The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-14

or physical things; and hold the idea Of sepa-
ration Of these States those that free to form
one Government, and those that are slaveholdug
to form another rs a moral impossiblity. We
could not separate the States by any such line,
If we were to draw it We could not sit down
here to-day and draw line Of separation that
would satisfy any five men in the country. There
are natural causes that would keep and tie us to-
gether-social and domestic relations which we
could not break if we would, and which we should
not If we could. Sir nobody can look over the
face of this country at the present moment, no
body can see where its population is the most
dense and growing, without being ready TO ad-
NIT, and compelled to admit that, ere long, Amer
lea will be in the valley Of the Mississippi.
Well, now, sir, beg to inquire what the widest
enthusiast has to say on the possibility of cutting
off that river and leaving free States ut its source
and its branches, and slave States down near its
MOUTH Pray, sir, pray, sir, let me say to the
People of this country, that these things are wor-
thy of their bordering and Of their consideration
Here, sir, are five millions Of freemen in the free
States north of the river Ohio: can anybody
suppose that this population can be severed by a
line that divides them from the territory of a
foreign and an alien Government, down some
where, the Lord knows where, upon the lower
banks Of the Mississippi? What would become
Of Missouri Will she join the reimbursement
of the slave States Shall the man from the
Yellow Stone and the Mad River be connected in
the new Republic with the man who lives on the
southern extremity of the Cape Of Florida Sir,
! am ashamed to pursue this line of remark
dislike i'll have an utter disgust for it. would
rather hear Of natural blasts and mildews war;
pestilence, and famine, than to hear gentiegnen
talk of secession. To break up! to break up this
great Government-to dismember this great coun-
try-to astonish Europe with an act Of folly such
as Europe for two centuries has never beheld in
any Government! No, sir no, sir There will
be no secession. Gentlemen are not serious when
they talk Of secession.
Sir, hear there is to be a Convention held
at Nashville. am bound to believe that if wor-
thy gentlemen meet at Nashville in Convention
their object will be to adopt counsels conciatory
to advise the South to forbearsnce and modera-
ton, and to advise the North to forbearance and
moderation; and to inculcate principles of broth
ery love and affection, and attachment to the
Constitution of the country as it now is | be-
lieve, if the Convention meet at ALL it will be for
this purpose; for, certainly if they meet for any
purpose hostile to the Union, they have been sim
guarly inappropriate in their selection of place.
| remember, sir, that when the treaty was con-
| Guided between France and England at the peace
of Amiens, stern old Englshman and an orator,
who disliked the terms of the peace as ignomini-
oas to England said in the House of Commons,
that if King William could know the terms of
| the treaty, ne wuulu turn in his coffin. Let me
commend the saying, in all its emphasis and in
all its force, to anybody who shall meet at Nash,
vile for the purpose Of concerning measures for
the overthrow of the Union of this country over
the bones of Andrew Jackson.
Sir, wish to make two remarks, and hasten to
a conclusion. | wish to say, in regard to Texas,
that if it should be hereafter at any time the
pleasure of the Government Of Texas to cede to
the United States portion, larger or smaller of
her territory which lies adjacent to New Mexico,
and north of the 3ith degree Of north latitude,
for fair equivalent in money or in the payment
OF her debt, | think it an object well worthy the
consideration of Congress, and | shall be happy
to concur in it myself if should be in the public
councils of the country at the time.
have one other remark to make. In my obser-
vations upon slavesy 1t has existed in the coun
| try, and as it now exists, | have expressed no
opinion of the mode of its extinguishment or
amelioration. will say, however, though have
nothing to propose on that subject, because do
not deem myself so Competent as other gentlemen
to consider 1t, that if any gentleman from the
South shall propose a scheme of colonization, to
be carried on by this Government upon large
scale, for the transportation of free Colored peo-
pie to any colony or any place In the world, |
should be quite disposed to incur almost any de-
gree Of expense to accomplish that object. Nay,
ty years ago by great man. then Senator from
New York, would return to Virgnia--through
her for the benefit Of the whole 9outh--all the
money received froya the lands and territories
ded by her TO this Government, for any such pur-
pose as to relieve, in whole or in part or in any
way to diminish or deal benefcially with the free
colored population Of the Southern States. |
have said that honor Virginia for her cession
of this territory. There have been received into
the treasury of the United States eighty millions
Of dollars, the proceeds of the sales of the public
lands coded by Virginia. If the residue should
be sold at the same rate the whole aggregate will
exceed two hundred millions of dollars. IL Vir-
ginia and the South see fit to adopt any PROPOSE
ton to relieve themselves from the free people Of
color among them, they have my free consent
that the Government shall pay them any sum
| of money out Of its proceeds which may be ade-
quate to the purpose.
And now, Mr.. President, draw these observa-
tions to a close have spoken freely. and |
meant to do So | have sought to make no display
| have sought to enlven the occasion by no ami
mated discussion have sought only to speak
my sentiments fully and at large, being DESTROYS
once and for all to let the Senate know, and TO
let the country know, the opinions and senti-
ments which | entertain on all these subjects
These opinions are not likely to be suddenly
changed. Ii there be any future service that
sentiments and opinions, shall cheerfully render
it, IL there be not, | shall still be glad to have
an opportunity to disburden my conscience from
the bottom of my heart and to make known every
political sentiment that therein exists
And now, Mr. President, instead of speaking
of the possibility or utility Of secession, instead
Of dwelling in these caverns of darkness, instead
of cropping with those ideas so full Of all that is
horrd and horrible let MS come opt into the light
of Ia 1af .,ph Il l.1o..
to US; let us devote ourselves to those great OBJ
jects that are fit for our consideration and our
action; let us raise our conceptions to the magni-
tude and the Importance of the duties that devoye
upon us; let our comprehension be as broad as
the country for which we act, our aspirations as
high as its certain destiny let us not be pigmies
in case that calls for men. Never did there de-
volve on any generation of men higher trusts
than now devolve upon us for the preservation OF
this Constitution, and the harmony and peace OF
all who are destined to live under it. ltis great
popular constitutional Government, guarded by
legislation, by law, by judicature and defended
blythe whole affections of the people. Nc
monarchical throne presses these States togeth.
err no iron chain of despotic power encircles
them; they live and stand upon Government
popular in its form, representative in it's charac.
ter, founded upon principles of equality, and cal
oulated, We hope, to last forever. In all it's his
tory it has been benehcent it has trodden down
no mans liberty it has crushed no State. II has
been in all its influences, benevolent bene6cent
promoting the general prosperity, the general
glory, and the general renown and at last, it has
received vast addition of territory. Large be-
fore, it has now, by recent events, become vastly
larger, This Republic now extends, with vast
breadth, across the whole continent The two
great seas Of the world wash the one and the
other shore We may realize the beautiful de-
| acrintion of thu orn ,nanta1 rloino If tho h,ot,
Ter of Achilles
Now the hr nal shielh cnnn.tn the ariiat er,..Dl