The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-16

At that time powerful party in the eastern States desired
10 secede from the Union. They said then as is said
now there Il sectional majority against us they disre-
gard our rights and destroy our interests, and will go
out from among them. There not argument used
then which is not used nor a measure proposed
which is not now proposed There some Of US yet
here who were living at that period and participated in
these events. And the younger generation well know
that these facts stand prominently forward IN the history
OF their country.
Sir the objection Of the senator from South Carolina is
repeated here to-day by his colleague and il amounts TO
this, that you give power 10 government il may be
abused. So Il may and should like to the gov
eminent where power cannot be abused. II would be
another new thing under the sun We may all suppose
OF extreme oppression where State would be JUS
hed before the world in resisting the OF majority,
and IN seeding from this Union from any other, We
all suppose such case but sufficient unto the day
is the evil thereof and when that evil day comes let
those who have the responsibility upon IL and decide
for themselves and for their postery There has gene.
rally been sound public opinion existing IN
try, Wisdom and patriotism found in both houses OF
Congress- as well as in the State legislatures, whose in
uence is everywhere felt and appreciated And these
hsna enscss asaas. ne sease q powe And
Court which contributes its full share 10 the stability OF
institutions There nine men, advanced in years,
with neither the power OF the sword the purse,
whose decisions are received with confidence and obey
ed with aacry, from end OF this broad republic 10
the other y is an oasis in the desert OF politics. green
spot for "a she eye to ss' i tribunal Of WHICH
face Of the earth By their ability, their dignity their
mparality, their unimpeached proby, the judges have
exert sautary influence upon public opinion II is
freshng TO leave these chambers Of discussion and dis
senson, and to enter the hall below us, and mark the
tranquility and wisdom with which the high interests Of
the community are there considered and determined.
AT the last session Of that court sublime moral speca
proud One 81 lie greatest States Of this Union appear
ed at the bar and made itself party asking the court to
Judge its cause and 10 certain mpedments 10 the
navigation q the Ohio river which were considered an
injury by the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania. Yes,
like an individual. that State asked the court 10 sit in
judgment upon the and to direct these mpedmens
e be removed Who would Witness such spectacle, #
then De adjusted not by reason hut BY the strong hand
Another similar scene passed in the place short
time since, when two States members Of this confedera
cy, dsputng about their boundaries asked this court
decide between them, and the court did decide and
derstand the line they fixed is running by commits
sioners armed only with slip Of paper. and through
country heretofore highly excited by this question, but
now calm and satisfied leaving the surveyors to perform
their duty with much safety if protected BY all the
force of the republic Such lines elsewhere BY
armies and marked by the sword Thus it will be
that our government has mode OF settling difficulties
constitutional modethat ought to command the assent
of all.
do not deny that there may be great political cases
where this court can have no jurisdiction When such
arise trust peaceabe remedy will be found for
their adjustment leave that 10 time and events Il is
date advantages, and to look forward to great
calamity which is to overake us after the lapse Of cen
turtles.
The senator from South Carolina MIR CALHOUN has
not stated the amendment by which he proposes 10
cure the equilibrium of the government There are,
however two indications In his speech which leave bat
little doubt as 10 the nature Of the remedy, though its
details must Of course be conectural He pointed out
two difficulties in the operations of the government
which it would be necessary to obviate
First that II claimed to force in order to carry into
sir, what government exists existed which does
not use force Human beings are influenced by hope
and fea Il leave higher considerations out OF view in
this discusson and no government is rich enough to
buy obedience, II must compel II by force
The second difficulty is that the government assumes
to judge Of the extent of lis powers II does so,
and necessarily And SO must every other governm emit,
greater less degree do not propose to enter into
any argument upon this point nor TO investigate the
necessary pursue the event of collisions OF
opinion between the general and State governments.
That must be determined by events they mere
ly ande 10 these topics briefly order by ascertanng
Carolina to ascertain the nature OF the remedy be Is de-
sirous OF applying to them. He is seeking constitution
al remedy, which shall produce an equilibrium, by
which the rights Of every section and Of every in.
gression. The South is not the only section which
is liable to oppression There are also the East
ne mss ana ,ne ssmo's wss wnen may nave the
already enumerated may, in like manner, each demand
peculiar protection There is to be controlling prn-
ciple wlthn the constitution by which Its operations
be regulated when these several sections interests may
consider their rights assailed endangered For do
suppose the honorable is local in his views
as to propose remedy which shall not be applicable
der similar circumstance to every portion OF the country
And that remedy is equilibrium il is called which,
when translated into English means plainly which
sectional minority may, at its pleasure, control suspend
the opeatonso of the government have already said that
the general plan is easily asceraned than the spec
c details Well sir such an equilibrium instead OF being
baancewheel, would be check wheel II would stop
the whole operations OF the government II would in fact
place il under the control OF a minority.
Now, sir, these minority governments are not new in
The world They have existed since the institution Of
civil society, and will continue suppose until IL is ter
minated There are many OF them found in Europe.
and in other quarters OF the world There is one at st
Petersbugh, another at Consantnope and another at
Vienna; and these governments take very good OF
The rights OF the minory but do not see the advan-
age OF the plan; for believe the rights OF the majority
very little regarded any rate, such Is the opinion
81 Poles and OF the Hungafians, and Of many an op
pressed people besides Itis all idle, sir to talk OF such
plan. Provide proper checks and limitations for all
sections and interests just foresight may require
But after this done BY the constitutions the
must be conducted sgreeably 10 The will OF majority,
unless you choose 10 nlrust your rights to single man,
and thus establish despo,ism That, suppose, is the
perfection OF minority government No intellect, how
'ver profound, can give pausibiy obvate the nsu
,erable difficulties OF such scheme which would present
themselves ia any political organization thus strangely
constituted. The machine would stop by its own in
become majofities. controlling public affairs at their
pleasure
Mr. President. will terminate my remarks as speedily
,s possible, and trust the Senate will bear with me a
title longer There one or two circumstances, al
uded TO by the senator from South Carolina, which de-