By: U.S. Senator Jefferson Davis

"When recently a murderous raid [John Brown] was made into the State of Virginia; when insurrection and rebellion against the government, the laws, and the Constitution raised its odious crest, it was to be expected that when the Senate assembled it would seek to find what was the cause in order that it might apply the appropriate remedy."

"...the factories of the North, which became tributary to emigrant aid societies and sent forth the armed bands which poured upon Kansas." "I view it, a duty on the part of the people of every State to restrain their citizens; a duty on the part of every State to prevent armed bodies of men crossing its territory to attack another State; and the citizens who are recreant to this duty are accomplices to the crime. They are bound to restrain; not to sustain. The men who have given money, the men who have had meetings and encouraged such acts are accomplices before the fact; and those who approve it now, those who attempt to cover it now, are criminal after the fact." "The man who, after the event, approves a speech which, at least, contained the germ that might have produced the plant, is far more guilty, in my judgment, than the man who originally made it." "...if any State at any time should be unable to defend her territory