The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-22

necessity be compromise The eonsuutioh iseii 10 q
compromise, and q compromise within compromise Is
something unheard Of in law and unknown 70 equity
II the people OF the North will not abide by compro
mise deliberately made and erected BY common consen.
into the paramount law OF the land, what hope can we
have that any less solemn covenant will restrain nem
future We want no compromise. bond mas oeen exc
cuted, and we are willing TO abide BY Us terms u we
to 90 on compromising away provision aer provis
ion OF the constitution, better that It should be aDo-
gated al once npoint Of tact is nully or rather
to speak correctly it is powerless for protection
and potent only when il comes to aid northern aggres
sions. Let me illustrate what mean
The majority claim given power, (no matter how ex-
avagant and matter whether II relates to slavery OF
not j the minority deny the existence Of any such pow
er After months, il may be years, OF herce struggles
and contentious compromise u proposed VIZ accslea
to, one-half is given up In little while another
contest is begun for the remainder Another compro-
mise follows and another halt yielded And 80 on u
IL the stronger party gets all demands sf, wan; no
II aIeckess and unpncpled majority choose 70 vioia!e
that instrument there is remedy sharp and severe 10
true, but just and inevitable in It's application ~
What, Mr.. President, have we to compromise! Whal
demand have we made What favor even have we
asked want answer, Tell me, you who TAX oi
compromises what is that any southern has asked
at your hands Nothing, sir, nothing. Humber even
than Lazarus at the rich mans gate we have appealed 10
you neither for charity nor sympathy what we nave
given up have sought to reclaim Whatever
burdens the constitution imposes are willing TO bear
Beyond this ought to 90 and no freeman VIII 60
have had occasion to say 80 mach IN my SNORT SET
vice of the Union and its values OF the wrongs 70 which
subjected and the appropriate remedy Tor them,
that il is with the utmost reluctance again approach the
subject The senator from Kentucky has favored us
with bloody and disastrous picture OF dsunoR, and the
senator from Michigan, short time afterwards, IN a
carefully prepared speech followed in the same ugu-
Mr. CASS There was no preparation the subject.
The remarks occurred to me until the moment hey
Mr. CLEMENS Well, that is small matter. What
mean to assert s that both Of those senators endeavored
to impress upon the country the belief that war must fo
low on the heels OF disunon. Both OF them no doubt
hr1trr nv
neni, all that is fancy merely. cannot see why war
should follow a. separation. On the contrary tnink
the good sense Of both sections would teach them mat
they must part had better be after the manner OF the
Patriarch Of old and that each would say to the Other
Let there be srfe pray thee between thee and me-
ny anS Be y should
come if civil dscord and raernal strife should mar the
beauty Of the land, the responsibility must attach not TO
those WHO maintain the right Su. to those G In h who% ine
stinct.
The senator is mistaken il he supposes he say any
thing of the possible OF dsunion which has
not occurred to u.s. We have often manifested our sense
of the evils il would bring and never more so than al
the present time. We do not mean to dissolve; we leave
we have labored most earnestly to prevent them from
concentrating dissolution, by destroying the only bond
ha. holds gs Osshs The
majority so large that neither control regulate
it, The fate OF the country in their hands and 70 them
belongs the responsibility for whatever follows warn
them that bloody pictures will scarcely fghten US from
our propriety We mean to defend rights in all con-
tngencies, and consequences must take care OF them
selves
II is the constant practice OF those who seeking to
oppress u.s. both in Congress and to descan
with much pathos upon the Farewell Address OF Wash
ngon, aud to commend to our consideration nus asl al
vice 10 his counrymen. Sir, the memory OF that great
man should be like the tabled tree in the islands OF the
East within whose shadow no unclean thing Will har-
Dor. His name should be forbidden word when any
thing mean. or base, selfish is to be accomplished
Least Of all should il be quoted to sanction med
taied tyranny he won an immortality oi Tsnown py re-
thy for the wronged, and owed all its brightness TO re-
beon II he were living now, his whole history leaves
to doubt which side OF this great controversy
he would be found
shall take another occasion TO discuss the other prop
ostions submitted by the senator from Kentucky.
Mr. CASS Mr.. President, ldesre TO say a few words
in consequence OF some remarks which have fallen from
the honorable senator from Alabama, Mr. CLEMEss i
want speak OF myself is rather disageease topic
for any man, but it is which forced upon me by
what has been said here and elsewhere am not gong
TO vndicate the correctness OF my opinions al all leave
that to time and truth Ionly intend to vndcse my con-
sistency That undertake to do-that will do to the
satisfaction OF every candid man. | do not understand
exactly the aluson Of the honorable senator from Ala
bama.
Mr. CLEMENS, Gnterposing) | have not said anything
about the senator's consistency.
Mr.. CASS. | had not intended 10 intimate that the
honorable senator did Ia these remarks did not refer
10 him was upon the point however, OF doing so in
relation another topic alluded not to what has just
been said here. but to what had been said elsewhere
was ABOUT 10 say however, toos
place. that did not clearly understand what the senator
meant when he said that in my speech TO which he re-
erred dealt oaly n general principles certainly intma-
ting, il not saying. that ! avoided close connexon
with the subject and with its consequences.
The honorable is in error total error as to
my course had two objects In view in that speech, dis
ncy announced at the commencement, and distinctly
carried through the whole OF One was TO show that
the Wilmot Proviso unconstitutional and the other,
that IL constitutional it inexpeden All the prnc
plies, general particular, that dealt in, had refer
ence IN thpget lOxtCav and
mately as could apply them; whether successfully or
not il does no, become me TO determine dealt in gem
eral principles, ndeed-and who does not in the discus.
sion OF such great and vital question but brought TO
nv aid such other considerations and illustrations
thought would forfy the position had taken certainly
not deferred from avowng my conclusions or the process
by which they were reached
Ii was intmated by the senator from Mississippi Mr..
DAyrs,l and by more than one gentleman believe in
the other wing OF the Capitol that had not been con-
ssent in my course The feelings OF respect and kind
ness which entertain for that senator are, sure,
guaranty him that do not allude to this subject in any
spirit OF complaint My course, il worthy Of notice, is
open to public examination and trust will bear IT, The
charge Is sir, that in my Nicholson letter, laid down
principles from which departed in my late speech upon
the Wimot Provso. The allusion. understand il, Is
more particularly TO the proposition that the people OF the
Territories well as OF the States, have right "a
and that the condition of slavery may be regulated by
them well as any other relation of life. In that letter
sir, which seems to have become historical, lar be-
yond its importance, laid down four principles, which
then deemed 10 be correct, and whose truth time and
experience have but the strongly confirmed. Till
change my CONVICTIONS shall neither seek TO conceal MOI
dIsavow them any one has misunderstood me before