Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-01-06


ayonies. But, sir. We have Flor
ence Nightingale tha, shall divide the
admiration of the world, that has
stood arounl the battlefield, caught
up the wounded, and hurried them
away to the hospitals Of Austria to
be nurscd; and he has not even let
them stay upon the field Of their con
fli-t to be met by the rcProsches Of
those who might exult over their fate,
! leave that, however. | concur with
the President on these two points.
But | ask the country and tie SEN
ate-thosc Of them who feel interested
in ito say why, if the President
thinks the country is at peace and
ought to be-why, If he desires peace
he has dragged up this whole Kansas
history AMI given his version of it.
when he knew that the version which
he gave of it was not what very
large majority Of the people of a ma
iority of these States think AMI believe
to be the truth? The President has
undertaken, too, to give a judicial cx-
position Of what the Supreme Court
has decided He says that court has
decided chat all American citizens
have an equal right to take into the
Territories whatever is held as prop
crty under the laws of any cf the
States, and to hold such property there
under the guardianship Of the Federal
Constitution so long as the territorial
condition shall remain" | do not
know but that the Supreme Court OF
the United States may thus decide
when such question shall be present
ed; but it is news to me that they
have decided it. have seen nothing
of that sort The decision to which
the President refers is obnoxious to
ccnsure enough in my humble indg-
mcnt, but think no member of that
court viii ever say they have made
such a decision as the President as
scrts. Let me say here, once for all
for hal hopc.i we were done with
the Drel Scott dccision-that | can
tell the President, and whoever sees
ft.to bring that decision before the
Congress of the American people, and
to challenge Tor it the respect which is
due to a solemnly adjulicatcd dccision
of that high tribunal, that whenever
they do il, instead of commanding or
clicting respect for the decision, they
will only lessen the hold which the
tribunal making it has upon the pub
lie confidence and the respect of the
community. Such | believe to be the
opinion of a very large majority Of
the people of that portion of the coun-
f try in which | reside. 1t is semti-
mcnt to which / am pledged; and !
never fail, whenever | have occasion
TO speak of it before my own constitu-
ents. or any boly else who does me
the honor to listen TO me, to tenouncC
it as a decision which is not entitled
to the respect or the confidence of the
Republic, and one which will not com
mand the assent OF the American peo-
pie. The President may bring it in
as often as he plcascs, and make as
many asscverat,ons concerning it as
he chooses. but he will utterly fail to
bring it into such a position as to com
mand the respect of the people.
There is another matter. The Pres
idcnt says:
=" 1t was the resistance to rightful
authority and the persevcring attempts
to establish a revolutionary govern
ment under the Topeka constitution,
which caused the people of Kansas to
commit the grave error of refusing to
vote for delegates to tho convention to
frame constitution, under a law noi
denied to be fair and just in its pro
visions This refusal to vote has beer
the prolific source of all the evils
which have followed"
Now, sir, does not the President o
the United States know that the rcfu
sal TO vote on the part of these people
was not what he says it was; but be
cause they had no opportunity if they
did vote, to have their votes fairl,
counted? Does the President under
take to say that the refusal Of these
men 10 vote was resistance TO right
ful authority Docs he know tina
whenever there was. any thing ap
preaching fair opportunity for tn
people of that Territory to vote, the,
did SO? Why, they improved tn
first opportunity; and the result of th'
first attempt of that people, when j
could be fairly exercised, was rebuk'
of him and OF all his measures An,
yet he undertakes to arraign the peo
pie who refused to vote, As being gull
ty of resistance to the Government
! We'll, now, sir, it is very hard; if tn
people refuse to vote. it is rebellion il