Excerpt from Speech of Mr. Truman Smith, of Connecticut, on the Nebraska Question: Delivered in the Senate of the United States, February 10 and 11, 1854
Why did he suffer him to act with fearful ref sponsibilities, under the delusion thatkthe terri? Tory north of 36 deg. 80 min., and this side of the Rocky mountains, was fixed, irrevocably fixed for freedom? Why did he suffer the’ bone orable Senator from Missouri to fall, at the-last session, into the same errori’ Or, ’ rather; why did he not rise and correct it, on the spot? Why not communicate with his friends -in the House of Representatives, and why not’lh the true state of the case before the Senate an the coun try? The Senator, by the position ‘be’now as sumes, -arraigns’himself; heimpeaches his own conduct;. He’furnishes conclusive-evidence on the issue’ adverse to himself; and the verdict ofthe, power of ap inting, by and with-the advice and consent oft e Senate, all the executive and judicial officers of each Ternary, We have as sumed thatthe. Ple a’r ’not competent to elect such oficers. Ow then, can, it bezsupposed that congress intended to confide to them, exclu sivelyhtheup’ower. Of deciding the momentous question of slavery ‘or freedom. Y -‘it. Is. True the are authorized to chooses coun Gil terc’onsist o thirteen members, and a house ofzirepreseutatives to consist ‘of twenty-sigrbut f’the -legislative werxand authority is not vested intli m sole? But the governor is asso ointed with them in the exercise thereof. The language of both sets is, that the legislative powerzand authority of such Territory shall be vested in thei’g0vernorand legislative assem bly; and again, that the governor shall ap rovef all laws} passed 1 by. The. Legislative a’ssem ly before the take’efi’ect -hence, it’ap cars that the. Peop e can do nothingfwithout the as sent and concurrence of the governor; Give me the ap ointment of the governor, and I can ex clude 8 every forever if not introduced, or per petuate it if, tolerated. No matterhow anxious y the people may desire’its introduction or’its exclusion - no matter though they may be un’ani mous in callin for-slavery or freedom, the gov ernor, .who ho ds his office at the will of-zthe Executive here, can pronounce a peremptory negative, and overrule their wishes.
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