The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-19

Dlrrai ia As Hoase N Representatives., Fs5rory ~, 1859
The House having under consideration the bin pro-
yilnq for the admission Of Oregon
Mir SFEPHt,N Of Georgia sabi
Nr sPEAEEa 1 do not know, that say ytlling
that viii add iurce 10 the argnnent already made in be
half Of the admission OF Oregon 1t Is my purpose how
yer 10 contfibnte what | 10 that eisd And IL hdl
in nv wish It win be because my ability is not equal TO
ms zeal Apart from considerations of public duty and
inice 10 the people claiming this admission there is
other consideration which ciss my entire energies ior
the bill tna sir is the opportunity it affords nae, as
southern man. and one acting with the denocratle party
10 show the groundlcsness of the charge made st
that we were in Of putting rule to State ap
ing with slave State constitution aud another and
more rigorous rule to reeState application that we
required larger population for the admission oi state
moi tolerating African slavery than permitting and
allowing it, The gentleman from Ohio, Mr., srASroSl
who has ust taken his seat has reasserted that charge IN
substance Sir repudated il when il was irst made,
and repuiae il The position OF kansas and that
of Oregon are totally dssimiiar and whatever consider
aon OF niy hooking 10 the peace and quiet OF that conn
try as well as the general welfare, may have Induced me
and Others to put the population restriction upon any re
application from Kansas, like considerations OF duty OF
higher character acting now are under existing OBJ
ligations which we cannot ignore, forbid that the
representative ratio rule should be extended to Oregon
AS stated in my opening REMARKS under existing com
pacts under existing laws affirming and extending what
All regarded a most solemn compact the ordinance OF
1887 il Is in my Judgment high obligation to admit
Oregon 80 soon she has sixty thousand inhabitants
Now sir before going into that, wish to reply TO the
gentleman from Ohio, Mr.. STANTON, who has just taken
his seat Ii understand him. and the gentleman from
massachusetts,, [aIr. Goocn who asked that significant
question Of the delegate from Oregon and senator elect
how he wond vote in the Senate on The repeal OF the
populaon clause ia the Kansas bill Of last session both
Of them would be willing 10 vote for the admission OF
Oregon provided that representative ratio required of
Kansas should he repealed. They occupy this strange
position because the democratic party did Kansas at
the last session. they assume, wrong they will do
Oregon like wrong at this session by way OF retaa-
tiOn. @
Mr. STANTON. u The gentleman msunderstands me-
Mr. STEPHENS of Georgia. 1 cannot be interrupted
have heard the genteman's argument; SO has the
House; and the gentleman and the House VIII hear
mine Let them stand together understand The mi
norty OF the Committee Territories, with the gentle
man from Pennsylvania Mr. GRowl at their head, sig
nifty like willingness.
Mr. GROW No. sir stated distinctly that would
never go the clause Of the constitution have ind
Gated alt3 .ts sft t H.at s #H
Mr.. STEPHENS of Georgia. DO not interrupt me
state the gentleman position it appears in his mi
nority report The only thing he complains OF in 1t Is
the Discrimination, he calls it, in the Kansas confer
ence bill The only amendment he proposes to this bill
Is repeal OF that Not word in his report against the
obnoxious clause In the Oregon constitution against
gro equality That he passes over and evidently seems
rest his entire opposition to this bill to the existing
law in reference to Kansas What has brought q this
change the spirit of his dream do not know.
glad however, to that there is number of the
other side actuated lay LIBERAL lser, and more
magnanmous sentiment They cannot see the logic or
the moral OF the position gentleman from Penn
sylyana that because in his assumption, this side OF
the House did wrong last session, therefore he will do
wrong this. To the majority on that side acting with
the gentleman from Pennsylyan would put the qes
ton how can two wrongs make right? II it were
granted that injustice done Kansas, how that lie
ghtcd by repeating it towards Oregon That side of
the House will permit to tell them that by their votes
to-day they will spike every gun they have fired against
the democratic party for their alleged injustice done 10
K,usas If the democratic party did wrong to Kan
sas, (but shall show that the cases are totally dis
miar) the republican party seems disposed TO day to
follow suit and do the wrong they complain of TO
Oregon If they sincere in their belief and not gov
ened solely by opposition and antagonism would it not
be the WISER the better the nobler and statesman
like for them to forward and set us an cx-
ample of doing right, the two gentlemen from Msa
clusetts Mr. THAYER and Mr. CoMISsl urged them yes
terday a.t 3slstr M te ttfsfai}Et Hal o.
But sir the cases are totally dissi,ilar the clause in
the Kansas compromise BILL refusing TO hear any further
application for admission from her in of her declining
TO into the Union under her then application, with
the modification of her land proposition, which we submit
ted until she had population equal to the representa-
tive ratio may not have been right, according to
the opinions of gentlemen The policy OF adopting such
general principle in all where it can be done
may may not be right gentlemen may vary in their
pnions but that question cannot arise in the Of
Oregon. We forccloscd that point in the terrific
sial organic act and appeal not only to this side oi
the House bnt every side and ask how they get
round that obligation in the territorial bill of Oregon
ls4S which declares soemnly that all the guarantees
privileges and rights secured to the people Of the North
west Territory should be extended to the people of Ore
gonf The words of the act are 7s
csc IA Indie further enod, That tho Inhabitants
Territory shall be entitled all and singular the rights pv
% and advantages granted and secured TO the people Of the
riOry the Of the
Of compact contained the ordinance the government
rory on the 18Th day of july 7s7 and shall he subject to all ths
condon restrictions proibnons said articles copac
mpaaed upon the people Of said Territory Statutes az gr vol
And what were those rights and privileges guaranteed
to the people in the Northwest Territory hereby secured
and guaranteed to the people of Oregon Here they are
whenever any sixty
FREQ Inhabitants therein shall be admitted by M dclga
into the Congress m the United State equal footing with tn
original States an respects whats and sh be at bc ETn
permanent eopsluhon aud ate government Pod The
conformity 70 the principles contained these articles sn far
item be with the the
IS humber o ireo inhaeans IN The State than sixty io
sand fWh Aroe Ordinance l7sT, STATUTES a, Ld,yc, volume
page 80. u.
No such guarantee as this was ever given to the people
OF the Territory OF Kansas If there had been that rep
resentatveratio feature could ve been put In In,
conferences bill without violation of pghted faith And
is there any inconsistency this side of the House
adopting the representative principle wherever il
can be done, and still maintaining good faith where pre-
vious obligations prevent Oregon is the only Territory
to which this previous obligation to admit with sixty
Eopsand inhabitants applies Hers nust he nm exoep
Nenm ose W alF general ne THAI is may be tevlela ad
psable 10 lopt for all The otho Isrroiies or the m
turei Kanas stands In position to take her place viii
all the Others, except Oregon, without any lust oauso o
complaint Whether such general rule be wise and prop
er Is not the question whether its application
TO Kansas at the last session right OF wrong the
question before this time Is simply whether we will
discharge an existing obligation ~
ul.. T