The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-11

Coniederacy. Sir, / can tell you why it is. 1t Il
because her constitution contains clause oil aoou
four lines-a clause prohibiting slavery III tn
constitution had contained provision OF an oPp.o
site characterif il had tolerated instead oil promo
ting savery-or even If 1t had been silent on tn
subject, these same gentlemen would have beer
found opposing her admission as vehementiy a
they are now advocating It,
For my own part, declare with the utmost sin
cerity, that if oppose her admission into the Unoi
il is because she has prohibited slavery within
her borders. ] recognise TO the fullest extent tn
right of her people TO regulate this matter accord
ing TO their own wishes. have no doubt that
the question again submitted to the peopl
their decision would be the same, and the longe
the vote Is postponed the more decisive it will be
from the TACT that nine-tenths OF the persons wh
emgrate TO that country will always be from for
elgn countries or from non saveholding States o
this Union.
Some gentlemen suppose that the immediate adj
mission OF California would tend to calm the ex
element growing out of this question. But Thu
Is a fatal mistake. My opinion is that il would
produce the very opposite result. Suppose a quar-
rel to have arisen between two men about the diyi
sion of loaf, and one were first to appropriate
half of it to himself and then prepare to srug-
gle for the remaining half, would such proceed
ing tend to promote fair division. an amicable
settlement II parties cannot agree upon a fair
compromise of the question with an equality OF
votes in the Senate, is il probable that addition
OF two votes 10 side would make the party that
received this addition to its strength more apt to
listen to reasonable termss think not.
IT. therefore, the admission Of California is pro-
posed distinct and isolated measure, uncon-
nected with any other counterpoise ! shall
vote against it; but if il made the basis of
compromise, if il offered as one of several
conditions, whether embraced in one bill or in
several Is imnateral,) looking TO full fair, and
honorable settlement of the question, would
cheerfully waive my objections to the measure
But want the whole question growing out of this
newly acquired territory TO be finally settled.
wish TO leave no fragments behind for dema qogues
and fanatics TO fatten upon between this and the
next election. Every day adds to the difficulty OF
satisfactory adjustment OF 1t. The debate that is
carried on here is certainly not OF character to
calm the public excitement. Ii has, with few ex
ceptons, consisted entirely of vehement appeals TO
sectional prejudices, of mutual attacks and recrm-
nations, OF invidious comparisons between the
North and the South; and gentlemen have exhaust
ed all their powers of eloquence TO magnify the
greatness and glories Of their own States at the
pense of others. Even the triumphs OF our arms
have been made the subject of angry controversy,
and every State has her champion here, prepared
to vindicate her claims to superior valor
Sir, who doubts the courage of any portion of the
people of this country? We are one race-thc same
blood flows i'll our veins and TO question the cour-
age Of any would be to question the courage of all
Let US, on the field OF battle, emulate each other in
deeds OF daring-thatis noble and generous ri
valry--but when the battle has been fought and
won, let us not engage in gnoble strife for the
division Of the spoils and the glory
have heard great deal in this debate about a
dissolution Of the Union. Some gentlemen seem TO
view the Union as sort of commercial partner
ship entered into for pecuniary profit and which
may be dissolved whenever any member finds il for
his interest to dissolve it. The gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. CLINGMAs) has furnished us
some valuable statistics this subject and has
succeeded in proving, TO my entire satisfaction,
that, in the event of dissolution railroad iron
might be purchased cheaper in his State than it now
Is. mat gentleman might have been certain that
n n kan mil not b.. Il II.
accordingly gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
MANN) has furnished US some data for ascertaining
not exactly how much Massachusetts, would gain
by dissolution ofthe Union, (that would be rather
that event would enable her iniict on the south
ern States That gentleman to think that
''Just much she doth make,
As from another she can take
The g1st OF his argument is, that in the event of
dissolution, many more slaves might be kidnapped
than there now are; and, as that gentleman is said
10 have manifested decided prediction for that
department Of business, presume his calculations
on that subject may be relied on as correct | will
say 10 him, however, that il was not by such cacu
latons as these that the people Of his State have
acquired the reputation of being the shrewdest and
most practical race on the face of the earth That
gentleman has obtained some celebrity in the coun-
try from his devotion to the cause Of public educa-
ton; and judging from the specimen he gave us
the other day, am inclined to believe that both
the country and himself would be the gamers were
he hereafter to confine his labors to the Juvenile
portion of the community.
For my own part, Mr. Chairman have made
no such calculations, and do not intend 10 make
them. have not yet learned to estimate the value
Of this Union in dollars and cents I keen no
ledger and day book in which / enter the profits
and loss Of the Union; have struck no balance
sheet between the North and the South 10 ascer
tain which would gain or lose by dissolution
Ia there no value in national greatness and national
glory!-in the proud recollections of the mast in
the bright hopes Of the future, Ii there no value
in the proud attitude which this republic holds In
the civilized world; in respect and admiration
abroad-in peace, tranquility, and repose at
home, And have those gentlemen who are 40 fond
Of calculating the value Of the Union reversed the
picture Have they calculated also the countless
calamities that would follow in the train OF dis
union the dissenson and discord-the civil
brawls-the attacks and reprisals-the border war
fare-the petty terminating at last in
wars surprising in duration and ferceness all that
Is recorded in the annals Of civilized warfarevars
that would impoverish the North and desolate the
fields Of the South To avert calamities like these
! would sacrifice every thing save honor. II honor
cannot be preserved without such sacrifice \ am
prepared TO make it. But let no sordid calculations
Of interest minge in the contest. No if this Union
should be dssolved-f that bright cluster of starr
whose mild effulgcnce Eliminates the darkest cor.
ners OF the earth, guiding the persecuted and on
pressed throughout the world 70 freedom-shou1d
ever sink to rise no MORE let those by whose efforts
such catastrophe is produced be prepared 70 vim
uloate ther course by an appeal TO loftier feelings
than those.
DO gentlemen who are so fond of CALCULATING, the
value Of the Union know where and by whom that
expression was fret Employed In the Farewell
Address OF the Father Of his Country we find this
sentence, which IL applicable TO the present state
OF our affairs, that need make apology for read
ing tat length:
III II OF infinite moment, that you should 1ropey.
" estimate me tHBaense Ddiue Of your national union
10 your collective and individual happiness; that
you should cherish a cordial habitual and i'm.
movssle attachment 70 IL; accustoming Yourselves
10 think and speak Of Of the palladium of your
political safety and prosperity; watching for is
preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenanc-
ing whatever may suggest even suspicion that il
can IN any event be abandoned; and Indignantly
frowning upon the first dawnng Of every atternp,
To aenatc any portion Of country from the rest
or 10 enfceble the sacred ties which now link togo.
tbcr the various parts"
This, cir, is the voice Of Washington, speaking
10 us az il we're from the tomb and for one viii
hcarken 10 his admonitions.
EoUALizATIoS.-In the speech Of Mr. Seear
against the prescription Of Mr.. Heath the auditor
there are brought TO view some striking facts o
which the public generally are not aware III
states the incontrovertble fact after all the cao,
that has been made, "that under this whie admin.
istration, large majority Of federal Offices botf
in number and amount of salarv a.. 6ItrJ a.,