The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-26
SKETCH OF THE SPEECH or MR.. FITCH.

SKETCH OF THE SPEECH OF MR. FITCH,
OF INDIANA,
Delivered in the House of Representatives. Feb Ia 1850
newborn zeal is eynced in opposition TO principle
long since established in this government with the con
sent OF the very locality nov phrensed in its opposition
The ordinance OF 1857 was but the application of th
principle to the Northwestern Territory and under cir
cumslances which would have far better justified the in
temperate opposition now manifested. Slavery once, ex
lsted in BY the laws OF Virginia Slaves were then held
in what is now Indiana; consequently, that ordinance
abolished slavery, tchoW The consent Of the iababitan
Where already eried 1t Is now only proposed 70 pre-
vent its Introduction where does not exist lo the Tor
come almost monomaniac. That territory was gift
which became common property and very justly ior Vir-
gnia held il originally only BY an expenditure OF the com
mon blood and treasure The expenditure has OBJ
tained that in dispute 10 the extension OF certain laws
over Virginia could no more Claim want oi consid-
Grafton for her gift than could Texas now, she TO
enquish TO the United States all her right to that por-
ton Of New Mexico which she claims There is, then,
in that ordinance precedent for this Intervention which
cannot be gainsad. But told that the democracy
have adopted party creed, erected platform upon which
is written Non- -n.eryenon; and the South has threat
ened with accommodation from the party all who do
not abide the spirit Of that noninervention But if
bers constitute orthodoxy, gentlemen Illuminating such
threats might find themselves outside the temple. The
non intervention doctrine oil the democratic national con-
venion OF lsis applied to States, not Territories
The convention refused TO adopt similar resolution
ative TO The latter and that refusal was The alleged
OF the resolution But il it had been applied TO the latter
would not denunciaon by the South OF lis abandonment
be bul condemnation OF their own course For in an
ritory California; for admission, these people, who
would create ideal non-inteyenon rule binding upon
the NORTH have themselves declared their intention 10
resist the asked for admission And why' Because.
forsooth the new State prohibits slavery II its
stituton had permitted slavery is it to be supposed for
one moment the South would have opposed its admission
into the Union! Will not this resistance 10 the adms-
sion OF California be an attempted intervention Yet for
the intervention, for better purpose, the North is
to be mathematical. "Whom the gods will TO destroy,
they first make made" II madness is evidence OF i'm
pending destruction, we may well fear that many seats
in this House must bid farewell to their present
cupanis, to know them no more forever for greater
number of candidates for Bedlam than presented them
selves upon this floor, few days before filled the
@ walls q an asylum or the insane Their rawlings meant
length Ps1 y The
any coercve measure, although evldencng welground-
ed suspicious OF the necessity OF such restranay, and
Judgment against them Here is a portion Of the evil
dence (holdng up Mr. MEADEs speech) OF their mad
ness. He [Mr. MEADEl says:
I'll the North generally, whose high prosperity is the
suit OF unrestricted intercourse with the Soui
we prescribe let us talk no more about the blessings
of Union"
II we do not accept the terms they prescribe swallow
their prescription, however nauseous, dsunon follows
Shall be pardoned for humbly dissenting from this opn-
ons And again:
eInstnct tells us shareholders that we must have
portion of this continent that Institutions hostile to ours
shall exist neither west nor south Of US"
WHAT'S this but an admission OF insanity Instinct
which governs only after Reason has deserted her
thronenstiact to be the sole guide OF their threat
ened action in the premises | allude to this speech,
[Mr. MEApE'sl because the same sentiments not the
tenth oil which can take time to quote, were repeated
with still stronger emphasis upon this floor.
The whole performance was cheered and encored by
representatives whose duty II was to have frowned IT
down, as threatening the integrity OF the Union they
were sent here TO cherish and protect If such conduct
IS not madness, what is ~ Treason II can scarcely
be, for treason stalks abroad and whispers its designs
y under cover OF the night and these declarations
made at MONDAY in the nations Capitol. What more
foolish than threat OF dsunion, under any contingency
which possibly arise from the renewed application Of
principle which has hitherto operated so benehcialy
II the threat has been made with the view o ntmdang
the NORTH whatever its effect may be here, its folly will
be apparent its utter failure to swerve the northern con-
stuency ioa from the they esteem right If
II was made with the view OF strengthening the South,
its effect has been the by lesenng That respect
for southern gentlemen making IL, TO- which, otherwise,
they would have been entitled and furthermore, by de-
sroyng all confidence in their patrotsma confidence to
which much could have been yielded.
1t was said early in the session by gentleman from
Georgia mir. SrEpHESsl that OF the North "sng ps-
ans TO the Union for lis preservation. Granted But
they sing them TO the South to justify disunion. Who
are the most national Or. to make the question of
music, not men, which is the most patriotic, Hail CO.
lumbia" "Clar de kitchen, ole Virsnny is comm p
We are told BY gentleman from the South MIR. WAL.
LAcE that Of the North shall be taught the sincerity OF
their threats aud their ability 10 accomplish them Hah
the congressional "schoomasier is abroad" We will
receive their teachings with all becoming humility but
the necessity for lessons may be reciprocal perhaps
shall the rosrum, ferule in hand and for brief
period enact the pedagogue. One OF the first lessons
would inculcate, is their inability TO successfully accom-
plish their dsunon threat In essaying IL they will in
jue the North, grant you, but they will ruin them
selves Does the South include the expense Of the large
standing army which would be necessary TO insure the cit
zens Of the kingdom that is be against serye nsur
recon She would be surrounded mostly by territory not
recognising slavery With the free States OF the North,
her breren but which then would have become her
enemies, hating her peculiar Institution as the cause OF
The attempted dlsmemberment OF glorious republic (;
with aneighborng republic on the southwest, by which
blacks recognised as citizens; with vast negro
and bloodthrsty whenever nsgated 10 strike by OPP
portuny for successful blows with the entire civilized
world strongly against her institution, that nation
would dare attempt TO aid her in defending and propa-
eating it; how long would be ere she would be knock
ing al the door OF the northern republic for readmsson
Would not the principles oil the ordinance then be
brought to bear upon her, the application OF which to
new Territories she noi1 strenuously ressts
The North is charged with intention of violating the
constitution egislang upon this subject Of slavery The
constitution guarantees rights IN 10 all the States
and certain SPECIAL rights to the saveheldng States Yet
though Special they constitutional rights, and such
should be and protected in the States where they
exist The great OF the northern constituency have
moi idea OF interfering with those rights There excep-
the same be said OF the southern In aiding the
pshment OF the ultimate design Of the northern dis
unonisis the South add nothing to their own strength
They do but divide the responsibility OF an odous cause
The pseudo philanthropy OF few OF these disunonls's
OF the Nonh--the Garrisons and Abby Fosoms-(wbo
turn their back on the free negro leaving him to steal or
starve)-a philanthropy which, instead Of exPendins