ may be settled, and that its settlemen,
may be regarded as n peace measure, and
BE the harbinger, Of future successes to
i the great national Democratic party oi
the country. II r - at
= In that party was born; in it have
spent my better days; in it expect To
i de; and il political death should be my
fate for this.votes my only request is, that
r may die in the Democratic party, and
have the ample folds of her patriotic ban.
ner my winding e7sheet. However, feai
! no such conseqnences. representan in.
teI'iseut and patriotic people. To them
/ appeal for'the rectitude of my condue,
ana 10 their decision Il cEeerfuIly sab
\ NIT ss f-Yof#9E 49, fie Is b7'sA
At this point Mr. Lawrence was inter
rupted, and eli further debate cut or by tht
previous question: fs2t 3si q
4