Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-03-27
LANCASTER SATURDAY. MARCH q, 1874


when | approach, and yet | cannot for
bear to notice it. II meets you in ev-
cry step you take. 1t threatens you
which way soever you go in the prose-
cution of this war. i allude to the
question of slavery. Opposition to its
further extension, it must be obvious
TO every one, is deeply-rooted de-
termination with men Of all parties in
what we call the non-slave-holding
States. New York, Pennsylvania. and
Ohio, three of the most powerful, have
already sent their legislative instruc-
tons herc-so il win be, | doubt not,
in all the rest 1t is vain now to spec
uate about the reasons for this. Gen
tlemen of the South may call it preju-
dice, passion, hypocrisy, fanaticism.-
| shall not dispute with them now on
that point. The great fact that it is
so, and not otherwise, is what i con.
Germs us to know. You nor | cannot
alter orchange this opinion five would.
These people only say, we will not,
cannot consent that you shall carry sls-
very where it does not already exist.
They do not seek to disturb you in
that institution, as it exists in your
States. Enjoy it if you viii, and as
you will. This is their language, this
their determination. How is 1t in the
South? Can it be expected that they
should expenG IN common, their blood
and their treasure, in the acquisition
of immense territory, and then willing
Ily forego the right to carry thither
their slaves, and nhsbit the conquered
country if they please to do soa Sir,
| know the feelings and opinions of
the South too well to calculate on this.
Nay, ] believe they would even con-
tend TO any extremity for the mere
right, had they no wish to exert it.
| believe land confess | trcmble when
the conviction presses upon me) that
there is equal obstinacy on both sides
OF this fearful question. If then. we
persist in war, which if it terminate in
any thing short Of mere wanton
waste of blood as well as money, must
end Gas this bill proposes) in the ac-
QUESTION of territory, to which at
once this controversy must attach
this bill would seem to be nothing less
than bill to produce internal commo-
ton. Should we prosecute this war
another moment, or cxpend one dol
lar in the purchase or conquest of a
single acre Of Mexican land, the North
and the South are brought into coils
ion on point where neither will yield.
Who can lorsoe or foretell the result!
Who so bold or reckless as to look
such a conflict in the face unmoved!--
| do not envy the heart Of him who
can realize the possibility Of such a
conflict without emotions too painful
to be endured. Why then shall we,
the representatives of the Sovereign
States Of tins Union-the chosen guar
dams of this confederated Republic,
why should we precipitate this fearful
struggle, by continuing war the re-
suits of which must be to force US at
once upon ii? Sir, rightly considered,
This is treason, treason to the Union,
treason to the dearest interests, the
loftiest aspirations, the most cherished
hopes of our constituents. 1t is
crime of such internal hue, that every
other in the catalogue ofiniquity, when
compared with it, whitens into virtue.
Oh. Mr.. President, it does seem to me,
If He'll itself could yawn and vomit up
the fiends that inhabit its penal abodcs,
commissioned TO disturb the harmony
OF this world, and dash the fsirest pros
pect Of happiness that ever allured the
hopes Of men, the first step in the con-
summation Of this diabolical purpose
would be, to light up the fires Of inter-
nal war, and plunge the sister States
of this Union into the bottomless gulf
OF civil strife. We stand this day on
the crurnbling brink Of that guif-we
see its bloody eddies wheeling and
boiling before us-shall we not pause
before it be too late? How plain a.
gain is here the path, may add the
only way of duty, OF prudence, Of true
patriotism? Let Us abandon all idea
Of acquiring further territory, and by
cease at once 10 prosecute
this war. Let us call home our armies, |
and bring them at once within cpr
own acknowledged limits. Show |
Mexico that you are sincere when you
say you desire nothing by conquest
She has learned thai she cannot en-
counter you in war. and if she had not.
she is too weak to disturb you here