The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1850-03-14
Abstract
Mr. CaIh0as,'s Speech.

stated his 1naOlllty 10 ADDRESS The eenate
in person, and returned thanks for the
courtesy which the Senate had extended
him, in permitting him to- have his views
upon the great question # present agitation
delivered by PROXY. He then asked MIR.
Mason to read his speech for him.
MIR. Mason then proceeded to read the
speech. Mr.. Calhoun commences by ask
ing-"What can be done to save the Uni
on?" II was necessary, first, to find the
cause Of danger, before remedy could be
applied. The danger, arose-frst, from
the discomfort in all the Southern States,
which commenced with the agitation of
the slavery question and has continued ever
since. The next question was-"What
has caused this disquiet?" 1t resulted
from the belief on the part of the Southern
States that they could not live IN the Union,
under the existing state of things, with saf-
| ty to their honor and interests.
| He proceeded next to show by statistics
that fhe equilibrium of the different sections
of the Union has been lost, in consequence
of the increase of population in the North
this state Of affairs placed the control of
the Government exclusively in the hands
of the North-giving them majority of
the States, and large majority in the pop
ulation, which would be largely increased
by the next census. In addition TO this,
the newly acquired territory would also
add speedily, at least five new States,
which would be admitted to the North
while no additional territories were pro-
crossing in the South.
He next proceeded to show that the ac.
ton of the Government has been such as TO
| give control to sectional majority, by
which the South has been deprived of its
share, in the territories. The first act hav-
ing such effect, was the ordinance of 1857.
The next, the Missouri, compromise and
the last the act by xhich the South were
excluded from Oregon. The result of all
of which has been to exclude the South
from three fourths of the territory acqui-
red by the federal government giving her
one fourth only. The North had also un-
settled the necessary equilibrium between
the two sections, by adopting system of
posed unequal burdens upon the South, TO
the advantage of the North. The action
of Congress in the next place had resu ted
in concentration of power in the federal
government, to the manifest disturbing and
violation of State rights. The result of all
these series of measures, and this course of
policy, was to give the North an ascendan-
cy in every department of the Government.
He then proceeded to consider the views
and feelings Of the people of the North rel
alive to the institution of slavery, which
.';s South felt TO be necessary TO her social
orr.r: :-ation, and which lie said was look
ed mon w,,.h ,.h greater or less hostility by
the Whole North--sll the people of which
felt bound, at least, ia u. .<countepance It
while they felt themselves 1nr 'ea 10 'e
fend it.
He reviewed the Course of the slavery
agitation by the North-commencing with
the first battle upon the right of petition, and
coming down TO the present day-for the
purpose of showing that encroachments
upon this point had been continued, gradu-
al, and always successful--until imminent
=. ,ger to the Union itself had now arisen.
IT, He .o tended that from the first organized
the Abolilionists had continual
iv Increased in numbers, opportunities and
! jon,nnJad ;n,mad;,, and earnest efforts for
ueItdllu6u ltuiIltuldtN
its arrest.
What then could be do,..e 10 arrest It's
progress, and what could save Ii. oh.o'i
Disunion would not be effected at >Hg'e
blow. 1t was the work of hme.-for tn
cords which bind the Union were too nu-
merous to be snapped all at once. One of
the many cords which had bound the Uni
on together was the religious cord The
sympathy between the associations of vari-
Gus religious denominations of both sec
tions. The first of the cords which snap
ped was that of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The next, the division of the
Baptists with two opposing sectional par
ties. The Presbyterian cord had not alto
gether given way, although some of its
strands were broken. The Episcopal only |
of the four great denominations remained
firm and unbroken-as result of this agi-
tation. Mr.. Calhoun makes no reference
whatever to the Catholics. The next
great cord which had snapped was that
Of political party organization, which
had held together until recently severed
by the increased agitation. Again-"how
could the Union be saved p 1t could only
be saved by adopting such measures as
will satisfy the Southern States that they
will remain in the UDion with safety and
honor to themselves. 1t could not be saw
ed by eulogizing the Union, nor by ap- |
peals to the memory of Washington.
Neither was there anything in the life or
example of that distinguished man which
would deter the South from seeding on
the contrary, there was much to encour-
age them to secession as remedy for op-
preston and deprivation Of their rights
Mr.. Cass' plan or the plan proposed by the
Administration, could not save the Unon.
The latter was nothing but modification
of the Wilmot Proviso, and still more OBJ
iectionabe than that measure. Its very
object was to deprive the South Of It's right
full participation in the territories.
Looking at the Constitutional question,
he contended that the power of legislation
for the territories il Vested exclusively in
Congress. In this view, the action of the
people of California in forming govern
ment for themselves, had usurped the pow
er OF Congress. Their conduct in this re-
snect was revolutionary and rebelliOns in