Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1850-08-08


the honor of the South are preserve
lunimpaired by this measured
| l appeal, sir, to the senators iron
Rhode Island and from Delaware
lmy little friends, which have stoo,
by me, and by which have stood
in all the vicissitudes of my politics
life; two glorious, patriotic littl
States, which, if there is to be
breaking up of the waters of thi
! Union, will be swallowed up in th
Icommon deluge, and left withou
support. Will they hazard that Un
ion which is their strength, thei
power, their greatness!
Let such an event as | have allu
ded to occur, and where will be tn
sovereign power of Delaware ant
Rhode Island? If this Union shal
become separated, new unions, new
confederacies viii! arise. And witt
respect to this--if there be any
hope there is no one in the Senate
before whose Imagination is fiittin!
the idea of a-great southern confed
eracy 10 take possession Of the Ba
lize and the mouth of the Mississippi
Il say in my place never! neUer
NEVER will we who occupy tht
broad waters of the Mississippi, con
sent that any foreign flag shall fioat
at the Balize, or upon the turrets Of
the Crescent City-never-neverl-
| call upon the South.
Sir, we have hard words-bitter
words, bitter thoughts, unpleasant
feeling towards each other in the
progress of this measure. Let us
sacrifice these feelings. Let US 60
TO the alter of our country and swear
as the oath was taken of old, that
we stand by her; we will support
her; that we will uphold her consti-
tuition; that we will preserve her Un-
ion, and that we pass this great,
comprehensive, and healing system
of measures, which will hush all the
jaring elements, and bring peace and
tranquility to our homes. Let me,
Mr.. President, in conclusion, say
that the most disastrous consequen-
ces would occur, in my opinion,
were we to go home, doing nothing
to satisfy and tranquilize the coun-
try upon these great questions
What will be the judgment of man
kind, what the judgment Of that por-
ton OF mankind who are looking up
on the progress Of this scheme of
self-gcvernment, as being that which
holds the highest hopes and expec-
Iations of ameiiorating the condition
Of mankind-what will be the judg-
nent of our constituents when we
return to them, and they ask us, how
nave you left your country? Is all
luiet-all hapPyl Are all the seeds
of distraction or division crushed
and dissipatedl And, sir, when you
come into the bosom ofyour family
when you come to converse with
The partner OF your fortunes, Of
your happiness, and of your sorrows
and when, in the midst OF the COM
ron offspring of both of you, she
SKIS you, "Is there any danger Of
,ivil war! Is there any danger Of
he torch being applied to any por-
ion of the country? Have you set
led the question which you have
'een so long discussing and delibera-
ing upon at Washington Is all
'eace and all quiet!" What re-
ponse, Mr.. President, can you make
o that wife of your choice and those
.hildren with whom you have been
'lessed by Godi Will you go home
nd leave all in disorder and confu-
ion-all unsettled--all openl The
ontentions and agitations Of the
ast will be increased and augmen-
ed by the agitations resulting from
ur neglect to decide them. Sir, we
hall stand condemned by all hu-
ian judgment below, and of those
bove it is not for me to speak. We
lall stand condemned by our own |
onsciences, by our own constitu- {
nts by our own country. The I
may be defeated. | have
cen aware that its passage for many ;
ays was not absolutely certain &
rom the first to the last believ- i
it would pass; because from the
rst TO the last | believed it was foun- '
ed on the principles of Just and {
ghteous concession-of mutual q
9nciliation. believe that it deals /
njustly to no part of the republic; r
lat it saves their honor, and, as far {
! it is dependent upon Congress, a
ives the interests of all quarters Of a
Ie country. But, sir, have known v
lat the decision of its fate depends Q
pom four or five votes in the Senate a
the United States, and upon whose v
innate judgment we could not ?
,unt upon the one side or the other S
ith absolute certainty. Its fateis Ii
,w committed to the hands OF the q
=