The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-03-20
Mr. Critteuden,s Speech.

sas question created deep sensation among =,
the Lecomptonites at Washington, as it is i,
supposed TO indicate the course OF the Amer
lean party ut the South. Senator Bell of
Tennessee, and the members of the party in +
the House will support Mr.. Douglas, and the
defeat of the Administration in its Kansas !
policy, it is believed, is already secured
The vote will be taken in the Senate on
Monday night. and the Kansas bill will
probably past that body by majority of
three or four votes. lfcarricd, it will be by
the votes Of the Senator'S from Indiana, ncn
mis-reprcsenting the opinions of their State,
and holding seats in violation of law and
right, while they arc excluding the Minnesota
Senators. conshtutionally elected:
Mr.. Crittenden referred to the right of the
people to govern themselves rs great prin-
eiplo, and applicable to the present eireum-
stances. The President, he said, has recon-
mended with unusual earnestneSs the admis-
sion of Kansas under the Lecompton Con
stitution. IL was q question in his mind
only of facts, whether the Lecompton |
| Constitution comes with such authority and /
sanction rs will oblige us TO recognize it a. |
the Constitution of Kansas. lie thought it /
did not. The evidence Of Gov. Walker and /
of the people.
Mr. CrttenIen recapitulatcd the statements (
| Is to the various frauds committed ut the |
election in Kansas, then examined the legal
ity of the Lecompton Constitution, declaring
it was not the Constitution of Kansas, bat
only of the Convention that framed il. The
: vote OF the 10 600 against it on the 4th Jan
uary, shows it is not the Constitution of The
people. They tell you it is particularly OBJ
, noxious to them, because it is tainted with
fraud. Its one Of the series of frauds insti
gated for the purpose of getting and keeping
possession Of the Government Of Kansas
from the first election carried by armed in
T vaders from Missouri, down TO the present
day, hence he concluded that to impose it on
Kansas would be plain and palpable viola
ton of the right OF the people to govern
themselves. But. continued Mr.. Crittcnden,
the I.ecompton Constitution carries on its
e face the evidence of corruption. Those who
= framed it knew that it contained provisions
which the Free State men could not assent TO,
+" therefore none were allowed to vote unless
: sworn to support it, slavery provisions and
he all.
The 5000 votes shown in its favor were
y put in with the view of exhibiting n suitable
y majority, and in order TO make the fraud too
'e monstrous. They went Just beyond the line
y the fraudulent intent was apparent through
J. out; and how he asked, can gentlemen ignore
these frauds. in the face of internal evidence
u and concurrent testimony. The people of
c. Kansas say that it is not their Constitution,
n and ak US to send it back to be submitted to
- vote OF the people. Can we, he asked, re-
IL fuse such request. Can Senators turn from
u such evidence to league tcchnicalitcs and
no presumptions of law! They ough: to lool,
y to truth and principles. He said he could
: not put his hand to the admission of Kansas
y into the Union under the Lecompton Consti-
ho tuition.
nd Mr.. Crittenden then asked, What can the
/, South gain by the admission of Kansas I'M
IL der the Constitution. No Senator believe.
he she can be Slave State. The laws OF eli
he mate and geography forbid it. In support o
:, this view no quoted the sentiments OF Con.
grcss, including Mr.. Kcitt.
u Mr.. Hammond. Did Mr.. Keitt cay SO.
Is Mr.. Crittenden. 1t was so reported.
-er Mr.. Hammond. Mr.. kctt quoted pas
a sage to that effect but did not endorse it.
- Mr.. Crlttcnaen resumed, contending tina
Ps the majority only Of the people of Kanss
is should be allowed TO make such Constitu
he ton as they pleased. That, he said, is tn
-, great American principle; that he said is tn
principle of the South itself lie then spok
" discursively on various topics. lie was, h
re- said, according to the terms now used,
Southern Democrat. He had lived all hi
life in Southern climate, and was ready 4
ri defend his rights there, but in the same res
Olutc spirit IN winch he womb MS own night
VI would he defend the rights of others. He re
peated that he did not believe Kansas coul,
so be slave State. The South was deceived il
ole that respect. Referring to the Missouri Com
m promise he said it would have been better 8
he let it stand. The South could gain nothin
ps- by it, nor the North. but it was hallowed Il
The a bond of Union. Its accomplishment wa
ip- leader, Henry Clay. 1t brought peace to tll
al country, by localizng slavery, and 1t shout
or not have been broken. lie was CROWN
,de older and less susceptible to new impression,
as and would have been content TO have restc
se. upon that compromise. Has its repca
.cn brought Us peace; the reverse of peace-it Ina
,et brought us trouble. Turning to Kansas,
ore said he would vote for her admission. if
EN- thought it would bring peace, but he did nc
n believe it would. 1t is said that the admis
yer sion will lOcaliZc the question of slavery
one that Territory. He did not believe it.
that question is to be debated, it will be dc
an bated here; but it must be debated in I'll
IN right way. There should be no excitemcn
''h Why should his friends at the North u.
can such invectives, he must say of an atrocior
nan nature! Why should we not live in pcaC
49, and harmony, rs our fathers did, We al
"'- united In language and in blood. Are II,
lity the great dcstinics OF the future forgotte
see while this petty subject Of disagreement
ont nursed into colossal proportions!
\
VI was much gratiied in learning from tlcl
ing the comparative resources OF the two section
pm Of our country. The Senator from Son,
t.s Carolina had detailed the resources of Il
-, South, and the gentleman from Maine Ia
TIE given those Of the North; and, while lister
the ing to them. it seemed to him that this W:
the most natural Union in the world.
either of those sections was apart it wou
and make nation of which any man may
proud to be a citizen. What q magnifceI
no'r Union il makes when you put both to- gcthe
ex- Were this discord but lulled, what a summ
I'm. sea lies before Us of boundless prospects.
tab In conclusion, he said that he should vo
on the question Senator of the Unit,
States of America. not rs q sectional man.
oil He owed allegiance to no section of the coul
rom try. The course he would approve would
tent to pass law by which the Constitute
- shall be submitted to the vote of the pcopl
and il it be ratified, he would admit Kans
Y in into the Union.
nor,
anu tS The agent of Col. Fremont has con
a;s. menced suit of cjectment in Maripos