The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-04-18

"hSA ~ S0tASS W VOtAlAS SlA tllAo nOuty |
our cause appears to be almost, ifnot
quite hopeless. But I will not even vet
despair ofthe Republic, and will con
tinue to hope that at least those on
this side Of the House who in times
past have stood by the Constitution,
will continue to'do so; and thrust that,
on the other side, there may be some
who will be prepared to do Justice, and
save the Union. For I repeat, that |
do not believe that this Union can
survive the disfranchisement and de-
gradation of the southern States. Sir,
/ do not say this in the language Of
threatening. The South makes no
threats; she simply tells you that we
must respect each others rightor seper
ate that we must agree better than we
now do, or we ought to part company
The South loves the Union, but she
has neveryet thoughtof waging war
against the North for the purpose of
ettecting change ofpublic sentiment;
nor has she yet proposed in her ex-
tremity of attachment to the Union to
revenge one half the States with fire
and sword. All we say s,that we will
assert our rights, and that ifit becomes
necessary, we will meet force with
force. Yes, sir, we of the South will
resist aggression if it be forced upon
us-we know the price Of freedom,
and if necessary We will pay for it.
We know that no people have ever
long been free, unless they stood ready
to defend their rights-the conserva-
tors oftheir own privileges. In ordi-
nary times the Constitution is a sufH-
cient protection, bnt in times like these,
when prejudice and passion and the
thirst for sectional power control in the
halls of legislation, constitutions are
valueless, only as they define the
boundaries Of power and of privilege,
and to teach us where resistance should
begin, and where aggression musl
cease, The privilege ofbearing arms.
and the courage to use them, is at such
times Of more value than all the con-
stitutions thathave ever been written
Ma. paof,ta roaSa be long much misgnv,
IeTned who have, arms in their hands
and the knowledge Of their use. We
know that the Tree of Liberty has
ever been watered with the blood and
manured with the bones Of patriots
all the liberty now upon the earth has
been purchased by the blood of our
race. # necessary, we will do as our
fathers have done before lis. #@.
4 Sir, / will ask why do our northern
| brethern force this alternative upon
us! Why do you urge upon us a state
\ Of facts utterly hostile to the Union
: and in violation of the Constitutional
Has not our Government at least Ia
: you answered the purposes otits crea'
9 lion? Have VIC not grown and pros
Pered beyond any people ever npou
! his earth? Have not the lines fallen
3 b us in pleasant places, and have we
$ lot agoodIy heritage-the heritage O
] liberty, equality, and abundance? We
: lave already grown from thirteen tc
thirty States; and have territory sufi
$ dent for many more. Our eagles
$ fom their eyrie on the Rocky Monn
t tins dip their wings in the Atlantic
g AID Pacific oceans, and our banners
e fiat upon the st. Lawrence and the
6 Ro Grande. We can almost say, the
i ointment, the boundles continent il
e drs. A destiny so great, SO glorious
). his never been granted to any people
would again ask, are these blessing'
it al to be sacrificed? thrust not: there
d IiS however, but one way IN which
n thy can be retained, and that is by
It rspectng the guarantees of the Con
n ls4ution, and giving even handed jus
e tic to the South. We have neve
}, asRd more than equality with1the siste
a stab we have never acted III that
q spit Of concession and compromise
9 in which the Constitution was adopt
] ed; Ind we have never once given Il
: the North cause to complain Of al
}, aggrIssiye spirit; nor have we vioiateC
d one condition Of any compromis'
S whicl we have. We have ever beer
a genepus and forbearing, Virginii
. nIyleldd for the sake of harmony anC
d equally all the territory norfl Of tn
!, FOhloas States which was previouslA
nEslave territory-we divided Lonisia
i Ina AID Texas with you, both otwhict
8 Twas Slave teroitory-and in the session
4 LOT Congress before the last, we Offered
almost unanimously 10 accept thu
I Clayton compromise. bill, and we re
q ceiYed but twenty-five Democratic
. votes and not one Wing from tht
!, North. / would ask what did tha
d bill give as !? Whv nothing but sim