The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-13
SPEECH OF SENATOR TRUMBULL

From the late speech of the Hon. Lyman
Trumbull, at Sandusky, Ohio, we make the fol-
lowing extracts
Without taking up time in preliminary re-
marks, / viii call your attention to the present
organization of parties, and the question which
divides them. | say question, for parties are
now organized and divided upon a single ques-
ton. Both parties as now existing, are of bpt,
comparatively recent origin. They are, hssJAs
the same age, twins born together.y1'e ~ JON OF
their existence from 1854. both date
81 -.,sssEI viii take mo-
ment TO iiitstfate thJs; not that care any
thing for party names, but there are those who
seem 10 attach Importance to the word Demo
cratic and the word Republican.
You all know that IN 1850 there we're passed
by the Congress of the United States series of
measures known as the Compromise measures.
There were FIVE of them, which it is not neces-
sary 10 enumerate. And although some OF
these five measures were unacceptable to one
portion of the country, and some to another,
and although there were persons in ali parts OF
the Union who were very much disinchned to
Rcquiesce in them, yet when the struggle in
1850 was over, and the measures were passed
both parties agreed TO abide by them.
The great principle of non-intervention on
the subject of Slavery by the Congress of the
United States was then said to be established
Some in one portion of the Union disliked the
fugitive slave law, some disliked the abolition
of the slave trade in the District of Columbia
and others took exception to the admission o
California as q free State but after the meas
ures had passed, the people of this great coun
try, the masses of both parties, actuated by
common desire TO be at peace upon this vexeC
question of Slavery, resolved they would resis
any and every attempt TO agitate the question
In Congress or out of Congress, no matter under
what pretence 1t shonld be attempted. This
was in 1852, when resolutions 10 that effec
were adopted in the National Conventions o
both parties. And it was supposed then thai
we should have quiet and peace upon this sub
isct We were told that it should be banishoC
from the halls Of Congress. Franklin Pierce
was elected President of the United States, anC
on being inaugurated, he announced in hi
message that the Compromise measures should
receive no shock during his administration
which he had the power to prevent.
In the winter of 1854, a measure was intro
duced in Congress for the organization of th,
new Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, anC
q report was prepared by the committee which
introduced that measure, setting forth that in
asmuch as the Slavery question had been set
tied by the measures of 1856, the committee
in introducing this bill for the organization o
these Territories, or one Territory, as original
proposed, had not thought proper to interier
With the Missouri Compromise, because
wenld be a departure from the policy adopted
IN 1850, which was the policy of non-interven
ton. When the measures of that year passed
and the Territories of Utah and New Mexic,
were organized, there was not a Territory be
longing to the United States in which SLAYER
was not excluded by law. Washington, Ore
gon, and Minnesota, had been organized, Will
3 clsuse prohibiting Slavery inserted in thei
organic acts, and Utah and New Mexico haC
laws prohibiting Slavery before we ACQUIRED
the territory, and which continued In force afte
Its acquisition by US. The great parties haC
agreed that they would not interfere with III,
then existing condition of the Territories, bu
leave them free as they were.
Who interfsred to disturb this peaceful con
dition OF things? Was there anybody ready t
interfere aud violate this treaty which had bee,
agreed upon by both parties Somebody di,
it. The very next month after that report wa
made, stating that it would be a departure from
the policy of 1850 to disturb the Missouri Com
promise, the author of the report introduced
proposition TO repeal that Compromise, an,
open the Territories of Kansas and Nebrask
to the introduction of Slavery. When tina
proposition was made, both the old parte
we're disorganized at once. The country wa
astounded, and instead of Slavery agitation b,
ing banished from the halls of Congress, the
have not ceased TO resound the speeches upo
that subject from that time to this The propC
sition was not supported by either party, a
such. 1t received almost the unanimous vot
Of Wings AID Democrats in Congress from tn
South, while of Northern Representatives,
majority of both Wings and Democrats vote
against the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
Those who united IN its repeal were then bar
tizsd into what was called the Democratic fan
ily-a family composed of all men who we're i
favor of admitting Slavery into the Territorie.
This was the Democratic test
If there is gentleman here who wishes t
get into the Democratic party, whether he b
Wing, Federalist, or American, he has only I
swear allegiance TO the Kansas Nebraska bill
and he is admitted to the communion table q
0nee' lLaughter,l Hence you 6ud such me