Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-02-18


Johnson, and you will fail to make the people oe-
ieve il The only object Of this amendment IS 10
instruct John Bell Then let it DO SO stated. II
you suspicion a want Of fidelity on the part OF MI
Bell it is no reason why you should lnpiieale an
drew Johnson. am certain John Bell will consider 1
il no special favor be coupled IN your EesoluOn'
with your Senator, Andrew Johnson
AGAIN Mr. Speaker, our Representatives are re- /
eeiad ~ vote for the admission Of the Territory,
Nv this amendment. would ask, what Representa-
tive in Congress from this State is shuthng upon
ttis question Why request them under the solemn
sanction of legal enactment to do thing which you
oesert they will do? Do you suspicion the Ameri-
can delegation, or the Democratic delegation! Let
us know where your suspicious rest. Separate the
goats from the sheep
No. Mr.. Speaker, there is no suspicion as to our
Representatives in Congress The main object OF
This amendment is TO inhict blow upon the head OF
John Bell Then level your blows against him and
him alone; he is able 10 stand them. Strike him
boldly; you have the power to do whatever your
spleen dictates | desire the country to know WhaI
you do, and the motives which prompt you 10 act
Il shall be no paliaton TO stick Andrew Johnson III
the amendment-nOne. sir. / believe It is the duty
of our Senators and Representatives IN Congress 10
taka Mains and possess themselves Of all the facts
connected with this affair, and if they believe It
right and lust and best for the interest OF the Peo
ple 70 vote for the admission Of Kansas under the
Lecompton Constitution, to do So II not, 70 vote
against it.
1 am very sorry to say, Mr.. Speaker, there seems
to be a disposition on the part Of gentlemen on my
right, to hunt down ibis great Statesman and pat
riot. Yes, gentlemen, you pursue hIm Ike blood
bouDds striking at him in every possible direction
and so eager are you 70 inHIct wound upon TINS
noble Senator, that you involve yourselves III the
most ridiculous inconsistencies. 40u say IN cue
BREATH thai you wish Mr. Bell to redeem Pleuse
that he has made and at once to quit the Senate;
and in the next breath you instruct him to vote Tor
the admission Of Kansas under the Lecompton Con
stitutioD Do YOU earnestly wish Mr. Bell 10 vote
for the admission of Kansas If you do, 1t Is
strange policy TO instruct him out Of his seat as
strange as this course may appear, we shou'd mo-
he asfonished when such end IS attempted 10 DC
,,or,nlisbad nv such means 1 cannot believe
there is any sincerity in such proceedings Inc
object Is TO assaiI John Bell the brightest ornament
in the United States Senate A man who has ior
more than forty years watched over the interests
the country with more than parental care; the souu
If whose footsteps upon the WatchtOWers OF MS
countrv has not been interrupted for near half
century.-a man with foresight which amounts
almost To prophecy;-a man towering in the Senate
like some mighty monument, Is to be torn down 10
crafty the spleen Of a few political enemies. II Is
said that truth is Omnipotent ana puOllc JusttOS
certain" If so, the just indignation OF an oHehueu
and insulted people will be numbered down upon
the heads Of those who are pressing this maIter,
the object Of which is to deprive the Senate anu
the country of the noblest and most exalted states
man of whom we can boast-yes, perhaps now the
brightest star that glitters IN the galaxy Of the
great, the talented, and the patriotic.
Mr. REATE when his name was called, said
Mr. Speaker: l wish to say few words IN ezpla-
nation of my vote. Sir, AN compelled to give this
vote under the operation Of the previous quesuon'
1t has been my intention all The while, 10 give my
views on these resolutions somewhat IN luIl, aIIet
other gentlemen might have had an opportunity Oh
doing 90 but had no intention Of doing SO TO day.
expected to hear the gentleman from Lincoln at
this hour but instead Of that the gentlemen on the
other side of the House have declined any 1urther
discussion and have forced TO vote, through the
previous question.
Sir this is not the first time that have been cut
off from debate in this House in this manner II
,r, vziU recoIlect when the resolution to elect Mr.
Bells successor was before this House, IN the early
mart of this session. told the House that desired
ia reply to my colleague, who had then made three
speeehes on that question; but the gentleman from
Bradley called the previous question anu cut me
of.
