The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-02-28

of fanatic display aud sectional contro-
versy. Here seem especially to con-
centrate those mischievious heresies
which fraud andignorance combine TO
engender. Here southern representa-
Itlves are put OH the defence of a domes-
tic institution which they inherited,
and which, notwithstanding the guar
antics Of the constitution, it is attempt
ed TO be destroyby federal interference.
Here, therefore, we must meet this is
sue face to face; and if northern repre-
sentatives think proper, from this high
place, to scatter seeds of dissension and
to infame the passions and preludices
of one section, whilst they drive the
other by intoerable injustice and pro-
vocation TO the point of forcible resis-
tance, then, sir, let them learn that the
representatives Of the South, true to
their constituency, are prepared to
meet the issue here and now. II gen
tlemen come here politically to degrade
US below the equality to which we
were born: to pile insult on injury, and
injury on insult, until pent-up resent
ment bursts into civil war: here let the
first battle be fought. Here among
those who will have nurtured and ma.
tured the evil 10 this last, worst form,
let its bitterness first be tasted.
History will discriminate between
the aggressor and the defender of the
constitution: between him whose hand
bore the torch Of the incendiary, and
him whose arm was raised to protect
the temple of the republic.
Mr.. President, tits no part ofmy pur-
pose TO deliver panegyrics upon the at
tachment Of the South to Union.
We have proved our love and devotion
tolhe Union too often and too long to
require declarations. Let those who
feel it NAV be doubted, make their a.
vowals offidelity to the Union; / feel
no such necessity,
If the State Of Vermont chooses to
send to the Senate Of the United States
resolutions insulting to her sister States,
let the senators Of that State do thelt
duty in relation to them. AS | would
state nothing consciously against SOW
ereign State, | will only say to those
senators that ! regret Vermont has not
now such constitutional scruples as &C
tuated her in the war of 1912, and that
she does not keep her resolutions with
in her own limits in this war Of sectional
aggression, as she attempted to keep
her troops during that war Of national
defence.
regret that l shall have to part from
many friends with whom usually acted
upon such questions as this, when the
sense of the Senate is taken on the mo-
ton to print these resolutions. If the
State had addressed them tQthe Senate,
| would agree to print them, however
offensive they might be; because a
State has right to speak tothe Senate
and to receive respectful consideration.
Inthis case, l accept the argument ofthe
senator from Georgia. Mr.. Berrien =
which has been, | think improperly call
ed special pleading-that these Tesolu-
tons are the property of the senator's to
whom they are directed. threfore
do not perceive the obligation which
required them to be presented TO the
Senate. They are instructions to those
senators in reference to their Official ac-
tion, and their influence can scarcely be
expected to extend to other senators
Why, then, should they be laid before
the Senatel and why should they be
!, printedl But my objection extends tc
thei. contents; it is not merely formal
but is radical, and could only be waived
under an imperious sense of duty.
hold them to be unjust, untrue, offensive
insulting to the South,treasonable to th'
constitution; and | will not so far en-
dorse them as TO vote for their printing
| have thus simply stated my reasons.
OvERPRAYED HIMSELF - During tht
prevalence Of the epidemic in Virgin