The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-08-17


you the distinguished American statesman.-
Continued cheering.)
The Hon. STEPHEN A. DoUGLAs was greeted
with loud cheering as he arose 10 address the
vast assembly. He said -
MR. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW CITIZENS OF
New HAMPsHIEE-You will receive my CRATE
ful thanks for the kind terms in which you
have been pleased 10 welcome me and you
will accept my grateful acknowledgements for
the cordIaity with which you have endorsed
those sentlnpnts of welcome. For the first
time | visit the capital Of your noble Slate.-
When | wanted to make a brief trip through
Vermont and New Hampshire, on my way from
Saratoga % Newport, r. l., | did not expect
any public demonstration. My object was to
make quiet visit, pilgrimage to the grave OF
my father aud to the scenes of my childhood
From the moment trod the soh of Vermont /
found was welcomed by the population ea
1gasSe. Men OF all parties joined in the recep-
ton. 1t filled my heat with gratitude, ard
rendered it impossible Tor me to discuss any of
those political topics about which the assem-
bage differed 10 opinion. had supposed that
when | left the borders Of my native state, ]
would be- welcomed only by few friends as |
passed along the road. Imagine my surprise at
thls vast aSsemblage, this imposing reception,
which exceeds in ITS magniGcence and grandeur
anything | have previously witnessed. From
the bottom of my heart | thank you for this
demonstration OF your good will You have
been pleased, Mr.. Chairman, to refer IN terms
of appreciation to my course upon the Lscomp-
ton constitution. While | have ceased to dis
cuSs the merits OF that question since il was f.
pa all,, |iec.rJ,J b,yt h., fl
will not refrain from a slight alluslon to It now
lest my silence nigh be misconstrued. did
fight that Lecompton constitution with all the
energy and with all the power that | could COM
mand. (Cheers.l Reluctant as | was 10 differ
in opinion or action with President that l hai
used all my -forts to place in the Executive
chair, vet duty was paramount to any personal
ieaIty or obligation. Cheers | stood pledged
as every democrat n America stood pledged by
his vote for James Buchanan, in 1896, to main
tain thr right of the people OF every State a1d
every Territory to torn and regulate their own
domestic Institutions That's it.''l Ia my
opinion the attempt to force rpon an unwIliLg
people constitution which they did not like,
was no: only IN violation Of the democratic
creed, but il violated the American creed
! Cheers It violated the republican creed -
1t violated the creed OF all free men in all free
countries. IAppIause.l | did not oppose the
LecomPton constitution on the ground of ITS
provisions in respect % African slavery
I held then, as hold now, that if thu people OF
Kansas wanted 4 slave State they had right 10
ii. L''That's good doctrne.''I If, on the con-
trary, they did not want slavery, no power on
earth should force It upon them. / opposed
the LrComPLOn constitution because 1t was not
the act and deed OF the people of Kansas.
/ proposed hat the question should be referred
/ back TO the people OF Kansas, with the prIvi-
lege OF voting Tor against it and If majority
/ OF all the legal votes OF Kansas ratified H. then
/ Kansas should come iuto the Union with that
| constitution. II, On the contrary, majority
voted against it, the people OF Kansas might pro-
ceed to make a new constitution, win or with
| out slavery. inst as they PLEASED, and come int
the Union. reioiced from the bottom OF nv
heart when saw every republican in bott
! honSes OF Congress voting for that ropostion
Laughter and satrlcal cheersl Having heard
the republican party pledge themselves so offer
, against the admission Of any more slave State
INTO the Union, it did rejoice ne when saw
them, every man in The Senate, and every mar
~ the House, voting to allow Kansas 10 com,
III as a slave State 1.-THE people should so decide
/ Laughter aud cheers. And | will say to yor
now, my fellow citizens, that II IS matter 0
/ sincere regret that | find the republican party
( now announcing me for advocating the Identi
| cal principle that they then voted for. All
! ask OF them Is to carry out in future, and apply
to every new Territory and new State, the i
IDENTICAL principles for which they all votrt
with me in that Lecomptou controversy
! ICheersI The President OF the United States
during that Lecompton controversy, put forth
claim, which |, as Senator, could not recog
Mise. ! conceded his right to recommend tn
/ Lecompton constitution fhe believed it 10 b
the act and deed Of the people, and ] shou
never have Quarr+pd with him on that question
had he not claimed the right TO control my vot
and compel me- TO vote against my conscience.
hold tha, a President has no more right to con
troll the vote of a Senator than a Senator has I
dictate 10 President. The President told me- tha
II | did not obey him and vote to force the lie
compton constitution upon the people agaIns
their will, he would take the head off of ever
friend had in office. told him, in reply,Itha
my friends were as dear to me as those Of an
other man could be to him, but that if | had
friend who was not willing 10 lose bis office
rather than degrade me into tool Of eXecutlv
power, he did not deserve to be my frIend.-
[ApPlause. Here permit me to say that tb
great contest between the Executive and myse
was this he claimed The right TO control tn
vote OF a senator in opposition to the wishes
his constituents. | claimed that the repfesen
taliVe of the people is independent and shoul
always act independent OF executive power
[Cheers.l When you permit the executive
direct representative how he shall vote, yo
convert this republic into despotism. That
SOL Why elect Congress, if the President 0i
right to tell the members how they are
vnie Z There Is an end of renresentatIve COY