The daily union., 1846-06-27
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

The journal oil yesterday was read and approved.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Mr.. OWEN rose (he said) for the first time since
he had been a member, to a personal explanation;
and leave having been granted Mr. O. continued: he
did not consider himself liberty to avail himself
Of such privilege, except where an actual msstate
ment, from inadvertence or otherwise, made on
this floor OF an argument used in the course of de-
bate. He was not present when the gentleman from
New York, Mr.. GoRDoN, whom he regretted not
to see in his seat concluded his remarks yesterday
on the tariff; but he found, in the Union of this
morning, the following reported paragraph
zone word in relation to the speech of the gentle
man from Indiana mr. OWEN | must differ in
opinion with him as to one of the consequences of a
protective tariff law. The gentleman seemed to
think that but for the compromise act of 1893, this
Union in danger of dissolution. That idea and
sentiment he boldly and prominently put forth
The gentleman never labored under greater mis-
| take than when he conceived that idea and never
| committed a greater blunder than when he uttered
it,. There is no such thing breaking up this
Union by notification. There was danger to Ger.
tain individuals engaged in that controversy arising
out Of the extent to which they carried it, And the
| compromise instead Of saving the Union, saved
these Individuals and settled forever the question
Of notification in this country Notification will
again in the North in the South, in the East
or in the West, its hydra head to breed dis
turbance, confusion, and rebellion in these harmo-
oplnion and to have more confidence in the power
and patriotism of the people all over the land-on
this and on the other side ofthe mountains, too''
Mr.. o. proceeded: Sir, instead of my revising my
opinion, the gentleman from New York will have to
revise his version of it. made no assertion that,
but for the compromise of 1888, there danger Of
the dissolution of the Union. To return the gentle
man his words; he ''never labored under a
greater mistake than when he conceived that idea"
The expression used was reported IN the Union,
almost word for word, believe, as spoke it. AZ
ter advertng to the daily doubts and fears that filled
all good mems hearts, while the issue of the nuf-
cation struggle was yet undecided, added:
"And thus was exposed, to danger the most i'm
mnent, the integrity of that Union which the good
and the brave had laid down their lives to estab-
lsh."
My expression was, that the integrity of the
Union was imminenty endangered. glance st
Johnson or Webster will remind the gentleman from
New York, that integrity, in this connexion, means
| "entireness unbroken whole" What said then.
was that out of this quarrel about the protective
system grew great danger, not that this glorious
Union of ours would be dissolved but that il might
not remain unbroken whole; not that our nation
al banner, which now floats beyond the Rio Grande,
should be torn into shreds, and scattered to the
winds Of heaven but that one bright star, at least
might have dropped from its ample folds. Enough,
surely, such probable possible catastrophe, to
bid pause, we seek to peIpetuate sytem that
might have brought it up us The gentleman, I
think must be too well read in the history of our
country to deny that danger. If he denies or
doubts, j refer him to gentleman from South
Carolina, occupying seat near me, who was
himself member of the convention which
passed the nullifying ordinance, and also,
believe one of those who stood ready to enter
the field in vindication of the doctrines that ordi-
nance sets forth He will learn from that gentleman
that in the winter Of 1929 there were, in South
Carolina, twelve thousand "minute men ;" as they
we're called, enrolled, armed, mounted, and ready
nj single hours warning, TO muster under the
Palmetto banner a force half az large again as that
which the gallant Taylor now heads against Mexi-
CO. lie will learn, further, that there was a re.
serve regularly organized of twelve thousand
more, to be called out, if the exigency of the case
demanded their aid. Now, we may say what we
please Of the prudence Of South Carolina chivalry;
Ls spirlt and courage ever doubted. We may
DOUBT whether the example Of one State would have
drawn o'hers into the contest; but we cannot doubt
mat woru, an impulse, such as often determines
the fate OF nations, might have precpitated one
State OF the Union, if no other into actual war
And il even with one State only. terrible-bow ter
rble might that contest have been ask again,
as on the former occasion | asked. what man
could say, where II the first blood had flowed thai
fratrcide war might end' | thank God tho fearful
issue was never tried. Let us not tsmpt our fate
by continuing the influences which brought sbopt
20 perilous crisis.
But did not rise, sir, again to argue this gu es-