The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
sPEECH on MIR. A. @. BROWN,
- or MIssIssfppI Al.

Z
Mr., CHAIRMAs; Gentlemen say they deprecate dis
cusson the subject Of slavery My judgment approves
it. We have gone too far 70 recede without an adjust
should never have commenced But when wrong has
been perperated side and resented the other
adjustment in some form is Indispensable Il is better
than TO leave the thorn OF discord thus planted TO
rankle and foster, and finally produce healing
sore We need attempt such useless task that of
Disgusting from ourselves, constituents, and in truth
the world at large, that i'll blood has been engendered
that losing munal attachment that daily
becoming and esanged that the bres OF the
great cord which unes us as one people are giving way
and that we fast verging 10 ultimate and nal disrup
ton hold no with the spurious patriotism
which closes its eyes 10 the dangers which visit u.s. and
with loud voice sings hosannas to the Unions such pat
rotism will not save the UnOnltis destructive OF me
Union Open wide your eyes and look these dangers full
the face and with strong and stout hearts assault
them, vanquish them. and on the field OF your triumph
erect altar sacred 10 the canse OF liberty, and on that
altar offer willing sacrifice this accursed demon OF
dscord Do this, and safe; refuse, and these dan
and backer as days roll on. The storm which lin
gers will burst and the gens OF Dissolution will pre-
side where the Union now is
am for discussion. for interchange OF sentiments
Let there be wrangling about small grievances, but
with elevated pairollsin--a patriotism high as our
noble mountains and broad a. Tie Union itsef--et us
which beset us.
Ia all matters Of dispute important 10 consider who
committed the first wrong NATL this ls done, satisiac
tory basis oil ali adjustment can be established.
The Union is divided IN sentiment upon great ques-
lion, by geographical line. The North is opposed to
slavery, and the South Is II favor Of IL The North is
for aboshng it, the South Is tor maintaining It. The
North is for confnng it in It's present limits where they
fancy it will languish, and, langulshing, will die The
South is for leaving Il unfestIaned to go wherever
wi,hn our lims) it may be invited by soil, climate, and
population These and their necessary incidents
nave brought the Two ends OF tie Union into their present
perilous poson-a position from which one the other
must recede or conflict dangerous liberty and fatal
TO the Union wircertainy ensue. I.
Who is at fault, or rather who first in fault in this
faterna quarreli We were the owners OF slaves we
bought them from your fathers. We never sought TO
make shareholders oil you nor TO force slavery upon YOU
When you emancipated the remnant OF your slaves, we
did not nerpose Content 10 enjoy the fruits of our a
dusry at home, within own limits we never sought
ntrude upon your domestic quiet Not SO with you
For twenty years you have not ceased to disturb
our peace We have appealed to your orbearance
Not only have you dsegarded these appeals but every
appeal has been followed by act OF outrage and
aggression. We have in vain pointed 70 our domcils,
and begged that you would respect the feelings OF their
inmates You have threatened them with conhagraiion
When have pointed wives and our sleeping IN
ans and in their besought your forbearance you
have spurned eneaes and mocked the fears OF these
sacred pledges of love. Long years OF outrage upon
our feelings and disregard OF rights have awakened
in every southern heart a feeling OF stern resistance
Think what you WILL say what will, perpetaie again
and agan il you w these acts OF awess tyranny; the
day and the hour is al hand when every southern
will q rebellion, when every tongue will say, give
repeat we have never sought 10 disturb your quiet.
We have foborne to retaliale your wrongs Content to
await returning sense oi JuStce, we nave suDmlueu
That sense of JUSTICE lear, will return and
submiss ion is longer a virtue We il to you. 10
ourselves to common country, 10 the friends OF free
dom throughout the world, 10 warn you that we intend
Gentlemen tell us they do not believe the South is in
earnest They believe will still submit Let me
warn them TO put away % ,aal Seuson Is ia'al 70 me
gone Ii is treason to encourage hope OF submission
Tell the truth, speak boldly 60 home and tell your
people the issue is made up; they now choose be-
tween with southern rights on the one
side and dissolution OF the Union the other. Tell
them the South asks nothing from their bounty, but only
asks their forbearance.
The specious arguments by which you cover up your
unauthorized attempts 10 drive from the Territories
may deceive the unwary, but an enlightened public sent.
meni will not ia 70 detect neir laacy ana posleny VIII
effort seize the spos OF victory BY other hearts
and hands than yours. Territory free must remain
Free say you. Who gave you the right 10 speak thus
oracaayl Is this an acquisition Of your own, or is il
a thing obtained by the JOINT effort OF all have
been told that the United States acquired the territory
from Mexico and that the Congress. speaking for the
United Staes dispose OF it, Technically speaking the
United did make the acquisiton but what Is the
United Saies agent lor the States, holding for
them certain political powers IN rusi 10 be exercised for
their mutual benefit and among these the power 10 de-
clare and make peace. in the exercise OF these
powers the territory was acquired, and ior whom Noi
certainly for the agent, but tor the principal Not for the
Who fought the bates-who won the victories which
resulted 10 acquisition s-the people of the United
CdtesI Certainty not lnere - no SuCu tnllR rs tue
people OF the United States They perform no act
have fact pocal existence. DO The people OF Inc
United States elect this Congress' No; elected
by Saies-nosi o US by districts in States. The States
elect senator's and the President is himself elected by
State electoral colleges and not BY the people OF the Un
ted States. There is such political body the people
Of the United States; they can DO nothing-have done
nothng--have IN fact no existence When the war with
Mexico began, whom did The President call Not.
certainly the people OF the United Staies but the
people Of Tie States by States aud BY States they
spondedby States they made their contributions 10 the
grand army and whatever acquired OF
sty acquired for the States, each having equal inter-
es; aud the United States agent trustee, general
repository OF the common fund.- is boI and do equal and
exact Justice 10 all the parties interested.
The army created and supported by thirty sover
eighties allied together These oyeegntes acted through
welfare of all But il does not follow that sucn head
NAV rehtluIy appropriate the award OF the conflict to
6fteen OF the allies, leaving nothing the remaining If
teen Soyeregns are equal; there is no such Thing as
great or small sovereigs, 10 speak more correctly,
soperesns of great aud small degree. They are equals,
except when BY venlionai agreement that equality Is
destroyed No such agreement has been made between
the soveregns composing our conederacy hence, Del
aware is equal to New York, and the fifteen southern
States equal to the fifteen northern States ltfoows
that the fifteen soveregnes OF the North cannot exclude
the sfteen sovereghes OF te South from an equal paf-
cpalion and control the joint acquisition oi prop
erty OF all Nor the common agent, the Unlteu
States, hearken 10 the OF the .hfeen northern IN
preference 10 those of the fifteen southern allies 30
long one Of the soveregns 10 alliance protests against
common disposition Of what belongs 10 all and to each
one in equal degree, disposition can be rghiuly