The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-06-11

Union Sir, Is not this injustice to the
people of Oregon? Will they contami-
nate this Confederacy? Just as much as
their mountain streams will contaminate
the Pacific ocean. ! tell you, they may
be inferior to us in education, in refine
ment, and in etiquette they may not APP
pear as well in the drawing room as some
Of our Eastern exquisites; but in the
sturdy virtues of honesty, of fidelity, of
industry, and of endurance, they are above
the average of the people of this Confed-
eracy. l regret that the gentleman from
Maine Mr.. Washburn] the other day
deemed it expedient to call the pioneers
of our national progress "interlopers, runa-
ways and outlaws" affirm, concerning
American citizens in any Territory of the
United States, and in any new State of
this Confederacy, that they are above the
average ofthe population of the old States,
in all that makes up manly and virtuous
character. They have my sympathy /;
and never will | Cypress them by my vote
or my voice.
But, sir, what if the people of Oregon
were really as bad as the most unfsvora-
bic construction of their Constitution, and
the speech of my colleague Mr.. Dawes
would represent them to be, then what
should we gain by refusing them admis-
sion into the Union If the objectiona-
BILE features in their Constitution are their
true sentiments, and are placed in the Or
ganic law for use, and not for expediency,
then surely the evil is deeper than the
ink and parchment of their Constitution.
1t is in the hearts of the people, and will
not DO eradicated by any harsh treatment
that gentlemen on this floor may recon-
mend. l doubt whether you will effect
the salvation of the people of Oregon by
heaping curses on their heads, or by ex-
Guiding them for unworthiness. You
may send them away from the door of
the Capitol, but they will go thinking
less of you, and less subject thereafter to
your influence. They may come again
with hypcritical Constitution, trusting
to effect by statute law what you would
not allow in organic law. They may not
come at all, or they may come with Con-
stitution tolerating Slavery. Discouraged
and repulsed by Northern votes-fnding
no sympathy where they had most right
to expect it, they might not be able longer
to resist the Slave State party in the Ter
ritory, acting under the bred Scott deci-
sion. Is it not right, therefore, for the
lovers of freedom to advocate the imme-
diate transition of Oregon from the condi-
ton of Territory in which slavery is
lawful, to the condition of State in
which it is forbidden? Which do we
choose, a SLAVE Territory or FREE STATE?
But, sir, there is another argument
which may influence some members who
doubt the security of this Union of State.
By this act which l now advocate, we
shall bind firmly to the old States, by in
dissoluble bonds, the remotest portions of
our possessions. This will make secure
all intermediate parts of the national do
main.
This, then, may be grateful assurance
to such as want assurance about the per-
manency of the Union. For myself, ]
have not much respect for any such as
surance, but do have an utter contempt
for any doubts on the subject. This Un-
ion, Mr.. Speaker, is not a thing to be
argued for and advocated it is thing set
tied, fixed, and determined. Far tran
scending in importance the temporary
convenience of any one State or of all the
States, it is in our hands, trust, not fol
our posterity only, but for the world
We are bound to deliver it unimpaired tc
succeeding generations, and WILL SO de.
liver it. The UNION Is AND WILL BE.
If, then, there is great gain to the
Confederacy, is it not also better for the
people of Oregon themselves that she
should be admitted into the Union? Il
it better that they should remain undel
the tuition of this Federal Government
a nonresident Government or that they
should govern themselves? Why, sir, Il
contend against the advantages of self
government, would seem to me unsuitet
to this place, and not to comport wei
with the history ofthis republic; for thu
origin of this nation was protest agains
a nonresident Government, and our his
tory should be. For one, sir, have n,
faith in that kind of government beini
exercised over Anglo Saxons anywhere
and least of all have l faith in that kint
of government being exercised by repub
, lies anywhere and therefore, to relieve
l portion of our people from what l consid
er CAUSE.-THE curse of non-residen
domination-I will cheerfully vote 70
r the admission of Oregon.
Sir, this nonresident control is reli
!, as it was an invention of ancient tyranny
Q It has come down from the history of tn
/, old Romans, who had proconsuls in Judet
!, in Spain, in Gaul, in Germany and i
Britain and England has copied thei
a example, and sent Governors and Gov
: ernor Generals to India, and to this cont
: nent also. But we protested successful
= against that kind of government by til
9 war of the Revolution and ! look fol
= ward to the time when every portion {
our national domain shall be free from i
when we shall have no provincial deper
s denotes whatever; when we shall hay
:, nothing but combination of equal an
9 sovereign republics. Then, sir, we ma
9 bring the duties of this Government to
/, position where they will be, as was we
r said last session by the gentleman frol
= Alabama, Mr.. Curry ''few and simple,
9 as they should be.
: 1t is in accordance with this view tn
II shall oppose anything that leads to con
plications-that shall multiply or exten
g our provincial dependencies.
d. 1 shall oppose all protectorates ov'
J. foreign countries; all military occupation
e and military usurpations; all annexatic
y of territory, except as independent soy,
: reignties acquired and at the same tin
IT admitted into the Union by treaty stipul
/ lions as States equal to any in this Coz
Is federacy. 1t will never do for us to i'm
I; tate the despotisms of Europe. We mu
. adhere to the original, simple plan ofth
= Confederacy, which did not contempla
e provincial dependencies, or armies ar
e navies, necessary for their acquisition ar
g control.
e So far as we deviate from the simplicil
q of the plan of the fathers, Just so far sha
/" we advance towards danger, disaster al
= destruction.
d But, Mr.. Chairman, I did wish to T
II view the action of the minority of Il