Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-23
INVASION or HAnrEn,s rHRnx.
SPEECH
HON. ANDREW JOHNSON,
OF ESSEE,
DECEMBER 70, Is5s

L Ne 81 I
Gppoin.mento Of Committee to inquire into the facts
attending tie late iaUdSioa and seizure of ue Arm0ry
and Arsenal Of The United States at Hcrpers Ferry.
The Senate proceeded 10 the consideration of the I
following resolution which was submitted by Mr.. |
Mason, the 9th instant
''ResOlved That a committee be appointed to in
Quire into the facts attending the late invasion and
seizure of the armOry and arsenal of the United
States at Harper's Ferry, in Virginia, by bard Of
armed men, and report whether the same was at
tended by armed resistance to the authorities and
public force Of the United States, and by the muir
der of any of the citizens Of Virginia, or OF any
troops sent there TO protect the public property
whether such invasion and seizure was made Under
color of any organization intended to subyert the
government Of any of the States of the Union; what
was the character and extent of such organizations
and whether any citizens of the United States not
present were implicated therein accessory there
to By contributions of money, arms, munitions,
otherwise; what was the character and ext mt OF
the military equipments in the hands, under the
control on said armed band, and where, and how,
and when the same obtained and transported TO
Che place invaded. And III 1t said committee
port whether any and what legislation may, their
opinion. be necessary, on the part of the United
States for the future preservation Of the peace Of
the country for the safety of the public proper
ty and that said committee have power TO send for
persons and papers"
The pending question BEING the following
amendment moved by Mr.. TRBdBUII-
After the word invaded" in the fourth clause of
the amendment, insert:
And that the said committee also inquire into
the facts attending the invasion, seizure and rob
berry in December. 1855. of the arsenal of the
United States at Liberty. in the State of Missouri
by mob or body Of armed men, and report whether
such seizure and robbery attended by resist
to the authorities of the United States and fol-
lowed by invasion of the Territory of Kansas,
and the plumber and murder of any of its inhabit-
ants or of any citizen Il the United States by the
persons who thus seized the arms and ammunition
of he government, Or others combined with them.
Whether said seizure and robbery of IN the arsenal
were made under color of any organization in
tended to subvert the government of the States or
Territories of the Union; what was the character
and extent of such organization and whether any
citizens of the United States, not present, were i'm
plicGted therein or accessory thereto by cOntTbu-
tons OF money, arms, ammunition, otherwise;
what was the character and extent of the military
equipments in the hands. or under the control, of
said mob and how. and when and where the same
were subsequently used by said mob what was the
value of the arms and ammunition Of every descrip-
ton taken from said arsenal by the mob; wheth-
ef the any part thereof have been returned ;
and the value of such were lost; whether Cap
tain Luther Leonard, the United States officer in
command of the arsenal at the time, communicated
the facts relation its seizure and robbery his
superior officer, and what measures, if any, were
taken in reference thereto y
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee said:
Mr. President: | regret that this resolution, when
it first introduced could not ha passed with
out discussion. 1t seemed TO seek for information to
which the country was entitled andl was more than
anxious that the country should be furnished with
it, without looking at the question in party aspect
But IT has turned out differently, and regret thatit
has. The discussion has taken pretty wide range,
involving party politics generally; and the range
which it has taken has rendered it incumbent on me-
occupying the position do, to say few words
upon the resolution, and to answer some remarks
that have fallen from Senators during this discus
sion. 1t is my intention to do it in proper spirit,
and trust and hope | shall not be led beyond the
! boundary of prOprety and courtesy.
Before IprOceed, however, to the line Ofargument
that intend to present this occasion, | wish to
notice some few remarks which fell from the Sena-
| tor from Illinois, MIR. TRUNBULL;l anG / intend at
ter noticing his remarks, TO show that what has
recently occurred at Harpere Ferry, in the shape
of an insurrectiOn or invasion, treason, or by
whatever name you may think proper to call it,,
has been the legitimate result Of certain teachings in
this country
In the discussion on Thursday last the Senator
from Illinois attempted to lay down the doctrine of
the Republican party and to give his construction
of that doctrine. In doing he called our attention
to their platform, which, he says, is mere Ieter-
alton of the Declaration of independence lat least
that is his idea) it was formed by our fathers.
