按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Collamer of Vermont presented the minority report； condemning the violence of the friends of slavery； deploring the fearful results of the experiment of Squatter Sovereignty and urging speedy admission of the State。 It condemned the provision of the law referring the question of slavery to the inhabitants and traced the entire trouble to that blunder。
Sumner at once denounced the report of the majority； intimated his purpose of properly setting the brand of falsehood upon it in a subsequent speech； and told them to 〃begin their game with loaded dice。〃
Douglas angrily challenged him to deny a single fact in the report and said he was ready to overwhelm him with proof。 〃We are ready to meet the issue；〃 he said； 〃and there will be no dodging。 We intend to meet it boldly； to require submission to the laws and to the constituted authorities； to reduce to subjection those who resist them； and to punish rebellion and treason。 I am glad that a defiant spirit is exhibited here； we accept the issue。〃
Two days later Trumbull spoke in unsparing criticism of the report of the Committee。 It happened that Douglas was absent when he began。 Word was carried to him and he hurried to the Senate。 When Trumbull closed and the usual motion to adjourn was made； he protested against it and denounced the discourtesy of discussing the report during his absence。 He was vexed especially by his colleague's exasperating statement that was a 〃life…long Democrat and was representing the Democracy of Illinois in the Senate。〃 He assured them that Trumbull was without party standing in that state； and proposed that they sign a joint resignation； thus submitting their quarrel to the people。 But there was a deeper wound than this which still rankled； and he turned from his colleague to pour out his wrath on Sumner for the publication of the 〃Appeal of the Independent Democrats；〃 and the old quarrel between them was rehearsed anew with increasing bitterness on both sides。
On the 20th he spoke for two hours and a half in defense of his report。 Charges of fraud； violence or illegal voting； he said； were made in but seven of the eighteen election districts into which Kansas was divided； although ample provisions had been made for the presentation of protests to the Governor。 A large majority of both branches of the legislature were elected by these eleven districts where no complaints were made。 At least a quorum must have been legally elected。 The minority report charged that on the day of the territorial election； 〃large bodies of armed men from the State of Missouri appeared at the polls in most of the districts； and by most violent and tumultuous carriage and demeanor； over…awed the defenseless inhabitants and by their own votes； elected a large majority of the members of both houses of said Assembly。〃
But the report contained not a word about the eleven uncontested districts affected by this invasion。 In the eleven uncontested districts the judges made their returns in due form and； no protests nor charges of fraud or illegal voting being presented； the Governor granted certificates of election as a matter of course。 The minority stated that in many districts protest had not been made because the inhabitants； discouraged and intimidated by the Missouri invaders； had let the matter pass。 Yet at Lawrence and Leavenworth； the chief centers of the alleged Missouri violence the people were not intimidated from contesting the election； what reason was there to suppose that elsewhere； remote from the scene of trouble； they were so completely conquered that they dared not protest against their wrongs and petition for redress of their grievances？
The thirty…three judges appointed by the Government to conduct the election in the eleven districts； all swore that the returns contained a true statement of the votes polled by the lawful voters。 The Governor； two weeks after giving certificates of election； issued his proclamation commanding the members to assemble on the 2d of July。 He recognized the legitimacy of the legislature in his message； invoking the Divine blessing on it and recommending the passage of important laws。 But he afterward quarreled with the legislature。 He then sought to repudiate it and impeach its validity by charging that it had been elected by Missouri invaders。 The only evidence before the Committee tending to show irregularities in the election was the hearsay statement of the Governor； which flatly contradicted his solemn official declarations。 The legislature itself had investigated the elections of all members against whom contests were filed and its legitimacy was finally and conclusively established。 The malcontents having failed to capture the legislature； encouraged by Governor Reeder （who had meanwhile been relieved from office）； instituted their rebellious Topeka movement and； in defiance of the law； attempted to organize a State。
The movement was revolutionary and intended to subvert the existing Government。 Only two laws enacted by the territorial legislature were complained of as unjust；that relating to elections and that relating to slaves。 The social； domestic and pecuniary relations of the people had adjusted themselves to this body of laws which Congress was asked to annul； and these friends of the negro who had organized a rebellious State government in his behalf； had adopted a Constitution which forever excluded him from the State。 The entire trouble in Kansas； he continued； rose not from any vice inherent in the law； but from abuses of the rights given by it to the people。 The law simply permitted them to form their domestic institutions in their own way。 If that great principle had been permitted free operation； there would have been no violence or trouble in Kansas。 The good order reigning in Nebraska； where the law was fairly tried； was sufficient proof of its wisdom。
The opponents of this great principle had insisted on moulding the State of Kansas from without。 Having failed to induce Congress to interfere in the internal affairs of the Territory； they then sought to accomplish their purpose by means of a society organized in Washington and charted in Massachusetts； with several millions of capital。 They had deliberately attempted to discredit the Kansas…Nebraska bill and its supporters； in order to influence the approaching presidential election。 The whole responsibility for the disturbance in Kansas rested upon the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company and its affiliated societies。 The people of Missouri never contemplated the invasion of conquest of the Territory。 If they had imitated the example set by New England； they had done it on the principle of self…defense； and had always been ready to abandon their counter…movement as soon as the managers of the New England invasion ceased their efforts to shape the domestic institutions of the Territory by an unwarranted scheme of foreign interference。 When the cardinal principle of self…government should be recognized as binding on all； there would be an end of the slavery controversy； and the occupation of political agitators； whose hopes of position and promotion depended upon their capacity to disturb the country； would be gone。
The debate lingered along indecisively through the Spring weeks and the Senators poured out their mutual recriminations with increasing bitterness。 Personal relations among them were seriously strained。 Both parties were conscious that their constituents shared their passions and applauded their acrimony。
On the 19th and 20th of May； Sumner delivered his philippic on 〃The Crime Against Kansas。〃 The title of the speech was a gratuitous insult to the power which had held sway in American politics for fifty years and learned to enjoy that sense of superiority and sacredness which characterized the hierarchy in the middle ages。 The assaults on brother Senators were brutal。 Senator Butler of South Carolina； a polite； formal gentleman of the old school； was recognized as the social and intellectual head of the Southern aristocracy。 Douglas； though forever excluded from its inner circles； was an efficient and useful ally。
These senatorial leaders of the slavery crusade in Kansas were the victims