Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-03-20
Mr.. McLEODS REPLY TO Mr..
SPEAKER LOTHROP


! Mr.. Mcleod rose aud said :-"Thefe
is vide difference Mr.. Speaker (Mr.
Rowland being in the chair) between
myself and the gentleman from kalama.
mazoo. When speak sir, l allow nv
heart to come 10 my lips, and throw nv
whole soul INTO The subject which | dis
cuss. With HIM il is different. He Is
remarkable for studied Goodness, a sage
gravity oftone and an impressive affcc.
tation of candor.
lie seeks, by trick of manner, to di.
vert US from The weakness of his positions
aud epdeavors 10 take our attention from
the folly OF his opinions by sepuIchral
soemnity Of sound. He tells us Sir with
this wise-acre air, 'lhat the right to pro-
fest is an individual right, solemnly guar-
aneed by the constitution" Let me ask
who ever doubted or denied ir
What need that The gentleman from
kalamaz zoo should assume a visage, long
iuefdl and pOrtentous, like that " hich
best snrmoun,ed the shoulders of the re.
douba be Knight of LsMancha, and all
To assure us that the fright 10 protest was
an individual right, guaranteed by the
constitution
Sir, ii was indeed mighty achieve
ment of st5tesmanship TO detect so recou-
dte proposition. The acuteness of Ar
istollc of Stagira, and the wisdom of
Solou of Athens, must pale before The
p,ofundty Of Lothrop of Kalamazoo -
and when these sagcs are forgotten and
their names hold no place in the memory
of man, The name of LoTHRoP Is dcs.
tined to float down The stream of ages
eterDized in story and emoaimed In song.
Bat the genllman tells us further, and in
tones more awful than before, shat we
should pause to consider before we take
step that will afford precedent 10 all
future Legislatures arhich may succeed
u.s. What frightful consequences
might result from our action to such fu>
ture legislatures as may succeed US, he
has left IN the womb of conjecture.
But what all escape we have had, and
how deep should BE- our gratitude 10 our
deliverer.
Trembling as we were on the edge of
fearful abyss, the Speaker desccnGs from
his chair-an angel of mercy, messen-
ger from the skies--and leads us.in;o
safety. But he pauses not here. Having
captiyated US with his goodness,he would
now astound US with bis wisdom. Hence
another proposlion-anolher mighty DIS
covery. and an additional righteousness
of tone and manner. He begs us, with
an adjuring solemniiy such Saul might
have worn when gazing on the ghost of
Samuel, TO consider "wheiher it be- not
better TO suffer some slight wound TO our
feelings rather than to violate the consti-
tuition which we have sworn TO support =
Fearful problem! Dire alternative
With outsiretched hand and woe-por-
tentiDg visage, he balances on that long
trembling forefnger the scales of destiny.
On the one side is our solmn oath-on
the other ga slight wound to Our feelings
Which shall preponderate Stiffness
reigns. The pulses beat no: far awe -
A thrill of horror pervades my very sensel
Again the light breaks. The problem is
soIved-the announcement hangs irem-
bling on his lips. Mark the irresolute
meIn-the quivering tone. He believes,
yes he is free to admit, IN soolh he does
not hesitate to declare his belief, that al
things considered. it is really, on the
whole, as well if not better to suffer
some light. some trifling wound TO our
acute sensiblities,r rather than TO betray our
trust, to stand man-sworn before the bar
of public opinion, to violate The sanctity
of solemn onths, and meet an avepging
heaven with souls backened with foulest
perjury. What vast stretch of moral
virtue is here! How noble sacrifice to
the majesty oftruth. But seriously sir,
this is an age of discovery. And this le-
gislature is depository of deep wisdom.
| feel that my lot is an enviable one
"lhat my lines have indeed fallen to me
in pleasant places" l cannot enough
felicitate myself that | was born in a
country 81 pregnant with moral grandeur,
or was honored with an election to such
receptacle of knowledge. But especially
| congratulate myself on having lived tc