Condition of Affairs in Kansas Territory, Speech of Hon. George E. Pugh of Ohio

It was the year 1856, and the bill to authorize the people of the Territory of Kansas to form a constitution and State government, preparatory to their admission into the Union when they have the requisite population, being under consideration. George E. Pugh took this opportunity to present his speech on the Condition of Affairs in Kansas Territory, Delivered in the United States Senate, May 26, 1856. He starts by saying that the time is not ripe for admission since the Kansas Territory does not have a high enough population and they have not yet adopted an acceptable State constitution. Underlining the balance of the speech is the matter of slavery, where the North and South of the United States had major differences on whether slavery should be allowed to exist in any Territory or new State in the Union.

The speech is contained in a 5 ½ x 9 inch booklet, which is missing whatever covers may have existed and the title page. The booklet, as offered, starts with the first page of the speech (page 3) and continues to the last page of the speech (page 30). The pages are lightly tanned and the text, although in a small sized font, clear and easy to read. There is a small tear on the last page. Considering that all the text is present and the string binding intact, the booklet is considered to be in good condition.

The illustrations accompanying this description show the first page of the speech and a typical 2-page spread of the speech's text.

George Ellis Pugh (November 28, 1822 – July 19, 1876) was a Democratic politician from from Ohio. He served in the U. S. Senate from 1855 to 1861. He began practicing law in 1843. After serving in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1848 to 1850, he served as State Attorney General from 1852 to 1854. Pugh served a single term in the United States Senate from 1855 to 1861, losing a re-election bid to Salmon P. Chase, whom he had replaced. In the Senate, he became a champion of the Western Democracy, that is, Midwestern Democrats, first against the Republicans, and later against Stephen A. Douglas' opponents inside the Democratic Party. He spoke in favor of the Lecompton Constitution on March 16, 1858, but followed the instructions of the Ohio legislature in voting against that constitution. [Wikipedia]