The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-20

man may be guilty OF treason though ne may not
be corpofeally present when the overt act is COM
mittod.
Mr.. AsHE. Does my colleague mean that calling
the yeas and nays is treason?
Mr.. STANLy. No; do that frequently myself
refer 10 a newspaper statement OF an organized
plan TO break up the Government by violence.
word two now of the proposed Nashville
convention. see no necessity OF any such con
vention see great reason, since the late demon
stration of a Senator from South Carolina, (Mr
CALHoUN,) why that convention should not meet
| and ought not to meet. He said, in the southern
address, g be united" Many of his friends
cannot go with him in his proposition for amend
ing the Constitution. No one knows what the con
yention will do. The Wilmot proviso vii
not pass that is test question" There is nc
possibility bill will be passed abolishing slavery
in this District that, with some, is another sc test
question:" Then TO fugitive saves-let see
whether additional Legislation will not be granted
this session. and that ought to be " test question
for those States who have lost fugitive slaves Then
as to the admission Of Caiornia-as to what ID
| called maliciousiy the Executive proviso--he who
goes TO the Nashville convention to produce opposi
ton TO the Government this account, is no friend
OF his country and Is IN favor OF dsunion, mat
ter what Congress does or refuses to do
Nashville, / should have thought, would have
been the last place selected for the meeting Of such
a convention. Near that city is the grave Of An
drew Jackson. differed in opinion with this
celebrated man, TO the propriety of some of his
measures while he was President But he won my
highest admiration by his patriotic firmness in
putting down notification in 1888 His services to
his country then threw into the shade, rather
added brightness TO his military renown. And, il
he had rendered no other service his country he
would have been entitled to the lasting gratitude OF
his countrymen.
When that convention meets, | suppose some
Democrat will offer resolution tcstfying the re-
spect Of that body for his memory. What will
they say of his administration as President? What
OF that admirable message of January 10th, 1888
the last paragraph Of which deserves to be printed
in letters of gold?
think il would be an outrage upon the feelings
of the people of this country-an insult to the
memory of General jackson, to allow that conven-
ton to meet in Nashville, to consider the propriety
OF dissolving the Union
do not believe the people of Nashville will per-
NIT it; and if that convention meets, and propo-
sition is made to consider even whether the Union
ought not to be dissolved, ! hope the citizens of
Cumberland river.
II any of the good people Of North Carolina have
thought that it might be possibly proper for them
to attend that convention, they will think better of
1t, have no doubt after they read the recent extra
ordinary speech of Senator from South Carolina,
(Mr. CAUTIOUSLY In that speech he tells US, our
government is las absolute that of the Autocrat
OF Russia, and as despotic in its tendency as any
absolute government that ever existed" And
then he tells US what southern man has ever
thought of before, that in addition to all that poll
ticians, public meetings, and State Legislatures
have demanded, we must have, to save the Union,
store TO the South, in substance, the power she
possessed Of protecting herself before the equi-
brium between the sections was destroyed by the
action of this Government" Was ever propo-
sition more preposterous? ! have tried, since The
speech was delivered, to ascertain what this pro-
posed amendment is, and cannot. Congress is to
obey his suggestions, no matter what they are, to
be communicated in his own time Sir, he asks
inpossibilities, and am compelled to believe he
asks them because he knows they are impossible
ties.
have heard several speeches here containing
ideas similar to some of those advanced in this
speech; we have had little dribbling streams-tEe
spring from whence they sprang is now exposed to
view.
Mr. Chairman, my honorable colleague before
me Mr.. VENABLE) gave utterance to some opin
ions in his speech which regret have not time to
reply to- think my colleagues words are stronger
than he intended. He says: 'The bitter waters of
strife are about to be substituted for the refreshing
streams of patriotic affection" ! hope not. He
wants "wacrs of strife. II is not in his nature
to enjoy them
have time only to refer to one part of my col
leagues speech, (Mr, VESABLE's.) He says: 1.-THE
South has kept faith with the North in all things
in which the covenant bound them" As far as
North Carolina is the South, she has kept faith; but
that Is not so with all the South.
Iagree with my colleague that we have cause of
complaint against some OF the northern States, who
have done outrage to the Constitution, and treated
US shamefuly in regard to fugitive slaves. We
have cause Of complaint account of their resolu-
tons upon the subject of slavery But some Of my
colleagues political associates forget that this Con-
stituton was framed not only to protect southern
property, but to encourage American labor, North
well as South. Have we had no warfare against
the protective tariff? Yes, for more than twenty
years. And when the compromise bill in 1888 was
passed, the home valuation feature was inserted
with the express purpose of giving protection to
American manufactures Yet when the compro-
mise expired, some of southern politicians vio-
lently opposed the home valuation feature, and
nj IF ha Tr;O
policy revived.
Sir, know better than my colleague, from my
being on the scaboard, the losses our people have
sustained from fugitive slaves; and believe the
compromise act, which was passed to CRAFTY or 10
save from trouble portion Of the South sacrificed
many millions Of dollars of northern property as
the whole South lost in thousands OF dollars in
fugitive slaves. But will not dwell longer on nv
colleagues speech. He is amable gentleman
very companionable, possessing no small literary
requirements. What Goldsmith said of his friend
Hickey, think, i can say of my colleague, (Mr
NENABLE)
" He cherished his friend, and rclished his bumper
Yet one fault he had, and that a thumper'-
not only that Of being an attorney-but my col
league Is from one of the double wa
hrst family Virginia gentleman--a strict construc-
-republican-Dcmocrat Of the school of g '9s
and '99"-and TO expect any thing reasonable in
politics from such quarter, is most unreasonable
MIR. Chairman, must conclude. ! have spoken
freely; think the times require IT, have not in
tended TO speak Extensively TO any gentleman in
this House; but have spoken what believe my
duty to my country demanded, and Il have spoken
what believed to be true.
have an abiding trust and confidence in the
Ruler of nations, that he will not suffer evil counsels
toprevail among He, without whose knowledge
not sparrow falleth TO the ground, will, hope,
preserve tins country, that shall continue 20 be
an asylum TO the oppressed Of all lands. believe
that as hundreds Of years will have rolled by, and
generation after generation passed away, in the
words OF tue great defender Of the Constitution,
(Mr. WEBsTER,) Liberty and Union, and
forever, one and inseparable," will continue TO be
a sentiment dear TO every true American heart.
Yes, believe in a special Providence. Washing
ton was preserved through countless dangers, and
in one battle had two horses shot under him. "Thc
Great Spirit, as the Indian chieftold him. preserved
him from harm.
He was called on, in peace, to put down rebellion
and preserve the Union.
Jackson, too, rendered great and important ser
vices 10 hs,country in war, and by his frmness in
time Of peace crushed the spirit Of disunion during
his administration. And when we remember the
long and faithful service Of the ncorruptby honest
man. Of the patriot soldier at the helm Of state,
when remember how his life was spared, when
in the midst Of dangers his conduct has thrown
blaze Of glory the arms Of his country who can
doubt nc will perform his duty TO the Union-that,
whatever dangers may threaten IL, he will "stand