To make myself ineligible and distinctly under
stood. will read that portion of the platform which
! he quoted:
"Resolued, That with republican fathers hold ito be
self evident truth that all endowed with the naiena
bic right Of life liberty and the pursuit Of happiness snd the
primary object aud Interior design Of FEDERAL Government is
these rights all persons under its exclusive ursdc
| ton"
As the discussion progressed, drawing deductions
from this part of the platform the Senator seemed
to think-that the tenor of his argument-that
by rcicrating the Declaration Of Independence in
| this platform. they were embracing the doctrines
| laid down by Mr.. Jefferson. and showing that he
really meant to include persons of color in the Dec
iaraton. and that such the understanding of our
revolutionary fathers. know that sometimes IL has
been said and changes have been rung it. that Mr.
jefferson the apostle of Democracy and of liberty.
land down tho doctrine that all men were Great "a
equal that they had certain nalienable rights that
among these were life. liberty. and the pursuit of
happiness. Now, il seems to that party. in
tegent party that understands all the doctrines and
principles of our Government, in this does great in
Justice 10 that instrument and 10 the trainers of the
Constitution Of the United States. When we take
the Declaration of Independence and connect it with
/ the circumstances under which 1t written. is
| there man throughout the length and breadth OF
this broad Republic who believes for one instant that
Mr. Jefferson when he pe-ned it. had the negro pop
ulation in his mind Notwithstanding he says that
| all men are created equal and that they are bv
their Creator endowed with certain naienabe rights
that amongst these life, liberty. and the pursuit
| of happiness" is there intelligent through
out the whole country. Is there a Senator. when he
Las stripped himself of all party prejudice who will
! come forward and say that he believes Mr.. Jeffer-
son, when he penned that paragraph Of the Declar-
alton of Independence, intended it to embrace the
African population? Is there a gentleman in the Sen
ate who believes HanY such thing! Is there any one
who will stake his reputation the assertion that
that is the correct Interpretation of the Declaration
| of independence? There is not man of respecta-
bic intelligence who will hazard his reputation upon
such an assertion WhY then indulge in this al cap
iGyldlun discussion? Why try to delude and deceive
the great mass Of the people by ntmating that Mr..
Jefferson meant Africans or the African race? How
| were situated when Mr.. Jefferson peRned the
Declaration of Independence? Did he not own slaves!
Did not most of the persons in the Congress which
| adopted the Declaration own slaves. and after the
Declaration adopted, by way of giving correct
Interpretation to t. what do find incorporated in
the Constitution of the United States? We're negroes
| then considered the persons who were embraced in
| the Declaration of Independence? We're they not
| considered property? In fixing tie representa-
ton, slaves were regarded as property. and only
three-fths Of them were TO be counted clearly re
| cognzing that they of the forms of pro
perry, and not persons intended to be embraced in
| the Declaration of independence, as cOntended by
some. think il is clear.
What more was provided in the Constitution Of
the United States by way of giving clear construc-
| ton 10 the Declaration Of independence 1t was
provided that fugtives from labor should be restor-
| Cd to the States from which they escaped,
/ upon demand being made. Does that look as If
this description Of persons were embraced in the
| Declaration of independence. and were considered
4
and it must be to everybody else, that Mr.. Jeer
son meant the white race and not the African race.
The Constitution gives it that Interpretation And
his own acts, and those of his associates, when they
were framing the Declaration Of independence, own
| ing slaves and afterwards passing laws and max
ing wills which provided for their regular descent as
property confirm it. Then it seems to me that
this does not avail the Senator much. BIT in the
next resolution Of the platform, which he read it is
declared
Thst Constitution cons upon Congress sovereign
over the Territories Of the United States for their Government
and that CT this power it Is both the right and the
imperative duty Congress prohibit in the Territories those
| twin relics of barbarism, pOlygamy and slavery ="
The Republican platform declares, and the Sena-
tor from Illinois argaes, that the power of Congress
heing sovereign over the Territories II can exclude
slavery from the Territories. What do you mean
bv sovereignty? shall not undertake 10 define 1t
on this occasion, but | will give my understanding
of the power Of Congress over the Territories.
deny any such assumption this platform contains
DENY that any such power is conferred on the Fed
eral Government in reference TO the Territories. Ii
is NOT sovereign. This Federal Government posses
Sos no sovrrcign power. All its powers are dcriya-
five and limited, and those that are not expressly
,onted are reserved To the States respectively. Con
I,r,ss has no sovereign power. All its powers are
derived: il can exercise single primitive Or orlg
n,Inoy,er Where then, does it get sovereign power