Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1861-03-21
SPEECH OF
HON. DAVID KILG0RE,
DeIirered ia the House Representatives, Febru
ary 25fh, 1851.
SLAVERY IN THE STATES.

ness is the motion of the gentleman from In
diana Mr.. Kilgore) to reconsider the vote taken
last evening, by which the joint resolution pro- !
posing amendments to the Constitution of the
United States rejected.
KANSAS CLAIMS.
NJ. TAPPAN. ask the unanimous consent
of the House to enable me to introduce a bill
authOrising the appointment of commissioners to
settle the claims of citizens of Kansas, for the
purpose of reference merely.
Mr.. BURNETT. | object.
Mr.. SHERMAN. trust the regular order of
business will be enforced
SLAVERY THE sTATEs-ASaIx.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from In
diana is entitled to the floor on the motion to
reconsider, and he will proceed
Mr.. KILGORE. Mr. Speaker, my purpose
this morning is to occupy the time of the House
but few moments. and that only for the purpose
OF calling the attention OF my Republican friends
to the Importance of the vote which we will soon
be called upon to give. Gentlemen seem to have
forgotten the declarations made during the last
three weeks by the most ultra men who are act
ing with the Republican party, that they not only
did not possess the power under the Constitution
to interfere with slavery in the States where it
existed, but that they had no disposition what
ever to do so. All the Republican members of
the House, ! believe, have, by their votes,
declared that not only has Congress no power to
Interfere with the institution Of slavery in the
States where it exists, but tha, they have no
disposition TO DO so. Last evening thcv seemed
to have forgotten those declarations, in a
moment of excitement, carried away by wild
fanatcism, and forgetting the condition of the
country, and the surroundings of party. The
proposition submitted by the Chairman of the
Committee of thirty three is merely to ingraft
upon the Constitution the affirmative declaration
that YOU shall not do what YOU have declared
you have no power to do and no disposition
! to do
Mr.. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. rise to a
question of order. Is this motion debatablel
The SPEAKER. Yes, sir
! Mr.. .WASHBURNE, of Illinois. | understood
that the previous question had been seconded,
and the main question ordered.
Mr.. KILGORE. Oh, no; it has not even been
called.
The SPEAKER. The main question was or
dered on the passage of the joint resolution; but
the Chair understands the rule to be that
motion to reconsider i. debatable,
Mr.. KlLGORE. The proposition before the
House. again repeat, is nothing more nor less
than constitutional declaration that Congress
shall not possess a power which they themselves
have declared by votes they do not now possess;
and they have, in addition, to that, declared that
they have no disposition to interfere with the in
stitution of slavery in the States where it now
exists. This is the doctrine of the Republican
party in every part OF the country, so far as my
knowledge extends They have declared that to
be their position, and | am willing that that
principle shall be engraved upon the mountain
rocks, to endure for all time. Ii the Republicans
to-day have changed their ground, and claim
rox the right to invade the sovereignty of the
States. and interfere with the institution of
slavcry-if that il Republican doctrine, then |
am Republican. | have believed that was
the advocate of all the doctrines of the Republi-
can party; and for the purpose OF meeting the
arguments of Yancey and Rhett and Toombs
and others, when discussed the political topics
|
during the last canvass, | charged those men
with having propagated slanders against the Re
publican party when they charged US with dis
position to invade their rights or interfere with
their domestic institutions. ask those gentle
men who have stood with me upon that question
whether they are willing, by their votes, tc fs
that charge upon party, and thereby
1 .l Of
to my talented friend from Illinois.
:, Mr.. LOVEJOY. Mr.. Speaker
Mr.. SHERMAN. | object 70 any nterrup
tion.
Mr.. LOVEJOY. | merely wish to ask tht
gentleman if he is in favor of putting his viewi
in regard to a tariff into the Constitution
Mr.. KILGORE. The gentleman travels out
side of the record. The tariff is not the ques
ton now before the House. Shall we. agair
ask, by the votes of the majority of the Republi
can members upon this floor, say to our South
ern brethren and to the world that the charge
thus made against us true, and that, wheI
the time comes that possess the power an'
numerical force, we will break down the sover
eien rights of the States, invade Their constltu
tional privileges, aud interfere with 'heIr domes
y tic institutions If that Is the doctrine which
promulgated /, for one, can not subscribe to il
and if il is necessary TO subscribe to that doc
F" trine to be Republican, then am no longer
1t Republican. | will never recognize the right o
c the majority who may possess the power, iron
d the mere strength of numbers in THIS BODY, L
= invade the sovereign rights OF the weakest stat
&c n this Confederacy, or to interfere with the do
e mestic institutions Of the people in the sightes
'e degree. claim the right for the people OF Ia
ic diana to regulate their domestic affairs J
/ their own way, and checrlu'Iy conccde tina
right to the people of every other State.
Now, let me appeal TO the gentleman from Il
linois. who seems 20 be among the most iuriou
of those sho opposed this proposition yesterda,
e IN hear IN mind the declaration which he mad
ie within the last three weeks, and which he hs
made thousand Zines in other places, that h
did not believe that Congress had power TO IN
re terfere with the domestic relations OF any OF lh
States. and had no disposition to do so. to no
a. come forward, with his friends for the parpos
NJ of giving peace and quiet 20 the country II 1t
~ possible to DO so, and declare the same thing
IN the country in unmistakable terms; so 'ha' TAOS
d who would ruin or break down the GoNernmen
> as we'll as the Republican party, shall be disarH
Z ed of the great weapon which they are "ie'u'i