The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-24

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upon this subject. So far as am concerned, |
am unwilling that any honest man, or sensitive
woman, or inquiring child, should believe that
was capable of eonceiying any purpose against
this Union, and would not make any reasona-
BILE sacrifice to maintain it. believe, Mr. Presi-
dent, that / have voted for everything which
bore the semblance of fair compromise, upon
the subject of slavery, since / have been in Con-
gress. | voted for the Clayton Compromise ]
I voted for the scheme offered by the Senator
from Wisconsin, have voted for the Missouri
Compromise Iwould vote for it now, if offer
ed according to its true spirit and effect do
not vote for this scheme, sir, because do not
regard it as compromise; 4 look upon it as a
surrender on the part of the South. i do not
believe that it would either give peace or do
justice. am called upon to vote for the admis-
sion Of California, with an antislavery constitu-
ton, which was not the result, as / believe, of
natural causes, or the spontaneous movement Of
her people, but of the action, direct and indirect,
of the General Government, which has at last
reached this end, through more than one breach
in the constitution which gave it being. With
these opinions, how can vote for such bill !!
How could do it with a decent degree of res
pect to the resolutions Of my State? What is
the meaning of the denuncaton Of the WiImot
Proyiso, and kindred measures if such
course of measures as brought California here
petitioning to be received as State is not to be
included in that denuncation! But will not
repeat my objections to the measure.
Mr.. President, have not been loud in my
professions of attachment to this Union, because
was not aware that | had done any thing to
bring that attachment into questions. have had
also another reason for this forbearance; have
thought, sometimes, that these professions were
used to cover and cloak unworthy submissions
to power and improper surrenders Of right, and
did not choose to incur such suspicion. But,
at the same time, believe have shown by nv
past course that would do any thing reasons
BILE and proper to preserve it. Ibelievemy pre-
sent course tends to produce the same result !;
for am defending not only what deem to be
the just rights of the South, but the Constitution
of the United States, as understand that instru-
ment. And if the time shall ever come when
lit shall be treason to the Union to demand JUS
tee for the South, then the days Of this Union
will be numbered. On the contrary, believe
j strengthen it by what do to promote justice,
and to sustain and defend the Constitution.
Sir, have not been in the habit of consider
ing the Union as in danger have looked upon
disunion as thing scarcely possible to occur.
1t may have beena superstition, but it has seemed
to me that there was so much Of human destiny,
SO much of human hope staked upon this expert
ment of ours, that could not believe the kind
Providence whose sustaining hand has been so
manifest our past history, wouldpermt if to fail
Sir, we have already achieved so much, that our
growth and success must be accounted as a
marvel, and almost a mystery for known causes
will scarcely account for it. And still our pro-
gress is forward and onward, stimulated by every
M which ann los, ,, tb,,,,;
asm in the human breast Vast associated in
terests march together in that grand procession,
aud these interests contain all the elements of
human grandeur and prosperity. The bonds of
brotherly love are not yet broken; the cords of
kindly feeling have not fretted asunder. We
have our traditions, too--traditions of trial and
of glory, to which we cling with pride and with
fondness. They do not extend, like those OF
older nations, into the remoter regions of fable
or Of old, but they already begin to grow faint
in the distance, and shed their dim religious light
upon the path over which we have passed
When we looked to the future, to the prospect
before U.S. the Imagination pauses to measure its
strength for the flight which is before it.
Mr.. President, what more enviable position
can any man occupy than one from which he
may look backward with SO much of pride, and
| forward with so much of hope? Is it to be sup.
posed that any sane man would wantonly sacri-
fee it or abandon it, except under sence Of the
sternestnecessity? But, sir, we will sacrifice il
inevitably, if we forget that the order and peace
OF this grand possession depend upon the mu-
tual affections OF its members: that these mu-
tual affections depend upon justice and fair deal
ing to each other; and the bond of our peace is
broken, the covenant of our liberties dissolved
and the chart of our progress destroyed, when
we set aside the Conctitution of the United
States That man ought not to be rebuked who
steps forward to defend this instrument, with
even too eager zeal, for his is pious work, a
holy zeal, and, if erring, he errs on the right
side. Such man deserves the respect OF every
honest man, and of every lover ofwell-regulated
liberty. 1t is to defend this sacred instrument
in my poor way that stand here to-day. |
should be insensible to the highest duty of pat
riotism it were unwilling to fall here tomorrow,
if by so doing could perpetuate this covenant
to my countrymen, lin its letter merely, but
a inits spirit and truth. Sir, will stand by the
Constitution, by the Union which is prescribed
in that Constitution, but cannot vote for this
bill upon any considerations which as vet have
been presented to me- 0
Mr.. President, the Senator from Massachusetts,
admonished us the other day that the fate of
this bill might be in the hands of the South: and
he seemed to think that we were mourning a
a deep responsibility, and running the hazard Of
mnch reproach, if we did not come forward and
sustain it, Sir, / ask why should the South
sustain it more than the North The North has
a majority of votes upon this floor. And has
the North no interest in peace and union? Are
these considerations only for the South? Why,
then, when this bill gives every thing to the
North, does not the Northcome forward and vote
for it Why ask us to support a bill in which
the North gets every thing, as the Senator from
Massachusetts distinctly asserts! Why ask us
to help to establish precedent by which our
rights are sacrificed, and thus. give our bond, by
aiding the work, to make no complaint of this
Outrage, or of any similar wrong which may be
inflicted on us hereafter?
Sir, if you take the most distinguished advo-
Gates of this BILL they all tell you the same story
Ask the Senator from Kentucky if he believes
after this bill passes, that yon can carry slave
into these Territories, and he will tell you 'no .
Ask the Senator from Michigan, ask the Senator
from Massachusetts,, and they viii both reply
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