Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1859-12-30

SPEECH OF HON. f. JOY MORRIS,


in def nee OF the North.
Mr.. Clerk: Occupying. as | DO,
perfectly independent political posi-
ton, am at liberty, free from any
particular party bias, to vote in the
election of Speaker, and on all ques
tions which shall come before the
House, when it shall have been duly
organized, according to my sense o.
duty to the country and my constitu
ents. In such position, | do moi
sympathizc with extreme men and
measures on either hand, and shall, as
far as possible, avoid any countenance
of. or participation in, the discussion
of topics of an exclusively sectional
character, introduced merely to slim
ulate party passions, and inaame local
prcjudiccs.
/ As a Representative Of an eminent.
ly conservative constituency, | am
surprised TO see the question Of slave
ry, the agitation of which has been
SO constantly deprecated as inhaming
the public mind and disturbing the
peace of the country, prematurcly In
troduccd here 10y gentlemen represent
, ing slavcholding constituencies. |
am willing to meet it when it comes
before us in the ordinary action Of a
Legislative body. But protestagainst
its being thrust upon US, now, before
the House is organized, 20 the obstruc-
ton Of public business, and in order
TO confuse the election Of Speaker.
There are many tests, Mr.. Clerk,
of the fidelity of men TO thc Coustitu-
ton Of the United States. and TO the
union and harmony Of the country.
Crises in our political history from
time TO time occur which put mems
principles 10 stern proof, when 10y
atty to the party and devotion to the
country come in conflict; when the
voice Of patriotism or faction must be
needed when the popular will or
that Of the Executive must be obscrv-
ed. In such crisis stood my honor
able friend from Ohio Mr.. SHERMAN
in the last Congress, during the me-
mOrablc struggle on the admission of
Kansas under the Lecompton consti-
tuition. Upon our action at that time
depended not only the tranquility OF
the particular district Of country about
which we were lcgislating. but the
peace of the whole nation. Under
previous legislation, the people OF
Kansas were allowed to DETERMINE
FOR THEMSELVES whether they would
come into the Union as free or slave
State. While engaged in the solution
OF that important question, every act
Of fraud, violence, and ruiiIanism per-
petrated against them, TO prevent TIE
free expression Of opinion, was coun-
tenanced by this wicked Administra-
ton, and a Constitution was brought
into this House which was not the act
of the people Of Kansas. 1t was
fraudulent, from beginning to end
one which would not bear the test Of
investigation. When the House rails
ed a committee for the purpose Of III
vestigatiug the frauds with which it
was tainted, the Speaker violated the
first principles Of parliamentary law,
and appointed majority on the com
mittec OPPOSED to the very object for
which the House had created it, and
thus defeated the exposure of the in
iquitous proceedings by which the le-
gal voice Of the people Of Kansas had
been counterieited !.
Here we sat, sir, for months, deba-
ting whether the mandate Of an arbi
trary Executive should be obeycd,
and that fraudulent Constitution be
forced on Kansas by the Federal Gov
ernment. We knew, that, if it were,
it would lead to a bloody civil war
a war that might overspread the lin
its of Kansas, and embrace the whole
nation in its flames. Where stood
my honorable friend from Ohio
With his back firmly set against this
dcspotic Administration. nohly main
tanning the cause Of law and order,
and the rights Of the people, yielding
not an inch during all that glorious
struggle Of popular privilege against
Executive usurpation from first to
last, true as steel to truth and justice,
foremost among the most able cham
pions of the people. For his gallant
conduct during all that contest, he
shall have my vote, as long as there
is possibility Of electing him Speak
er of the House.
l know, sir, that there is not in
this House a member more obnoxious,
TO the Administration,
than the gentleman from Ohio, Mr..
and whose election is more I
Justly dreaded by it. To him, the
country is indebted for the investiga- +
ton in the last Congress which
brought to light the abuses and cor
ruptions of the Naval Department,
and which led to retormatory legisla-
ton, by which the Treasury will be in
future guarded against similar practi
ces. II furlherinvestigation is neces-
sary into the conduct Of the Admins
tration, (and if rumor and general
suspicion are to be relied on it is alb
,olutnlv pacesSary) the AdminiStro-