Year: 1859

This new tangled doctrine Of non-action or
hostile legislation is an absurdity which no
man, having fair claims to common sense, or
prctensiOns to craftsmanship, should deIiber-
atcIy assert But history proves that there
il no theory which can he devised by the Gun.
ming or the fanaticism Of man, that will not
have its advocates and adherents. It Is no
less true also, that there is no theory which
can affect the social compact that the wit Of
man cannot invent, especially under the in
ftuencc OF an unrestraincd ambition for high
place and power. To refer TO Mahomctanism
would be stale truth, becauHe Ofits age the
c.wOrshippcr likewise believes in his creed;
so does the dolatrous POlytheiSt, or the STUPID
African, who would lay down his life in de-
fcnsc Of some fetish object ofwOrship, although
it is nothing but shoe buckle or button
In our own country the Mormon prOcIains
his revolving belief in pOlygamy, and stands
up TO it; and so it will be with the political
sect Of the day, which affects to be wiser than
the Supreme Court Of the United States, and
which can without any disturbance Of con.
science go on refining upon new and monstrous
interpretations Of constitutional rights and
power, and it will find numerous analogous
examples in the prCposterous folly and wicked
theories Of their fellow men. To contend fer
the power and sovereign power it is-of
territorial legislature to exclude by non. action
or hostile legislation, is pregnant with the
mischiefs Of never ending agitation, Of civil
diScord and bloody wars. This new theory,
sprung into existence as it was, at tho close
OF long series Of abolition designs, which
had been preserved in with untiring zeal for
quarter OF a century, seemed to mo like q
fresh invitation to renew tho now fading
hopes OF that tanatical party. am opposed
to the system Of keeping up roaming com.
mission to search for new sources Of mischief
to our Government.


will not stop TO express regrets for the
course which any public man may sec ilt to
take, nor for any opinion which he may choose
to promulgate, that ! deem dangerous to the
peace and prosperity Of my country. Where
question like this, SO vital TO the safety and
great future of this mighty Republic, is in.
volved, its very magnitude demands that il
should be treated apart from all merely per.
sonal considerations The interest which It
affects rise above the humble standard of un.
meaning and individual regrets and give to It
the importance Of grave Offense against the
safety Of the Republic. When Judge Douglas
announced this new theory on the floor Of the
Senate, although much more gradually than
he had advocated it In his canvass in Illinois,
It was repudiated almost unanimously by the
Democratic members of that body. At this
moment do not know but single Demo-
cratic Senator, (Mr. Pugh, Of Ohio,) who con-
ours with him. Certainly the attempt 10 en-.
graft new and disturbing construction upon
the Constitution has met with no favor from
the Democratic party.


Distinguished statesmen, members Of that
party North and South, who arc in every way
the intellectual equals Of Judge Douglas, and
his superiors In authority a. exponents Of the
Constitution, have pronounced against IT,
Among the most distinguished may name
Governors Walker and Wise. The decision
Of the Supreme Court Of the United States,
the highest judicial authority recognized by the
Constitution has declared the true theory up
on this subject In advance Of this new discov.
cry Of the Senator from Illinois I have al
ready stated what that decision Is, aud how
widely II differs from the doctrine he has at.
tempted to sustain. Little indeed would we
have gained for the peace Of the country and
the security Of the Unlon-in fact all would
have been lost if by the Kansas Nebraska act
we had attempted to Clotho the Territorial
Legislature with power which Congress did
not possess. II would DO strange indeed, Il
the Territory created by Congress, could BY
non'action or hostile legislation on the subject
OF slavery exercises greater power than Con-
gress itsclf-a power to subvert tho COnstitu.
ton by the destruction Of the co.eQuality Of
the States. 1t Is an absurd, monstrous and
dangerous theory, which demands dcnnnciatiOn
from every patriot in the land and pro.
found sense Of my duty to you would not per
NIT me to do less than to OlIsr this brief state.
ment Of my views upon question so vital to
the welfare Of our common country.


1t is not my purpose on the present occasion
to enter into q defence Of the acts Of the
Democratic party for tho last two years.
may avail myself Of other occasions to 90 into
details In defense ofsthc most important 0ucs.
tions that have agitatCd the country during
that time. approve the policy of the Presi.
dent in regard to the acquisition Of Cuba. In
our free Republic We have no secret diploma.
cy. Always successful in arms, Of late years
We have rarely made treaty that we have not
been worsted by the skillfnl diplomacy Of the
countries with which wO have treated. There
fore that portion Of the message Of the Prcsi.
dent at the last session of Congress, in favor
Of tho acquisition Of Cubs, met with my
hearty appreciation and shall continue 10
sustain 1t in my place IN the Senate whenever
it shall again come before that body. It is
necessary to our commercial interests and ma
tional security that Cuba should be a portion
OF our territory. Our vast acquisitions on
the Pacific coast have greatly increased the
value and importance Of that Island to U.S.
These acquisitions have given new direction
and accelerated action to the commerce of the
United States, as we'll as added to its vast and
Hccmmulativc resources. That Island is a key
to the security and continued prosperity Of
our commercial relations with the civilized
world. Without It we will never be safe
With it, We would have the power of perma-
ncnt protection.


There is another question, Of such vital con-
sequence to tho people Of this State, that il !
were to fail to refer to it on this occasion, it
would be seized upon for the rciteration Of
those slandcrous imputations upon me, which
have been constant theme for the opposition
press for many years past allude to the Pa
citic Railroad. That important subject ives,
at an early period Of the last Congyess; bro't
by me to the consideration Of the Senate. Il
was referred to select committee, Of which I
was chairman, and, ~ the organ Of the CON-
mittee, I reported q bill which was for maDv
weeks under consideration during the last cess.
ion Of Congress; and after various amend
mCnts, not materially affecting the principles
Of the bill, Il was brought TO q Anal vote 10
tho Senate, and was defeated by the adoption
OF q substitute. which, a I GhSI declared, and
now believe. was devised and sprung upon The
Senate by those who protested . 6s the
friends ot = Pacific Railroad, bGt 6eFe deEer.
mined to HsfsSt any action upon itduring that
session az C0n0nAeS T'ha falnl hlov- 4 A.