Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-03-12
THE GREAT SPEECHES.
Mr.. CalhOun'S

On Monday the 4th the Hon. John u
Calhoun addressed the Senate of the Uni
ted States in a long and ably written
speech, read for him by Mr.. Mason o.
Virginia on account of the yet enteeblec
state of his health occasioned by recent
illness. This speech may be properly
considered as disclosing Mr.. Calhoun's
whole policy, in clear, decided and d.
rect way. Ii is characterized by that trans,
parency Of diction, and forcible yet simple
style which, so far as style can do, leaves
thehearer or reader in no doubt of precisely
what is meant. There is not a particle oil
pedantry or affectation of any sort aboutit,
tits all plain, plump & straightforward. Its
conclusion we give on our first page
Without having any intention 10 regular
ly review this address, we shall endea-
your to give the reader about our notion
of it, and the subject Of which it treats.
Mr. Calhoun regards himself as the
champion of the South, meaning by" the
South" that portion of the people of the
United States dwelling south of Mason q
Dxon's Line who hold property innegro
slaves. This is the import of the word
through all his speech, and it will be
quite just to say tina, this is all its import.
OF the existence of those inhabitants Of the
Southern States not owning slaves he
seems to have no recognition whatever,
for though thousands of persons from
these States are now resident in the new
territories, yet Mr.. Calhoun insists that
" the South is excluded"
Mr.. Calhoun complains Of the loss OF
their former power by the Southern States
as compared with the North and seeks
to explain the causes in ways relieving
his own section and self from all blame.
But, as we have had occasion to remark
on former occasion, no one is more
chargeable than he for this very state OF
things. So direct, obvious and single
eyed has been his whole policy towards
the predominence Of the distinguishing
Institution of his section, that he has not
only repealed the white emigration neces-
sing TO have kept up The population of the
South parallel to that Of the North, but has
driven, and is now driving away annually,
thousands of white families to the West
and Northwest, thus dealing against the
South two fold blow
Whilst the North and West have been
pushing every kind of labour, industry
and enterprise, and multiplying all the
munimentsot their prosperityand strength,
Mr.. Calhoun and friends have been Sit
ting down in busy Incidence, employed
either in contriying schemes to get the
Federal Government into their hands 10
WELD It's power for their own peculiar
ends, or else dining the ears of the grow
ing North and West with perpetual war
nings against invading the Constitution,
the Constitution. W. 60 for the Consti-
tuition as much as he or any man, but we
would have had the South occupying a
position at this hour far different from the
humiliating position he represents her TO
hold, that of a suppliant to the justice and
generosity of the North, prevailed as he
says it is by Anti Slavery instincts. HUI
initiating said we, yes, how humiliating
let his words describe. He asks if the
Union can be preserved, and answers
Eyes easily; not by the weaker party,
for it can of itself do nothmg--not even
protect itself. The North has only 10
will it TO accomplish it," There is a
detachable balance-sheet for all this great
Statesman's days and nights and months
and years of exertion." Utter failure.
And yet he talks of his freedom from res
possibility. Faugh.
The policy he has pursued has been
false and ruinous. He has thought to
hold up the compromises of the Constltu-
ton az the sole barrier against the whole
tendency Of the worlds thought and opin-
ion. 10 great extent the Constitution