The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-02-23
Mr.. Clay on DisuniOn.

Mi' Ciuy VII DisuuiUH'
The following is the conclusion Of Mr..
Clay's great speech, lately delivered in
the U. S. Senate.
And, sir, must take the occasion here
to say that, in my opinion, there is no
right on the part OF any one or more OF
the States to secede from the Union.
War and dissolution OF the Union are dcn-
tical and inevitable, in my OPINION There
can he dissolution OF the Union only by
consent or by war. Consent no one can
anticipate, from an existing state of things,
IS likely to he given, and war is the only
alternative by which a dissolution could
be accomplished. II consent were given
1T it were possible that we were to be
separated by one great line--in less than
sixty days after consent was given, war
would break out between the s!ave-holding
and the Notwithstanding portions Of this
Union between the two indcpt ndHnt
parts into which 1t would be erected in
virtue OF the act OF separation. In less
than sixty days, believe, our slaves
from Kentucky, nocking over in numbers
TO the other side Of the river, would be
pursued by their owners. Our hot and
ardent spirits, would lie restrained by 10
sense Of the right which appertains 10 the
Independence Of the other side of the riy-
er. should that be the line of separation.
They would pursue their slaves into the
adjacent free States they would be rcpcll-
ed, and the consequence would be that, in
less than sIytudays, war would be blazing
in every part ofthis now happy and peace
iul land.
And, sir, how are you going to separate
the States OF this Confcderacy? In my
humble opinion, Mr.. President. we should
begin with at least three separate ConGed-
eracies- There would be a Confcderacy
of the North, Coniederacy of the South
ern Atlantic slave-holding States, and
Conlederacy OF the Valley of the Missis-
sipp,. My life upon it, that vast popua-
ton which has already concentrated and
will concentrate OH the hcad-waters and
the tributaries OF the Mississippi, will uev-
or give their consent that the mouth of
that river shall be held subject to the pow
er Of any foreign State Or community
whatever. Such, l believe, would be the
consequences of a dissolution of the Union
Immediately ensuing; but other Confed-
eracies would spring up from time to time,
as dissatisfaction and discomfort Were diss-
emnated through the Countrywide Con-
federacy of the Lakes, perhaps the Confed-
eracy OF New England, or Of the Middle
States All, sir the veil which covers
these sad and disastrous events, that lie
beyond it, is too thick to be penetrated VI
lifted by any MOI tal eye or hand.
Mr.. President. am directly opposed
TO any purpose of secession or separation.
/ am for staying within the Union and
defyins any portion Of this Confederacy
to expel me or drive me out OF the IN
ion. am for staying within the Union
and fighting for my rights, if necessary,
with the sword, within the bounds and
under the safeguard OF the Union.
am for vindicating those rights, not by
being driven out ofthe Union harsh,y
and unceremoniously by any portion of
this confederacy. Here am within it,
and here mean to stand and die. as far
as my individual wishes or purposes can
go-within it to protect my property
and defend myself, defying all the pow
er on earth expel me or dive me from
the situation in which am placed. Ard
wodld there not be more safety in fight.
ing within the Union than out of it {!
Suppose our rights to be violated, suppose
wrong be done you, aggresslons to be per
petuated upon you. can you not better
vindicate them-if you have occasion to
resort to the last necessity, the sword for
restoration Of those rights within.
and with the sy mpath"s OF large por-
ton of the population OF the Union, than
by being without the Union, when large
portion of the population have sympa-
thies adverse to your own? You can
vindicate your rights within the Union
better than if expelled from the Union,
and driven from it without ceremony
and without authority.
Sir, have said that I thought that
there was no right on the part of one or
more States to secede from the Union.
think 50. the constitution of the Uni
ted Safes was made not IN. rely for the
generation that then txiste,, -. {, DOS