Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-01-03


other House, and Florida was knocking al
the door for admissions, how extremely
anxious her then able Delegate was to be
admitted. He now sits before me, Mr.
Yulee.) l remember how important be
thought it was then to come under the
protecting wing of the United States as
one of the stars of our Coufederacy. But
now the Territory is paid for, England is
driven out $25, 100000 have been ex'
pended; and they want no longer the pro-
lection of this Government, but will 60
out without consulting the other States,
without reference to the effect upon the re-
naming parties 10 the contract. Where
will she goi Will she pass back under the
jurisdiction of the Seminoles? After hav-
ing been nurtured and protected and fos-
tered by all these States, now, without re-
gard to them, is she 70 be allowed, at her
own volition, to withdraw from the Union
| say she has no constitutional right To do
il; and when she does it, is an act Of ag
gression. If she succeeds, it will only be
successful revolution. If she does not
succeed she must take the penalties and
terrors of the law.
WHAT IS KANsAs-A STATE OR TERRITORY.
But, sir, there is another question that
suggests ilselfin this connection. Kansas,
during the last Congress, applied for ad-
mission into this Union. She assumed to
be a State, and the difficulty in the way
was provision in her Constitution, and
the manner of its adoption. We did not
let Kansas in. We did not question her
being State; but on account of the man
ner Of forming her Constitution and its
provisions, we kept Kansas out. What is
Kansas now? Is she State, or is she a
Territory! Does she revert back 10 her
territoritorial condition of pupilage? Or,
having been State, and having applied
for admission and been refused, is she
standing out State? You bold her as a
Territory; you hold her as a province
You prescribe the mode of electing the
members Of her Legislature, and pay them
out of your own Treasury. Yes, she is a
province controlled by Federal authority,
and her own laws are made in conformity
with the acts of Congress. Is she not a
Territory? l think she is.
THE OsTEND MANIFESTO.
Mr.. JOHNSON here quoted from the os-
tend manifesto. That manifesto would
Justify taking Cuba, "on the very same
principle that would justify an individual
in tearing down the burning house of his
neighbor, if there were no other means Of
preventing flames from DESTROYING his own
home"
Mr.. JOHNSON called this "pretty sound
doctrine" and added:
We find this document signed by our
three ministers, and approved BY the Amer
lean people, the doctrine laid down clearly
lha, if the United States believed that
if the United States believed that Cuba
was to be transferred BY Spain to England
or to France, or to some other Power in
imical to the United States the safety of
the American people, the safety of our in
st.tutions, the existence of the Government
being imperiled, we should have right
without regard to money or blood, to ac-
quire it.
Where does this carry US? We find
this doctrine was not only laid down but
practiced, in the case of Florida. Sup
pose Louisiana was now out Of the Confed
eracy, holding the key Of the Gulf, the
outlet to the commerce of the great West,
under the doctrine laid down by these min
listers, and practiced by the Congress Of the
United States, would not this Govern
ment have the right in obedience 10 the
great principle of self preservation, and for
the safety Of our institutions, to seize it
ard pass it under the jurisdiction of the
United States, and hold, it as province
subject to the laws of the United States !?
1 say it would. The same principle applied
to Florida. The same principle would ap-
ply TO South Carolina. l regret that she
occupies the position that she has assumed,
but | am arguing a principle, and do not
refer TO her out of any disrespect. II
South Carolina were outside of the Con-
federacy, an independent Power, having no
connection with the United States, AM our
institutions were likely to be endangered,
and the existence of the Government, i'm
perled by her remaining q separate and
indepenpent Power, or by her forming as
sociations and alliances with some foreign
Power that would lnjure our free insttu-
tions, l say we would have right, on the
principle laid down by Mr.. Mason, Mr.. Bu-
chauan, and Mr.. Soule, and upon the prin-
ciple practioed by the Congress of the Uni
ted STATES in the case of Florida, to seize
her, pass her under the jurisdiction of the
United States, and hold her as province.
Mr.. President, have spoken of the pos
sibility Of State standing in the position
of South Carolina making alliances with a
foreign Power. What do we see Va
Ex-G Governor Manning, Of that State, in a
speech made not long since at Columbia,
made these declarations:
"Cotton is king. and would enable US in peace
to rule the nations of the world, or successfully
to encounter them in war. The millions in
France and England engaged in its manufac-
ture, are an effectual guarantee of the friend
ship of those nations. If necessary, their ar
mics would stand to quad its uninterrupted and
peaceful cultivation. and their men of war would
line our coasts to guard it in its transit from
ports.
All! are we prepared, in the face of doc
trines like these, to permit State that has
been member of our Contederacy to go
out, and erect herself into an independent
Power when she nOints TO the time when