The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-09


ference But am not one OF these indilsen. men
can be Indifferent in nothing and least OF a upon ques
ions that involve not only the existence OF nls govern
ment but the existence of liberal government throughout
the world To me this Is not merely an American ques'
4 lion il is mundane Question look upon 4 IN con
ne xion with the question o civil loeFy ara human pro
gross IN other countries because am convinced that
The great experiment OF republican government fails or
This Continent il need never be attempted againin ht
world, -
10 fall that the glorious nstutlos which sou haye re-
ceiyed as a legacy from wise and noble ancestry, and
which you hold 10 trust not for yourselves only not fo
this generation aone hut Tor future generations for pos
lety, and for hunialy were BY some fatality by SONS
Judgment perhaps, OF Divine wrath or by some OF host
terrible conunciures which destroy the best OF human in
stnions approaching dark, premature, and inglorou:
end And there not cause, sir, Tor serious alarm
Was not this felt BY every member Of this bodys The
South complained OF grievances and aggressons and com
planned yehementy think the South exaggeates These
grievances, but doubtless il has some grounds OF JUS
complaint But, let say the North complains Of griev
ALSO and perhaps il has some Just grounds OF COM
plant But individual, sectional and national grievances
aad grievances Il fear, will continue 10 exist forever
under every form OF human government But suppose
sir that all the grievances Of which the south complains
are wholly imaginary and some OF our northern friend.
think SO does this lessen the imminence OF the danger
No, sir; by On the contrary, imaginary griev
ances are often more dangerous than real ones Rea
grievances be Iedressed for imaginary grievances
there is remedy. Sir, than half the great con-
vusons thai have shaken this world have sprung from
imaginary grievances. ..
tits not real dangers that are present to u.s. il is pro-
specve dangersdangers that loom and lower in the dis
tant futuretha rghten and alarm US most These are
the dangers that excite men TO acts Of foy ami urge
them on to the most fearful extrenlties Bu sir. there
times and when It is impossible to account
for the folly of human conduct anyhow. There are
periods when men and nations rush blindy, or rather
W es On oea s wn ad hs ,nes
nations filled with instances OF this kind, with peri
odcal instances OF folly and phrensy One generation
builds up, and another pulls down. One generation
POUNDS empires and another destroys them This has
been the history OF the world ior six thousand years,
and will continue, fear to be its history forever. And,
without meaning TO any reflection upon the genera
ton 10 which belong, must say that when saw the
total failure OF the people oil Europe, In their recent
struggles, and their unsuccessful efforts to ameliorate
their condition and reform their institutions, began to
fear that there something wrong in the character Of
the present age, and that the responsibilities OF this great
government had faen perhaps, on ageneraon unequal
to the present crss ana incapable oi welding az ms
But, sir, when assembled in this chamber,
by the special ordination OF Providence, the highest
intelects OF this nation minds matured and modera-
triotism-men capable OF comprehending the dangers
and difficulties OF the crisis, and having the courage
and capacity and may add, the national reputation,
to gapple with these dangers and triumph over them
think we may conclude, and conclude joyiutly that
Heaven still smiles this favored land-that the glori-
Gus stars, the appropriate emblem of this great republic,
yet destined 10 set in darkness and blood but 10
umne for ages, hope forever the broadcast and bright
est political rmament that ever sheltered liberty civ-
zalion, and humanity. My admiration and enthusiasm
have been often excited this session at the extraordinary
efforts OF the great statesmen oil this body TO work out
just and equitable plan for the settlement Of our
unfortunate difficulties. When saw the distinguished
senator hom Kentucky, now In the chair present his
great plan OF national compromise, and when listened
TO his thrilling eloquence and fearless enuncaton OF
great moral truths IN favor of liberty and humanity
truths old the laws that govern the moral world,
and which will live and kindle the hearts OF millions,
when the present generation is mouderg in the dustl
felt that there is heroism higher asd boiler than any
that inspired conqueror to tread his way through
blood and battle 10 victory and Immortality forgot on
that occasion that was democrat and that he the
great leader Of the whg party remembered nothing
nothing but the great republican and the great Ameri
can. do alude TO the distinguished senator from
Kentucky for the purpose OF inyidious distinction
on the contrary refer him the type, or rather
the central figure Of a host OF intellectual giants
who have employed their time, and talents, and ener
ges this session IN the great republican and American
work OF compIomise. | call the work OF compromise
emphacaly American. fearful controversy has ragged
here and throughout the country this whole sessions
controversy that exctes the strongest and deepest feel
ngs OF our naturea controversy as Il were, between
sentiment and interest," between liberty and slavery And
yet now either in this body or the other hall,
seriously contempates any other result than its ancahe
adjustment by an honorable and national compromise
Well. sir. my notion is that this controversy could not
have ragged one month in any other country on earth
witbouia national CONFUSION Why is this, siri Be.
the people OF This country trained and educated
and honorable compromise while the people OF other
countries, in great national difficulties, accustomed
TO have immediate 10 force Sir, there are only
two principles employed IN the government OF the poiti-
cal wofld-force and compromise. Some nations are gov
ened by both principles others by force alone but this
is the only naion that has always been governed by
compromise since the foundation OF the government and
Il must continue to be so governed as long as Icon
tnues 10 be republic Sir, when compromise eids
fore begins, and when force begins trdr begins and
the tocsin OF civil is the death OF repub-
licanism. MIR. President, am in favor OF the adj
mission OF California into the Union State.
Here there is no room Tor compromise. am also in
favor of keeping the question OF admission unconnect-
ed with any OF the other exciting questions now be.
fore the Senate great measure. like the admission OF
independent State, should, in my opinion be deter
mined its own intrinsic merits, and not in connex xion
with any other question: however important II Calfor-
entitled to admission, Is unjust TO the people OF
that Territory and unwse principle oil Legislation, 10
make that admission depend upon the doubtful issue OF
any other question You have done injustice enough 20
the Territories already you have refused 10 give Them
governments OF any kind and when they come here
with governments formed by themselves you refuse to
sanction them SIR upon the annexation OF New Mcxi-
and California, II the imperative duty oil Congress
to extend the blessings OF government TO the people oi
those Territories within reasonable time. No consider
atoms oil policy could exonerae Congress from this obll-
CATION. The highest trust that God commits TO man Is
that OF government and when he dsregards this trust he
sins against Gods appointment and does gevous wrong
10 those whom fortune has made dependant upon him for
government and protection Sir, You have done wrong
and grevous wrong TO the people of the Territories you
tore them from their own government; You severed them
from their people, you annexed them to yonr coun-
try; you made them part OF your peope-and all by
force and then you refused 10 give them government of
kind and left them state OF anarchy you poured
out blood and treasure 10 win these Territories, and
when you acquired them you abandoned them. Sir,