New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1860-07-13
No 4S.

'o'n VI you, IS IL correct! Il. AS far AS
j. i my knowledge extends, it is correct; I
s would take no exception to anything he
G has said; it is substantially true.
BY the Chairman-Q. Now, will YOU
state whether or not you had anvthip, ,
? to DO with drawing or preparing the
slavery clause, or whether YOU ade
Suggestions for him to induce YOU to do
S.! 4. Your question raises two points.
The manner in which the slavery clause
should be drawn up; and the form Of
submitting that clause to the people. T
discussed with various individuals az t,
the manner in which this clause shon]l
be drawn; private conversations, in
which great difference Of opinion existed
My object was to secure the question of
slavery and yet secure the cooperation
of the free State and pro-slavery demo-
Gratis. On this subject expressed N.Y.
self freely with Mr. Martin. I drew
, nething, but was willing to accept any,
thing to harmonic the Democracy of
Kansas. I uniformly opposed the sub
mission of the slavery clause as an iso-
lated proposition, because I believed it.
the weakest form in which it could be
presented, At the time Mr.. Martin
started for Kansas there was impending
over this country the most threatening
question ever presented to the American
people. Several of the Southern States
had held public meetings, in which they
had urged the. Constitutional Conven-
ton of Kansas which was known to be
pro- slavery, to adopt pro-slavery con-"
stitution, send it to Congress, and de-
mand admission. had taken the ground
that the Convention possessed the power
to make asscomplete and valid constitu-
tion without submitting it to the people,
yet that it would be most unwise, and
impolitic, under the circumstances, for
the Convention thus to act. Had the
issue been presented in that shape, this
Union would have been in peril, and
that I knew full well, Every effort Of
mine, therefore, was directed to but orc
end-so to arrange the slavery clause,
that the free State and pro-slavery Dem
ocrats, who, united, were, in rry opinion,
in a"maj jority in Kansas, could harmo-
nize, and sustain the constitution, when
made by a popular vote, and I urged
upon Mr.. Martin that, whatever in
fuence he could exert should be, directed
to carry out these views. Q, If I am
right, the instructions Of Mr.. Martin
were to attend to some business for the
Interior Department? A. Yes sir.
@, Was any Of that at Lecompton,,
where the. convention met! A. Yes sir.
Grave charges were pending against the
land officers at Lecompton, which he was
instructed to investigate and report upon
By Mr.. Winslow-Q. Mr.. Martin
represented that your wishes to him
were to use his influence, if possible, for
the out-and-out submission of the con-
stitution. Is he correct in that! A,
Yes sir, @. You state that you pre-
pared no programme? A. I neither pre-
paired one nor saw one prepared, by any
member of the administration. Q. Did
you see any prepared by any other per-
son? A. In the spring of 1887 Mr..
Isaacs showed me a plan which you,
might possibly consider programme.
@. Is he in this city? A. He was in
this city few days. since. @. Was it
similar to this plan which was adopted!
A. No, sir; it was very unlike it. That
looked more to the form in which. the
phrase respecting slavery should be in
serted, in which I dissented from him
and from other friends, who he informed
me approved it. @. Did you give your
views to Mr., Martin about the submls-
sion of the slavery clause? A. | freely
gave to Mr.. Martin my views how the
slavery clause should be drawn; but all
nv conversations were based upon the
distinct and we'll understood idea Of SUI
mission. Every variation Of the clause
was considered with that view. Tho
perplexing question was, how it could
be done 50 as to meet the conflicting
opinions Of those supposed to be aiming
at the. same end, and at the same time
protect the rights Of property to the
owners of slaves then there.
BY Mr.. Robinson--Q. You desire!
to harmonize the democracy! A. Yes
sir. @. And SO to frame the constitution
as to harmouize the conflicting opinions
of Democrats in. the Territory? Yes sir,
By Mr.. Winslow @. Do you know OF
. the use Of any money by the President
of the United States, or any member OF /,
the Cabinet, towards the passage Of the
I,scoinpton. bill! a. THAT question,
which Twill answer, impless ! think, = /
I reflection on my honor. II kiae,o snct
xl.s. s.I. |a,,o L., <s,,3, -, y J, -, ,tr4S