The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-03-25
VOL. 2, NO. 81

a. /
the Territory, while Michigan was still in a ter
ritoriaI condition. The speech is said TO have
been made in 1886. Michigan was
not admitted until 1897. Her constitution was
similar IN this respect to that of Oregon. Mr.
Calhoun was then in the Senate he did not
raise his voice against that feature IN if, as far
as have been able to fad. Not word fell
from hun, al that time, on the subject of alien
suffrage, that am aware of.
MIR. ZOLLlCOFFER. Allow me one sem
tence.
Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia. cannot
yield.
Mr.. ZOLLlCOFFER. Allow me but
single sentence that sentence is that should
labor under great disadvantage, ifthe gentleman
were even disposed 10 extend TO me the courts-
sy of allowing me to reply TO his points while
he holds the floor. Therefore, | will not at
present ask TO do so.
MIR. STEPHENS, Of Georgia That under
stand very we'll The gentleman can reply
hereafter My time will not allow me 10 IN
duIge him now made the speech have re-
/ ferred to last year, expecting that it would be
replied to but ii remains yet without reply
| And cannot permit my time to-day to be ia
ken up with matters there disposed Of
Mr.. HILL. Let ne ask my co!lrague
question. Is he not aware OF the votes given
by Mr.. Calhoun, on the Michigan bill, against
permitting a!Ien suffrage in that state It was
on .he motion OF Mr.. Clay.
MIR. STEPHENS, of Georgia. What year!
Mr.. HILL. Ia 1895.
Mr.. STEPHENS, OF Georgia Yes; know
Of his votes alluded TO in 1886. Michigan
was then Territory. | repeat again, that on
the admission of Michigan as a State next wear
Al. Il.
rage feature in her state constitution, that | know
OF. He may have voted on 1t in 1886, vet in
1913, he was on the committee that reported
the celebrated Clayton compromise, which pro-
vided government for this very Territory of
Oregon, and that bill contained this very alien
suffrdge clause in it. Mr.. Calhoun voted for
the bill with this clause in it, in the Senate
have the record by me. 1t is not OF so much
importance what he said or how he voted IN
1886, when the question fast started, as how he
oted twelve years afterward, and after mature in
vestigation. Here is his te n 1915. put that
against his speech and his in 1896, and let all
go to the country with my colleagues comments
shalt content
Now, Mr.. Speaker, another and entirely differ
ent aspect of this question, nave something special
to say to another side of the House distinct class
in II. mean the members coming from slavehoi-
ding States. There is evidently feeling of oppo-
stion in that quarter to the admission OF Oregon
from reluctant and manifest indispositon to in
crease the number of what are called free States
This arises from apprehension that with the loss
Of the balance of power the rights ofour section u
pom constitutional questions will be less secure This
may be so. 1t does not however necessarily follow.
Bat that balance is already gone-list by causes be-
Tond your or my control. There is prospect OF
is ever being regained and in taking that ground
you DO but reverse the position o. sectional oppo-
rents the other sioe of the House. know it Is
he tendency OF power 10 enroa ch but let us look to
he security which rests upon principle rather than
lpon numbers. The citadel of our defense is prin-
iple sustained by reason truth, honor and JUSTICE
Let US therefore, do justice hough heaven fall.
Let us not do an indirect wrong, fol- fear that
he recipient from our hands of what is proper
y due will turn upon Us and injure Us. States
nen 10 the line OF duty should never consult
heir fears. Where duty leads, there we NAV
leyer fear to tread. In the political world,
.reat events and changes are rapidly crowding
Ipon US. To these we should not be insensble.
As wise men, we should not attempt to ignore
hem. We need not close our eyes, and sup
,ose the sun will cease to shine because we see
lot the light. Let US rather, with eyes and
minds wide awake, look around US and see
where we are, whence we have come, and
where weshall soon be, borne along by the
apid. swift, and irresistible Careot time. This
immense territory to the ives: has TO be peopled
/ is now peopling. New States are fast grow
ng np; and Others, not yet in embryo, will soon
pring into existence. Progress and develop
nent mark everything in nature-human socie-
les, as well as everything else. Nothing in
be physical world is still; life and motion are
n everything; so in the mental, moral, and po-
ical. the earth is never still. The great
entral orb is ever moving. Progress is the
niversal law governing all things-anlmate as
,elI as inaniEate. Death itselfis but the be-
inning OF a new life in new form. Our Gov
rnment and institutions are subject to all-per-
aiding power. The past wonderfully exem-
li6es its influence, and gives US some shadows
the future.
This is the sixteenth session that have been
ere and within that brief space of fifteen
ears, we have added SIX States to the Union
lacking bot one of being than halfof
le original thirteen. Upwards of twelve
undred thousand square miles Of territory
much larger ARA than was possessed by the
hole United States at the time of the treaty Of
aace in l7S3-have been added TO our domain.
1 this time the area of our Republic is greater
ian any FIVE Of the greatest Powers In Europe
/ combined greater than that of the Roman
mpire in the brightest days of her glory
ore extensive than We're Aexander's domin-
rs when he stood on the Indus, and wept that
: had no more worlds to conquer. Such is
IT present position nor are we yet at the end
our acquisitions.
Our internal movements, within the same