The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-03-04
NUMBER 81.


memorial drawn UP by society Of profess
ing Christians. who eschew the doctrine of
the unsuitable employment Of physical force,
and simply asked that the American Gov.
eminent would use all the powers vested in
them, by the Constitution, for the removal of
that which they deem to be an evil. The
memorialis;s could not be heard. Their
petition could not be received by an Ameri-
can Senate. .
MIR. 9UrTLER.-l did not exactly allude
TO that part Of it, and perhaps, indeed, I
should ask pardon of the Senate for refer
ring at all to what was not altogether ger
name to the immediate subject before it, but
II recollect right. there was memorial or
paper Of some kind, asking an alteration Of
The Constitution, TO enable them TO interfere
with that institution of the South. On
another occasion, however, may advert to
this matter; and was betrayed into il now,
from the circumstance that the gentleman
on all subjects OF this kind stands very much
alone.
MIR. HAIL. am quite willing TO '-stand
alone, provided stand on my convictions.
| mean, sir. to~vote as ] talk. do not
come here to make a speech denouncing
this war as unjust and unconstitutional, and
then stultify myself by voting men and
money to the President to carry il ON. NV
speeches and my votes shall be, at all events
consistent with each other While think
as do, shall vote as speak. do not
know but | may be alone in that but
whether 1t be 50 or not, shall so act, and
leave il to be said, whether it is a reproach
to me or others, that am thus alone. Per
NIT me to say to that honorable Senator, in
all kindness, and, with no disposition to be
offensive. that he entirely mistakes and mis-
aPprenends the character Of that portion of
the American People, whom am supposed
to represent on this subject. Once, for all,
let me say, that We desire no interference
with, nor disturbance OF, the existing insti-
tutiOns of the States IL the institution OF
which you speak be blessing, bless your
selves with it; if it be a curse, stagger under
it as you may; but let US remain free from
it--let US alone. Ii is all that we desire
all that We ask. And permit me to say,
that our efforts will not cease, our sxertions
will not weary, until We have done what
We can to relieve ourselves OF any share Of
reproach or responsibility in respect to what
We regard as a great and erying evil. We
do not pretend TO interfere with it, then, but
We say, keep it to yourselves" DO not
come here and ask US to tax people to the
last point Of endurance, to carry on an az
gressiye war for its prosecution. Sustenance.
and maintenance. Do not desire TO 90 into
our States, interfering with US there, and, in
claiming to preserve your Institutions, dis
enlranchise US. We hear a great deal about
the far-famed compromise Of the Constitu-
ton; but go into the State Of New Hamp-
shire, before Justice Of the peace, with the
certificate Of any one claiming NE as his
slave. and you may drag me from the en-
braces Of my family, and all that hold dear.
The habeas corpus and Trial by Jury, are in
a moment trampled in the dust, and slavery
rides OmniPOtent over all the guarantees OF
the Constitution 1t is from this that We
ask TO be relieved We make no war upon
you. That is all that We attempt, and, 50
far as we are enabled to do 50, We shall
continue the attempt TO maintain the inieg-
rity Of our Constitution and our own insti-
tutiOns against these encToachments. Be-
yond that, we have no desire 70 60 Beyond
that, have never gone. The Senator, then.
entirely misunderstood the purpon Of the
efforts made by me, if he gave them any
other character. A single word in regard
TO the matter Immediately before the SEN
ate, and | have done. | think ! cannot
have been misunderstood when | said, that
| did not characterize the acts Of the officers
Of the army. have spoken Of the war in
which they are engaged. believe il TO be
unjust; and what would we have thought Of
the sincerity Of the British Parliament-Of
Chatham, for instance, whose manly elo-
quence was exerted in denouncing the az
gession upon the liberties Of the colonies, il
he had united in the vote OF thanks to Corn
wallis and Clinton! That is all that have
maintained. believe this war to be unjust,
and, therefore, | cannot vote for the thanks
OF Congress to be given to any one who has
had any agency in the prosecution Of that
war.