Opis: Speech of Hon. - Green James S.

Excerpt from Speech of Hon.: J. S. Green, of Missouri, on the Constitution of Kansas; Delivered in the Senate of the United States, December 16, 1857

The Senate having, on motion of Mr. Brown, resumed the consideration of the motion to print the President's message and accompanying documents -

Mr. Green said: Mr. President, when, on Wednesday last, the honorable Senator from Illinois [Mr. Douglas] addressed the Senate, I was taken completely by surprise. I was surprised not only that he should have made his remarks at that time, but I was still more surprised at the manner and the matter of the speech. He himself stated, if I recollect correctly, that the President had made no recommendation on the subject of Kansas. It is a fact known by us all that no application on the part of Kansas was before Congress in any shape. If, therefore, there was neither an executive recommendation nor an application upon the part of Kansas, wherefore should the subject have been thrust on the attention of the country When practical action is required on the part of Senators, the views of Senators are expected to be elicited; but when neither an executive recommendation required any practical action, nor any application on the part of Kansas had been made, it seemed to me most extraordinary that we should be compelled to engage in an abstract discussion with no reference to practical results. It is not my purpose to inquire into the motive of the honorable Senator. I am willing to concede, as I do, that it was patriotic; but I must think it very improper. It was well calculated to prejudice the question now pending before the people of Kansas. An election is to be held on the 21st of this month, and the public mind was prepared to see the people go forward and express their preferences for and against, as the question may be presented to them; but his speech, going as a counter manifesto to the just and fair message of the Executive of this Government, is well calculated, though no doubt not designed, to prejudice the question before the people of Kansas, as well as before the people of the country.

But, sir, whether this question has been rightfully or wrongfully brought up for consideration, it is now before us; and justice to the Executive, justice to the question itself, justice to the people of Kansas, and justice to my own State, which cannot fail to feel a deep interest in the proper adjustment and final settlement of the question, require that I should meet, and, as far as I may be able, counteract the positions assumed by the honorable Senator from Illinois.

The honorable Senator from Illinois sets out with imputing to the President a "fundamental error." Before we can discuss, we must have the issue presented. Before our arguments can have a practical bearing on the question before the Senate, it is necessary that we should understand what that question is. In what, according to the positions assumed by the Senator from Illinois, docs this "fundamental error" consist I understand him to say that the "fundamental error" into which he charged the President with having fallen, is that the President says there was no law either in the Kansas-Nebraska act, in the Constitution of the country, or in the common usages of the Government, that made it obligatory on the convention of Kansas to submit their constitution to a subsequent vote of the people. This is the imputed "fundamental error." To that point I shall direct the attention of the Senate.

It is not for me to say whether the propriety of the submission of the slave branch of that constitution to a separate vote, ought to have been considered by the Executive or not. I choose not to trace him in the course of his reasoning on the subject. I choose rather to notice the conclusion at which he has arrived - a conclusion that promises a full adjustment of this whole question; that promises peace to the country; that promises satisfaction to the North a

Szczegóły: Speech of Hon. - Green James S.

Nazwa: Speech of Hon. J. S. Green, of Missouri, on the Constitution of Kansas; Delivered in the Senate of the United States, December 16, 1857 (Classic Reprint)
Autor: Green James S.
Wydawnictwo: FB &c Ltd
Kod paskowy: 9781331166603
Języki: angielski
Ilość stron: 28
Format: 15.2x22.9cm
Oprawa: Miękka

Recenzje: Speech of Hon. - Green James S.