Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-01-07
MISC + l. i A n Y.
WHO HAVE VIOLATED COMPROMISES.
SPEECH OF
uON.JOuN HICKMAN. of orPcnnysyivnnin. !.
Delivered in the House OF Representatives. Dec IL 1859.

Delivered in the House Of Representatives, Dec r. 1889.
The Constitution newspaper, the organ of Mr.
Buchanau's Administration, having charged up
on the Anti-Lecompton Democracy bargain
with the Republicans to effect an organization
or the House
Mr. HICKMAN said:
Mr. Clerk, with regard to the attack made by
the Presidents newspaper on myself and others,
| have but word to say. Ii made by the
President himself, he knows it to be false II
made by any other person, he does not know ii
to be true; for. sir, the reason why | occupy
the position here to-day which do occupy, is
because | could not be purchased [Applausc
from the Republican benches and from the gal
leries.l This reading me out of the Democrat
ic party has been faithfully persc,ered in for
the last four years, by many ADLER and stronger
than the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. NoELL.l
and still they have not vet got rid of me- and
it will take them perhaps four years longer of
pcrscvcring effort, if | shall choose to remain
so long in their good company.
My treason to which vely frequent refer
ence has been made fere, not merely during the
present session, but during former ones, has
history connected with it-a history with which
the gentleman from Missouri ought to be ac-
quaintcd. Sir, it dates back four years, when.
in this hall, on the gricvous charge being made
"A charge which pervaded the country, and
which was believed by the country-that fraud
and force and all manner of crimes had so far
Invaded the Territory of Kansas that they had
prostrated thoroughly the people, chose to in
troduce resolution TO investigate that charge.
That was the time when my treason commenced,
for | then took the stand against an undivided
,a~an,. aud Or oi,~.-,~ ti,~t ,.ud j
cl Democracy, from whom do dissent to-day
not, however, because have failed TO be 4
Democrat persevcring effort both in this
hall and the other wing of the capitol to stihe
that investigation and to suppress the proof OF
the fraud. Ih"n sir, was read from the Dem
ocIatic party; and yet after ths committee,
which | was, TO some extent, instrumental in
raising, land this is the first time have ever
referred to it, had made their report to Con-
grcss, no man in the country was sufficiently
reckless to deny that the charge which had been
preferred was fully and completely proved
Then, sir, was denounced as renegade and a
traitor, and for what? What was the body of
my offence? Because chose to differ from the
Democracy. believing that the charge ought to
be Investigated, and that, il fraud existed. it
ought TO be revealed. And have they ever
washed their hands of it to this day? No, sir
TO no greater extent than silence may have done
it.
Well, sir, returned home to my people with
all the brand of treason which that body of men
could place upon my forehead; and Mr. Buct-
anan, the present President Of the United States,
endorsed by Democracy in the face OF tina, ac-
cusation which had gone up against me, and in
sisted on my denomination, as he believed that
it would be valuable to his canvass. Mr. Buch-
anan did not denounce me.
the mere purpose of instituting brief inquir,
as to where the charge of 'treason' may prop
4 tl... fl,
State of Pennsylvania was in very imminent
peril at that election; and Mr. Buchanan knew
that the election in that State rested upon the
answer to a single inquiry, which was this =
Was it safe to trust him with the management
of Kansas affairs? Why, sir it can be proved
by a thousand living witnesses, if necessary
that during that summer, this man, who now
fills the Executive chair, made it his business to
pledge men, everywhere in the North, that i
he should succeed in his election, as he knew
the Free State element in that Territory to b(
the stronger, Kansas should come into the I'm
ion as free and not as a slave State. THAI
fact has been frequently stated. 1t has never
been denied in Pennsylvania; and by means o
the pledges that he thus gave did he succeed
in carrying that State at the November election
As soon, however, as he reached the city o
Washington, it was discovered that the mind o
the President had undergone very suddcI
change-not that his Judgment was convinced
| because | think it can be very clearly showI
that he never alleged that his mind had under
! gone any change up to that time; but he made
| the fear that three or four Southern States
would secede from the Union pretext for urg
ing upon Congress the adoption of the fraudu
lent Lecompton Constitution. Then, we begged
ieave to differ from him in his policy. We wer
again denounced as traitors, and again read on
of the Democratic party. Well, sir, the Presi
dents hand was raised against us and every
thing that Executive power and patronage coult
do was done for the purpose of destroying u
in our respective districts. We are now bacl
here again, to rebuke again the treachery of thi
wicked and reckless and leprous Administra
ton; and if that is treason, the other side ha
got to make the most of it.
have said all that propose to say upon tina
point at this time. ] may avail myself of an
other opportunity to go into it at create
length.
Well, sir, the charge of treason that has bee
made is not sufficiently powerful to humiliat
and disgrace us, and we find this newspape
adding to it an allegation of corruption.
there is any man in this body of men VIII
knows of any contract or agreement that hav
entered into with anybody, for any purpose, lt
him proclaim it now, or forever hereafter hol
his peace | have never done so anywhere, 6
any time; and say now, that if the election /
| INV f,iond (pl Eorpav- 4 olo ,,,oo. - "a,