The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-27

trust such necessity will arise. have respected
and esteemed the honorable gentleman from North
Carolina 30 much, that | cannot otherwise regard
MS declarations than as an ebulhtion OF excited
feeling, rather than evidence Of settled purpose
an sure that his self respect and his love OF coun-
try will make il impossible for him TO attempt the
execution oil threat, made III the heat OF debate,
and unsanctioned, hope, by his subsequent calner
reflections.
Mr.. Chairman, we are 80 constituted that we Of
ten resist the convection and admission Of unpalata
BILE truths, even when they stand revealed to our
mental vision in unmstakable reality The equi-
librium Of political power, which has heretofore
been maintained between the slaveholding and
non slaveholding States of the Union will present
ly be fact "consgned TO the receptacle OF things
lost upon earth; and the preponderance OF politi-
cal power under this Government will pass, never
TO be regained TO the non slavehoding States. In
my Judgment, the best interests OF this Republic
require that this truth should be frankly declared
by public men, and recognised by the people. 1t
ID "a truth which raises question the gravest and
upon to consider and decide That question is,
Shall the Union be maintained dissOlUed? Is it
wiser for the southern States to quietly acquicsce
in this inevitable transfer of political power to the
northern States, and trust for their safety and the
security Of their property to the justice and patriot
lsm OF their co-States, and the guarantees OF the
Constitution, 'or to take arms against sea' Of
apwehendsd dangers, and, by dissolving the Union,
seek security and safety in the organization of
southern conicderacy! "To this complexion il
must come ut last" This is euen noo The real cues
tion. ! have, in preceding part of my remarks,
cpdcavored to show what and whose policy has
destroyed that equilibrium of power, the destruc-
ton OF which now creates SO much anxiety in the
slaveholding States; and it is needless for me TO re-
peat what have already said upon that subject.
submit to the results of policy, the consequences
of which ioresaw, and which / labored in vain TO
defeat. will trust to the guarantees Of the Con-
stituton, and to the justice and patriotism of those
who are henceforth to WELD the power which il
confcrs. Not until this reliance fails, will | permit
myself TO look to dissolution of the Union as a
remedy for existing evils, those which APP
pretended. am a citizen of slaveholding
State-l am the representative OF a saveholding
consttuency--and come what may, in connexion
with this subject, their fate shall be my fate their
destiny my destiny. Identified with them, and
bound to them by all ties that sacred and
strong, declare it as my opinion that while the
happiness welfare, and liberty Of all the States are
involved in the maintenance Of the Union, the
southern States are pre- .emnenty interested in its
preservation. And II my voice could reach the
slave-owne of the South, would tell them that
the Union is the only effective safeguard for the
security of that peculiar property with regard to
which they are now so anxious; and, il could,
would proclaim to them, sin voice of scyenfold
thunder" that those are practically their to0rst enc
mics ,Dho counsel them to any of action iohc
tends to its destruction.
Mr.. Chairman, it must be source Of happiness
TO every man who loves his country to perceive
that, although speeches of n sectional and inflam-
matory character have been for six months sent
forth from this Capitol, and scattered broadcast
over the land, their effect seems to have been to
tranquilize rather than excite the public mind The
people pause, well they may, when the vortex Of
disunion and civil is opened to their view
They refuse to volunteer be impressed into the
service Of disunonists. They will not enlist under
That banner. They VIII not march to that music.
They have given unmstakabe evidence that they
devoted to the Constitution of their country and
that they determined to sustain and uphold the
Government bequeathed to them by their ancestors,
and make it, in all time to come, what it has been
in time past--the beacon light of liberty, guiding
the nations of the earth to political redemption,
the star of Bethlehem guided to the Redeener