The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-09-12
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 70, 1850

to surrender the principle which gave
that Union birth and which constitutes
the soul Of its existence. Not those |
whn, claiming the equality to which
they we're born, declare that they will
resist an unconstitutional ana unjust
discrimination against their rights.
This is to maintain the constitution un-
der the Union And II. .itis sedition or
treason to raise voice or hand against
the violation Of thai Upion, against supr
planting il by government which rests
not upon that authority, but on the un,
restrained will Of the majority, then
my heart is filled wilhsuch sedition and
treason, and gentlemen may make the
most ofthedeclaration.lti 1t is not the union
Of our fathers, & can never be mine. To
preserve that which we Inherited, and
to which | and those whom l represent
are ardently attached, is easy, if the
sons haye preserved the virtues of their
slres in even moderate degree.
You have but TO abstain from injustice,
you have but to leave US the advantage
of the provisions of that consultation
under which the Union was formed,
and to leave in full operation the prin>
fciple upon which it is based; and then
ifany impious hand should ever be rails
ed to destroy the temple ofour confed-
eracy, with united hearts aud ready
hands the people .wopld rally for its
protection. Then, sir, it would indeed
be union Of brethren. and not that
forced union which is sought now to be
established by the coercion of sover-
eign States at the point Of the bayonet,
and the suppression of the free spirit
Of the people by the terror of march
ing armies. 1t has been by confidence
ard common interest, by the unpurchas
able service Of willing hearts, by virtue
and principle, that our Union has illus
trated the blessings of representative
liberty, become the mother Of republics
and has so steadily and rapidly grown
to be one Of the FIRST naAons ofthe
earth, The>shadow of Its protection
Z is felt by our citizens on every sea and
shore to which commerce or adventure
may lead them. ri
:, But we sse men, the witnesses and
beneGciaries of such institutions, un'
dermning the great principles on
: which they depend, we have reason tc
I believe the virtue which is required tC
appreciate the blessing has departed
i, or that the agents of the people are un
s faithful to their trust.
i. Mr.. President, we now see that an acl
}, is about to be executed, so far as th'
Senate is concerned, which is to form
g an era in the history of our country
! Now, for the first time, we are abou
6 permanently to destroy the balance o.
i. power between the members of thu
o Union in both branches Of Congress-
: this, too, when sectional spirit is riff
g here, and when those who are thus L
d have the control in both houses of Con
n gress will have also the power OF tn
executive department.
n Now, sir, the spirit is exhibited {
: disregard the restrictions of the const1
J. tuition which made us equal, and to oh
4 lilerate the landmarks which our fore
,o Fathers did set. This gives lmportanc
9 to the idea Of balance Of power.
q feel but little confidence in the powe
3 Of the constitution TO restrain wher
s. fanaticism inAames, and sectional prid
$, urges to invasion. Now, when th
al powers of both the departments-legl'
le lative and executive-are to be trans
Is ferred to one interest, | fear that W
i. have reached the point at which the Dc
le cline Of our government has began-th
i point at which the barriers Of the cor
N stitution are to be broken over by
;e reckless majority, and when theEminor
.ol ty may be called upon to determin
n. whether they VIII surrender all claim
le to equality as guaranteed by the const
II tuition, aud tothe enjoyment of goV
"a ernmenl appropriate tOfreemen, or r.
n tain the condition to which they wei
RS born by forcible resistance. Sir, II
q momentous Consequences which al
ne foreshadowed by this event are ip {
rn manner tempered by the spirit
10 which the act is contaminated. On Il
ii contrarys they are aggravated by Y
V. declarations which are made, andbytt
is tone in which it issexecuted--the Isl
m perciliohs air Of superiority, upon u
ar part Of those who, Thoughts a majorit
" should recollect that they are only OF
$ constitutional equals, which has show
II itself during the whole progress Of th
Ii measure. II is this, sir, which hf
10 served to cause and fully to justify tn
D.. opposition which southern Senator
have made, and which now take occ'
r. sion TO say had limit in human Powe
at to which / was not prepared TO CO.
5, Sir, felt ana feel thatan act is abot
: IN ha y,arY,at rnfad unot1 yRhich the iat