Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-11-30
SENATOR cLEMENss SPEECH ATHUNTsvlLLE.


SENATOR CLEMENS'S SPEECH AT HUNTSVILLE
From TIE HUNTSVILLE (ALABAMA) ADVOCATE.
SENATOR CLEMESs's SPEEcH.-Good wine needs
no praise, and this speech requires no eulogy
Founded upon triple basis Of truth, justice, and
patriotism, it can well survive the assaults which
may be made upon it. 1t is destined to give its
author more character than any Of his former pro-
auctions. There is cearness, pointed direct
ness, and force OF expression, as well as an elo
quence of feeling and felicity Of illustration, which
will cause it to make deep impression upon the
public mind. ~
Speech Of Senator Clemens, IN Huntsville, Aia6a-
ma, on Monday, November 4, 1850.
FELIow-CrrIzEss Notwithstanding the attacks which
have been made upon me, have, since my return from
Congress, sought avoid all controversy upon questions
CONNECTED with slavery. have refused to attend several
public dinners which have been invited chiefly because
the remarks necessarily elected such occasions might be-
come the subjects of animadversion. Even now would
willingly postpone any Defence and leave to time
Justify my But have been connected with the
settlement of questions of immense magnitude and it is i'm
porant that they should not be misunderstood or further mis-
represented or almost equal importance the necessity OF
conoverng certain dangerous doctrines which have recently
become familiar all hold in my hand one Of num-
Der of similar articles which have attracted attention
Whoever has observed the of the press and the
ceedng of public meetings in South Carolina, Georgia, Flo
rida, Alabama Mississippi and Texas, cannot fail to
that the feeling Of classification is deep and widespread
peryang all classes of the community aud strong
break down standing party barriers The abes
the South Of both political parties leaders in this
They thing else but ctonss They do not
gard merely inevitable, calamity to be
avoided bur object most desiablenot the least Of
evils but under the eircumsances positive blessing"
Mark the language Secession be resorted as
remedy for oppressionno painful evil rendered in
evi.abe by tyranny and nuscebut something good in
itself-as positive blessing. When doctrines like these
are openly promulgated, becomes those who entertain diff
opinions place them in form before the public
have therefore called you my old nsighbors and friends
together speak you of peace Of harmony, of the pros
periy and glory Of our common country When violent
speeches might do good ready enough to make them
When harsh language could by possibility effect any thing
for the South, did not hesitate employ it, But differ
ent state Of things exists After long and bitter con-
test, settlement has been made Good every where
signing for pose and the question for US to determine
is whether there any thing in the circumstances that sur
round us to forbid reurn to quiet avocaons of
life. ..=#. s, ".~s6
need not refer any complaint made by any section OF
the Union prior 10 the meeting Of the present Congress
With all that you perfectly familiar But, In order to
arrive at Just conclusions, will be necessary to review the
which since passed. and which now the causes
Of wide and deep agitation. propose to show you what
You have los: and what you have gained Your own good
will then teach you what your interest and your duty
require .#.. s. So: .a......~. ~
You have lost the whole of California with its NINE
raj wealth. and still more valuable command Of the Pacific
trade There precedent to justify her admission as
stse-no preence of equity to redeem The outrage The
number of her population unknown, and the character
of it, according the Governors message ought to have
been bar 10 any application Of hers to become member Of
Conisderacy. That Congress should have overlooked
these many other objections to her admission not
only unortu,e criminal The most violent secessionst
canno, go further oa in dsnouncing an act so papaby
unjust, We may differ to the remedy, but not all
the wrong must howesss be borne in mind that the
Northern States are not alone responsible that in fact he
share is even less than Southern President sur
Wounded by Cabinet composed Of majority Of
men, frs. devised he scheme Of California admission
Southern in both branches of Congress and of both
parties voted with the North But for Southern men, Cali
fornia would be Territory, not staei and her ad
mission regarded of Northern aggression
is aggression that ourselves invited and assisted
have nothing say of the motives Of the late President
the motives Of those who separated themselves from the main
body OF the Southern Representatives, speak Of the facts
only and they show that the South must take her full share
of the responsibility for whatever has occurred is
say that those whs differed with the majority are
traitors the South Iftey traitors produced them
the ours and else be held responsible for it.
But how do know they traitors Their constituents
have not vet regulated them and they the sole
Judges Of what constitutes treachery them, have
right existence until they have proclaimed it.
Admitting the admission Of California 10 be great wrong
as certainly think was the next inquiry is what is the
remedy We secede from The Union that account
because If do shall have to begin with neares
neighbor, Tennessee large majority Of her
voted for admission Then we secede from Kentucky
Missouri, Desware Maryland, North Carolina and Texas
All these States furnished votes for admission.
Cervantes is said laughed chvalry out Of Europe by
posing its absudtes in the story of Don Quxote It wou
be well for pen like his draw picture of the state
things which certain woudbe leaders trying to brin
about. We must go to with the Union because Con
gress has not established the boundaries of Texas precisely
Texas wished and at the same time must go to war wit
Texas because she has aided 10 bring California into part
nershp States such great interests not at stake,
know Of subject which presents better field for rdcue
The subject Of complaint that Congress has aboshe
the slave trade in The District of Columbia and here sid
with the compliments. 10 whether slave
sold in the District not but think it is subject wit
which Congress had business to NEEDLE. regard it
the establishment Of precedent which may be dangerous
and will CERTAINLY be made the for further agitation
II Congress abolish the slave trade, know reaso
Why they cannot abolish slavery itself in the District TIL
question OF power depends upon the clause Of the
stutoo and be rghtfully exercised in
the other For this act, then, hold there is
believe be serious aggression which every patrio
ought to regard with dsust and every sct constructions
strongly condemn do not, however, believe il to be
those which will justify resistance by secession and
The Supreme Court the proper tribunal determn
the question, and that Court am willing 10 leave H.