Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-12-29
Southern Threats Of Dissolution.

summation which was SO near being effect
ed,
Southern Threats Of Dissolution.
On the 18th a proposition was made to
vote by ballot for Speaker, and another to
deprive the Speaker of the power to appoint
those Committees whose powers involved
the consideration of matters pertaining to
slavcry-the House itself to choose such
Committees by ballot.
Mr.. MEADE of Va. said: The cause which
has prevented the organization of the House
is the fear of the introduction of bills before
the House from certain committees, which
will produce discussion and agitation on a
question which threatens the peace and in
tegliiy of the country-bills which, if passed,
will either destroy this Confederacy, or en-
slave a large portion of it. Under the pres
sure of the present difficulties which sur
round us, a fair opportunity is offered to
draw forth from both sides of the House all
the conservative materials of which each is
composed. | have a%DXiously looked for some
Curtius from the North, who, regardless of
personal consequences to himself, will leap
into the gulf which yawns for the peace and
happiness of this Union. Sir, let n PROPOSE
ton be made and supported by those who
are DESTROYS of crushing this demon of dis
cord, for the purpose of uniting the conser-
vatism on both sides, in opposition to any
measure which shall look to the abolition of
slavery in the District or q prohibition of it
in the Territories. If such a proposition
should be adopted, | should be willing to
take a Speaker from either side of the House,
relying upon him to carry out the views thus
expressed by a majority of this body.
But, sir, if the organization of this House
is TO be followed by the passage of these
bills-if these outrages are to be committed
upon my people, ! trust in God, sir, that my
eyes have rested upon the last Speaker of
the House of Representatives. This express
sion is not the ebullition of feeling; it con-
tains sentiments / have well considered and
often expressed, publicly and privately
They are entertained in common with the
people | represent. And l tell gentlemen if
these measures be passed, there will he but
one determination at the South-one solemn
resolve to defend their homes and maintain
their honor. Let this issue come when il
may, and you will find every Southern sinew
converted into a spring of steel. / do not ut-
ter this s Il threat. l am proud to believe
that our race on both sides of the line are
equally brave ; but gentlemen will find a DIFF
ference between men contending for their
firesides, and the robbers who are seeking TO
despoil them of their rights, and degrade
them before the world. If there be any
Southern man who would refuse to stand by
his country in such an emergency, ["There
arc none" said several voices he would not
be merely cXecrated by his own people, but
his own children would heap curses upon
his grave"
Mr.. Roor said: IF the proposition were
adopted, lie r%eckoned, yea, being a Yankee,
he guessed, that the House would have about
as much trouble in appointing each member
of the three committees whose appointment
was proposed to be taken from the Speaker.
The same old question would arise the
same terrible demon would have its horns
up. 1t would not answer for a good dodge.
II it were intended 10 open a hole for tender
footed Free-Soil Democrats TO escape by, it
would not answer the purpose. They could
not get out of it. No; they must face the
music-God help them! This House would
continue to present itself in a " disorganized
attitude" to use the language of his col
league, Mr.. Carter,) a good while before
those gentlemen escaped through such a loop
hole and, if they got through, they would
find worse troubles just beyond. 1t was a
poor device, if that were its object. The
same diff Guilty which the proposition sought
to avoid would, if it We're adopted, remain in
the appointment of each individual of the
three committees. The committees were
composed of nine members each; three
times nine were twenty-seven; so that they
might have twenty-seven times as much diff
ficulty as at present, with the exception that
he supposed his senior colleague (Mr. Gid,
dings) would he appointed upon the Com
mittee on the District of Columbia unani-
mously, as a matter Of course. la taught
He now came to the other matter-the dis
solution of the Union, or that kline of modcr-
alton which was to prevent it. He trusted,
with the calm, moderate counsels of such
gentlemen as the honorable gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Meade) we would get along
without dissolution. IA laugh. Nothing
was better calculated to allay all such agita-
ton than the kind OF speeches of which they
had just heard a specimen from that gentle
man. Laughter. However, if dissolution
must come, why, the sooner the better. Let
it come before the House was organized for
he took it, that it they were to dissolve in
their present "disorganized attitude" it would
not be binding. IA taught 1t would not be
irremediable. There would be some hope
that it might be set aside. So, if dissolution
were to be the result, he said the sooner the
better-before the House was organized; for
il, after organization, it should come by some
such process as reporting a bill for the abo-
lition of slavery in the District of Columbia,
why then would come the time for fight in
defence of the wife, the little ones, the house
hold gods, and all other household furniture!
Tho gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Meade)
had said he had been waiting, until his pa
thence was exhausted, to see some Northern
man come forward with the live-branch! -
The gentleman said he had expected it,
Now he (Nlr. r. desired to know if that gem
tleman and other Southern gentlemen really
expected any such thing? lie CMr. r. look
ed around here and saw men overlooking
with patriotism, chock-full but he did not
see any one he thought particularly ambitious