The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-04-25

South, IS political, and ought not TO be felt
81 least on The side Of the House. One
ground Of compl5ini Is, that the South has
had en- undue proportion Of the high Offices
of governments. For instance, we have
had most Of the presidents. Nov ought ii
to be cause Of complaint against vs. or
cause og Jealousy against Us, that Wash
ington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, jack
son and Polk were southern men2 No!
they were great and glorious names, and
we all all should be proud Of them as our
countTymen. BUt, Mr.. Chairman, the true
cause Of the South having held many oil
the important Offices has not been 10 eonss-
quence Of sectional feeling, but it has
aEisen from the fact, that from the
days Of Washington until now, the
strength ot the democratic patty has been
10 the South, and elections have turned 90
democratic principles, and our victories
have BY us always been esteemed lriumphs
Of principle and not OF section. trust
the time will never come, when on ques-
lions Of this character we will love our
section more than our principles or our
common country.
Washington, Sit, in his farewell address,
has warned Us against" the imposlures Of
pretended patriotism, and the mischiefs Of
foreign intrigue.n have already spok-
en- to you Of the one, 7 will now briefly re-
fer 10 the other. | will not say that | have.
VIE evidence Of such intrigue, but this II
will say, that The abolition and free soil
movement Is doing thatwhich, Of all things
earthly, is most desired BY all The despots
Of Europe. They look upon our institu-
tons with Jealousy, and would be greatly
pleased at their destruction; aHd | presume
that no man here entertaias a doubt that
this agitation threatens to bring about Q
dissolution Of the Union. England Knows
and fears our naval and commercial rivalry
and nothing but the dissolution Of this
Union can save to them the ascendencv.
With the Union, we will nCl only rival but
sulpass her; with the dissolution Of this
Union, her commerce must remain unTiv-
allied, and through all time she may ride
mistress Of the seas. AS | beforesaid, !
have no evidence Of agency that Of
course ! never can have, because 10 be Ell
ticient il must be secret. Neither you nor
know that her paid secret agents are in
our midst. This work is done so precisely
agreeable TO what / know would be her
wishes and her interest that it naturally
suggests the idea that it NAV be done TO
order. Further, this idea Of Canadian an
&c Ration, which was agitated in the legis-
lature Of New York but a few days since,
and which has, until lately, been rather
co~untenancsd BY the English government,
comes most opportunity 10 excite the fur
--her alarm Of the South, more especially
when il is sought by the Empire State fol
purposes Of agrees ion. have, too, been
surprised at tie amount Of money that has
been expended, and is still ready to be ex-
pended, 10 :he attempt to revoluIioniZe
Cuba, with a view 10 annexation. d.
not know that England has anything t
do with II, but | do know that she is The
party 20 be benefited, if these agilatiOnt
should bring about a dissolution Of tht
Union. fuTtheF-know that England al
ways sees her interest, shd never omit
the means of advancing il. Her states
manship IS the most f~ar-sighted and grasp
ing, and she never loses an opportunity 81
advancing either her interest OF herpower
Mr.. Chairman in this discussion fhavt
~Bagayored to be candid. | have stated
my convictions as they exist upon my OWE
mind. Ihope others will fairly weigh them
and take them for whatever they may bt
worth. The time allowed in the house il
too shot to. discuss the legal question eth
er from authority or BY reference 70 pfece'
dents. Ihave consequently taken the con
s%lilution as my guide and have looked into
my political faith, as | into my bible
ior my religious. When I took my sea
here, | took an oath to preserve, protect
and defend the constitution. To do II
the rigid spirit, we must look 10 the instru'
ment itseIf--aDd let precedent and autho'
Tity have no influence with MS, but as sim
pie matter 81 reason. Our oath is 70 sup
port the constitution as our fathers made i
and not as either courts or Congress have
construed il. II this course is adopted ev'
en- the very few arguments | have used arr
enough. II you take any other course thu
constitution is but waste paper, and th'
sooner you burn ii up the better. admit
TIE authority Of precedent in the matters
Of judicial decisions Of private rights, Blu
not in the action Of coordinate depart
ments Of governments. We have no in
falible church, nor have we an infallibl'
court-nor should the decisions Of ont
Congress bind the cohscieuces Of another
Mr.. Chairman, | win now close my re
marks, as ! opened them, BY invoking
the serious attention Of this House ant
this nation to the danger which menace
our free and glorious institutions. On ev
ely side and from every quarter Of tn,
Union ! hear the TeveFbrations Of this dan
gel, which, to use the language Of Mr.. JET
feTson on q similar occasion, stalls upoI
my ear like the alarm Of a tire-bell at nigh
like the kneII Of tie Union" Yes, sir,
warn you, and through you this House an
this nation, thatlhe ship of State approache
the dreadful maelslrom Of DisunIon. Sh
already feels and answers TO It's enCiTclin
currents. 1t Is time that every hand wa
on deck, and that every sail was set. YeI
We approach the whirpool-the sails a.
rendihg, the masts are shivering. Ca'
out the anchor, the anchor Of The %constilI
ks.-, SAaw .atf - wao1. t.En Hall If al