Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-03-29

are to be received with no inconsderable dis
trust, because they are uttered under the in
huence Of controlling interest to be secured,
a paramount object TO be gained,--and That Is
an equilibrium OF power in the republic. think
they are to be received with even more distrust
because with the most profound respect they
are uttered under an obviously high excite
ment; nor is that excitement an unnatural
one. 1t is law Of our nature, that the pas
sions disturb the reason and judgment Just III
proportion to the importance Of the occasion,
and the consequent necessity for calm ess and
candor. | think they are To be dstrusted, be-
cause there is a diversity Of opinion in regard
TO the nature and operation Of this excitement
The Senators from some States say, that 1t has
brought all parties in that region into unanlml'
ty. The Senator fon Kentucky says that the
danger lies in the violence Of party spirit, ana
refers US to the difficulties which attended the
organization Of the House of Representatives.
Sir, in my humble judgment. it is not the
fierce conflict of parties that we are seeing ana
hearing, but on tn contrary. il is the agony oil
distracted parlies-a conclusion resulting from
the ton narrow foundations of both and OF all
professionalism laid in compromises OF ma
tural justice and of human liberty. ACQUISITION
"a moral quesion-transccndng the too mar
now creeds of parties has arisen. The public
conscience expands with it, and the green
wihes of party associations give way and break
and fall off from it, No, sir, it is not the State
that is dying of the fever Of party spirit. 1t is
merely paralysis Of parties, premontory of
their restoration with the new elements Of
health and vigor mbbed from that spirit of the
age which is SO Justly called rogress.
Nor is the evil that Of unlicensed, irregular,
and turbulent faction. We are told that TWEEN
ty legislatures are in session burning like fur
naces, beating and iuhimng the popular pas
sions But these twenty lie I,slatutes are con-
stituiional furnaces. They are performing their
customary functions, impartng healthlul heat
and vitality, while within their constitutional
jurisdiction. If they rage beyond lis limits,
the popular passions OF this country are not at
all in danger Of being iuilamed to excess NO.
sir, let none of those fires be eXtingushcd.
Forever let them burn and blaze. They are
neither ominous mcteors nor balefu' comets,
but planets and bright and in'ense as then
heat may be, it is their native temperature, and
they must still obey the law which by attrac
ton towards the centre holds them in their
spheres.
see nothing of that conflict between the
Southern and Northern States. or even between
their representative bodies which seems to be-
on all sides Of me assumed. Not a word of
mcnace-not a word Of anger, not an in;em-
perate word has been uttered in any Northern
legislature TLey firmly but calmly assert
their convictions. but at the same time they as
sert their unqualified purpose to submit to the
common arbitor, and for veal or woe abide tine
fortunes of the Union. What if there be less
of moderation in the legislatures of the South
1t only indicates on which side the balance is
inclinng, and that the decision Of the question
is near at hand. ] agree with those who say
that there can be no peaceful dissolution,-n
dissolution of the Union by secession of States
but that dsunion, dissolution happen when il
may, will and must be Revolution discove
no omens of Revolution. The predictions OF
the political as,roogers do not agree as ct thu
time or manner in which it is to occur. The
honorable Senator from Alabama, Mr.. Glenn
ems SAYS the event has already happened ant
the Union is now in ruins. According to th'
horoscope of the honorable Senator from Mis-
sissppi, Mr. Footc,) it was to take place on
day already past According to the hono' adj
and distinguished Senator from South Carolina
(Mr. Calhoun) it is not to be Immediate, but tt
be developed bv tim
Mr. Foote here intcrposcd, and disavowcd tin
construction which had been put upon his re
marks and made fur her explanations.
Mr. Seward am very happy 10 have glvci
ncous impression which the remark which
have referred to had made. Now the llor
Senator will do me the justice to allow that
am at liberty to substruct one prediction iron
the political almanlc. and 50 the prediction
lose so much of Importance.
| see no omcnS of Revolution. What ar
the omens to which our attention is directed
see nothing but broad difference OF opnio
here and the excitement consequent upon 1t.
have observed that revolutions which be
gin in the palace, seldom 90 beyond Lhe palac
walls, and they affect only the dynasty whic
reigns there. This revolution, if | understan
it, began here in the Senate year ago, whe
the rcprcsentatvestrom the Southern States us
snmbled here and addressed their constituent
on what was called the aggrcssons of the Nor
thcrn States. No revolution was designed a
that time, and all that has happened since is tn
return to Congress OF Legislative resolution!
which seem to me to be conventional response
to the address which cmanatcd from the Cap
tol.
Sir, in any condition of Society, there can b
no revolution without n causc--an adcqult
cause. What cause exists here: We are ad
mittin! new State, but there is nothing ne'
in that-wc have Glrca admitted sevcntcc
before. But it Is said that the slave States ar
mission of the new State. We'll, sir, Is thcr
anything new in that; The slave States hay
always been losing political power, and they a
ways will be while they have any to lose. A
first twelve of the thirteen States We're sav
States. Now only fifteen out OF the thirty ar
slave Statos. Moreover, the change is COZ
s'itutionllly made, and the Government wa
constructed so as to permit changes of the ba
ancc of power, in obedience to the changes {
the forces of the body polite. Dr,ton used t
~, It's all well while the people cry Danto
and Hemisphere, but woe for Inc, if ever tn
people learn to say Robespierrc and Danton!
That is all of it sir. The people have been &C
customcd to say,-thc Sout and the North
They are ONLY beginning now to say-the Mort
and the South. Sir, those who would alarm Il
with the terro of revolution, have not we
considered the structure of this Government
and the organization of its force. 1t is dc
mocracy of property and persons, with taI
approximation towards universal Education an
operating by means universal suffrage. Th
constituent members of this democracy are tn
only persons who could subvert it; and the
; are not the citizens of a metropolis like Paris
Of ia tI,, inHu a