Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-04-10
tuition which the South has extended to the ut
most of her power by the acquisition OF new
| territory

territory.
Sir, would not notice things of this sort APP
pearing in obscure quarters; but one thing has
occurred in this debate which has struck NE
verv forcibly. An honorable member from
Louisiana addressed us the other day on this
subject. suppose there is not more amiable
and worthy gentleman in this chamber gen
tlenan who would be more slow to give offence
to give offence. But what did he say? Why,
sir, he took pains to run contrast between.
the slaves of the South and the laboring people
of the North, giving the preference in all points
of condition, and comfort, and happiness, to
the slaves of the South. The Senator doubtless
did not suppose that he gave any offence, or did
any injustice. He was merely expressing his
opinion. But does he know how remarks of
that sort will be received by the laboring peo-
pie of the North! Why, who are the labor
ing people of the North! They are the North.
They are the people who cultivate their own
farms with their own hands; freeholders,
educated men, independent men. Let me say,
sir, that fve-sixths Of the whole property of the
North is in the hands of the laborers of the
North; they cultivate their farms, they educate
their hildren, they provide the means Of inde-
pendence; if they are not freeholders, they
earn wages, these wages accumulate, are turn
ed into capital into new freeholders, and small
capitalists are created. That is the case. And
what can these people think when SO respecta-
Bile and worthy gentleman as the member
from Louisiana, undertakes to prove that the
absolute ignorance and the abject slavery of the
South is more in conformity with the high pur.
poses of immortal, rational, human beings
than the educated, the independent free Ia
borers Of the North? a..te
Now, sir, so far as any of these grievances
have their foundation in matters of law, they
can be redressed; so far as they have their
foundation in matters of opinion, in sentiment,
in mutual elimination and recrination, all that
we can do is to endeavor to allay and cultivated a
better feeling and more fraternal sentiments be-
tween the South and the North. yz rE sl.
Mr. President, l should much prefer to have
heard from every member Of this floor declara-
tions of opinion that this Union should never
be dissolved, than the declaration of opinion
that in any case, under the pressure Of an cir
cumstances. dissolution was possible. hear
with pain, and anguish, and distress the word
secesson--especially when it falls from the lips
of those who are eminently patriotic, and known
to the country, and known all over the world,
for their political services. Secession! Peace
able secession! Sir, your eyes and mine are
never destined to see that miracle. The dis
memberment of this vast country without
convulsior! The bursting up of the fountains
Of the deep without ruffling the surface! Who
is so foolish--I beg every body's pardon-as
to expect to see any such thing! Sir, he who
sees these States, now revolving in harmony
around a common centre, can expect to see them
quit their places and fly off without conyulslon
may look the next hour to see the heavenly bo-
dies rush from their spheres and jostle against
each other in the universe. There can be no
such thing as peaceable secession. Peacea-
bic secession is an utter impossibility. Is the
great constitution under which we live here
covering this whole country-isit it to be thawed
and melted away by secession, as the SHOWS on
the mountain melt under the influence OF
yernal sun? disappear almost unobseryed and
die off? No, sir will not state what might
produce this disruption Of the States; but sir,
/ see it as plainly as see the sun in heaven
see that disruption must produce such war
as will not describe in its two-fold eonsequen-
ces. .,. e.. o...o
Pcaceable session -peaceable secession!
The concurrent agreement Of all the members
Of this great republic to separate! Avoluntary
separation, with almony on one side and on the
other Why, what would be the result! Where
is the line to be drawn! What States are to
secede? What is to remain American! What
am to be? Where il the, flag Of the republic
! to remain! Where 10 the eagle still TO tower!
or is he to cover and shrink and fall TO the
| prounds Why, sir ours ancestors our fathers
and our erandfathers, those Of them that are yet
living amongst US with prolonged lives, would
rebuke and reproach us; and our children and
our prandchildrenfwould cry out shame upon
u.s. f we Of this generation should dishonor
these ensigns of the power Of the Government
/ and the harmony Of the Union which is every
/ day felt amongst us with 50 much JOY and gra.
titude. What is to become Of the army!
/ What is to become Of the public lands! How
lis each of the thirty States to defend Itself!
/ know. although the idea has not been .statee
distinctly. There is to be . Southern Con
federacy, perhaps. do not mean, when I, al
Ilude to this statement, that any one seriously
. contemplates such state Of things. DO no
mean to say that It is true, but have heard
suggested from design to separate, am sor
ry. sir, that it has ever been Thought of, talked
4 Of, or dreamed Of, il the widest fights OF hu
man imagination, But the i1ea must be Of
separation including the slave States upon on'
aide. and the free States on the other. Sir, Their
1 is not-I may express myself too strongly per
y haDs-but some things, some moral Mlngs
are almost as impossible as other natural
physical things; and I hold the idea of q sePar'
ton Of these States, those that are free to for,
one government, and those that ares sslayehold
]. jnr to form another, as q moral imposibility
Z We could not separate the States BY any sucl
line. five were to draw it, We conld not 81
J, down here, to-day, and draw line of sepae
alton that would safety any FIVE men ns, ~ tn
keen and tie US together--social and donssti
relat;ms which. we could not break Il W
could. Sir, nobody can look over the face 9
h this. country at the present moment-nohod
I can see whers ito population is the most dens
4 -I. s...1 ,..inn u,ithant heinr ready To admit