Well sir. when this debate commenced, the ma
iority told us we should have ample opportunity to
discuss these resolutions to our entire satisfaction;
and they weat into it with good deal OF aTIdlty,
and Doured out the walls of their wrath upon the
head Of Mr. Bell, until the gentleman from hutheF-
ford made a speech in his defence and against the
man of all the party was found Willingto undertake
to reply to him. The leaders on the other side OF
the Chamber became suddenly impressed with their
responsibility to the country for delaying puOAc
time in discussing federal polltlc5-got very anxious
to stop debate, and shut down upon US with TINS
previous question.
Mr. Sneaker, the course Of the dominant party on
these resolutions-rst challenging debate aud then
so suddenly becoming sick of it, when a speech had
been made on our side which they found would be
rather troublesome to ansWer-remluds me OF a
team Of young oxen undertaking to draw heavy
load up long hill. They start up like thunder
storm, and 20 plunging and jerking until they get
10 the steep place about half way the top, when,
finding themselves out Of breath, they suddenly
stop shake their heads and switch their tails, and
ack clear down 10 the bottom Of the hill, IN spite OF
all the polling, following and frequently, curslng
Of the driver.
Mr. Speaker, as a southern man, as prO-slaVery
man. as a Union man. and as a patriot hope It
is hardly necessary for me to say that all my pre-
fergnces all my feelings, all ny preJudlces, and
oil nv motiVes-every conceivable consideration OF
interest and every wish for sectional advantage
are in favor Of the admission OF Kansas as slave
State: and no man on this BOOrr or elsewhere, Wall
rejoice more than will, ii our Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress find It consistent with
their duty to the Constitution ard the whole coun-
try tn vote for the immediate admission OF Kansas
into the Union.
But. sir. as a partisan, would be glad to see
Kansas come into the Union as a slave State. Sir,
l don't pretend to disguise the fact that have an
upcompromising and undying enmity to the Demo
cratic psrty Now sir when this hansas-Nebraska
bill was sprung upon the country believed hat 1t
was done for political capital. then thought, and
still think that that party, reckessy and IN utter
disregard of their public pledges, forced the aga-
ton Of this slavery question upon the people OF THIS
Union for partisan purposes. thought, and still
Ill L. las INF a
ton TO ride into the Presidency. But sir, things
have turned out quite differently from what Mr.
Douglag expected or intended; and entertaining
these views Of his purposes and Intentions lshouLd
like TO see Kansas admitted as Slave State, against
his wishes and his earnest observation-disclosures
that this being accomplished, the Little Giant Of
the west would be forever hereafter politically, con-
signed to the tomb Of the Capulets
/ believe moreover, that the admission Of Kansas
will cause a schism in the Democratic party, which
will be difficult to settle, and will be the signal for
the breaking up of that party, and will be the means
Of routing that party in the next election, horse,
foot and Dragons consummaliOn deV0utly to be
wished for by all good men,
But sir Z an called upon to instruct our Senators
and request ouF REPRESENTATIVES in Congress to vote
FIR thai admission under the Lec0mptOn COnstitu-
lion Sir have never read that instrument
have never had an opportunity OF doing so. have
never seen the LecOmpton Constitution IN my life;
and as the gentleman from Smith said tbs morning,
] would not know Il if l were to meet 1t Ia the road
Now. sir, the Consultation gives to Congress the
power of admitting Statea, provided their Con
sttutious are republican in form. How can tell
whether the LacompDCn Constitution is republican In
form or not, when, as l have already said, l have
never had al opportunity of reading it?
Though may, as an Individual, be in favor Of the
admission of Kansas as a slave State--Can tell
now, whether or not, if l we're a member Of Con
gress, l would myself vote to sustain her present
constitution OF course, sir, cannot.
As a matter of course then, sir, an not under
my oath to support the Constitution Of the United
States prepared to instruct our Senators and
Representatives to do a thing which l am not pre-
pared to say ] would do myself
Besides sir this principle of instruction, if cor
rect at ALL certainly implies thar the people them
selves have Enthusiastically spoken the subject
matter of instruction. and that their representative
is but rejecting their expressed wil-otherWse the
instruction would amount to nothing more than the
individual dictsticn Of the representative without
anv regard to the voice Of his constituents.
But this question Of the admission of Kansas
under the Lecompton Constitution has arisen since
the last elections and the people have had oppOr
tunity of expressing their will through the ballot
box upon it; and have right to arrogate to my
self the right to speak for them, when l have not
!. D, ,fvrvr1 FDI.v FLo-,