The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-02-28
Agitation is to us a positive evil.

eu' Agltatlon IS 10 us positive evil.
Our ears have not learned to listen pa
tiently 70 denunciation, nor our hearts
to bear meekly with wanton provoen.
ton. Our security, our peace, onr
self-respect, require. that they should
cease.
Sir, tits difficult to believe that any
one who comes here to represent his
constituency for useful purposes, and
who feels upon himself the obligation
ofhissoath to maintain the constitution of
the United States, could disturb the
Legislation OF the country by PROPOSE.
tions which can have no other effect
than to insert another brand into the
fame, which every rejecting, sober
man must see threatens to consume
the fabric of our government. Yet it
is orr disagreeabe experience that
such propositions are constantly sub
mitted.
We Of the South stand now, as we
have always stood, upon the defensive.
We raised not this question I; but, when
raised, tits our duty to meet it. For
one, sir, my wish is, as it has been, to
suppress this species Of excitement,
bot h here and elsewhere. l know the
temper Of those | represent They
require no promPtings 10 resist aggreS-
sion, and to repei insult. Their deter
mination is calmly and lrrevocably fix
ed, as will be shown when crisis re-
quires their action.
They make no threats against any
one, and leastof all against the Union
for which they have made such heavy
and continued sacrifices. With them
the Union Is sentiment, not calcu-
lation; they adhere to it with the te-
nacity Of tliaI affection their adhe-
sion is not the result OF necessity, still
less of pecuniary interest. 1t is the
habit ofattachment, ofnationaI feeling,
and OF historic pride. But it is well
that it should be remembered, in this
connexion, that they are the sons OF
those who, in times gone by, gave
counsels Of temporary advantage to the
winds, and bled to maintain a princi.
plea principle which, in the Ian
guage of this day, was TO them an alb
straciion,
They know their rights, they feel
their wrongs; and whilst they main
ttain the one, andredress the other, will
Hit may be, preserve our constitution
a Union without the constitution, they
would certainly regret; with the con-
stituhon, as originally understood, they
never will abandon it. We, sir, are
parties to this Union only under the
constitution and the world in arms
could not dictate to my little State I'M
ion in which her rights would be held
at the mercy of an nnreStraned MAORI,
ty. Yes sir, the present generation will
maintain the character their fathers
bore. They willsustain the institutions
they inherited, even TO the extremity Of
civil war, if such necessity be forced
upon them. They will never surren
der their rights, under the constitution
to those who stride reckleSsly over it
Equals by right, they claim the enjoy
mentof the privileges and immunIties
of their peers; more they have not ask.
ed ---less they will not have.
This is our position; you Of the
: North have not respected it. ] know
yours, and cannotrespectit; and know.
ing il, came to this session OF CongreS:
wlthmelancholy forebodlng: with ap
pTehenSions that it might be the last o
our government. / still trusted, how
! ever, in the intelligence and patriotism
Of the masses, hoping from them posi-
bic correction Of the mischief which
had been brought upon the country by
politicians in whom have no conf
dence. | feel that they have raised q
: storm which they cannot eontrol.----'
|, They have invoked a spirit which
they cannot allay, and dare not con
/ front. From them turned to the IN
, corrupted multitude: the descendants
: OF the founders of the republic, Of tht
: Franklins, the Hancocks, and the Ad
! ans: and found consolation in the be
! lief that ifthey could realize that ou
institutions are about to be destroyed
, nv the exercise Of power by dema
, goguss, they would rise in thei
strength aid enforce the justice ant
! obligations Of ths constitution. Thi
/ confidence, though certainly impaired
!. Eby the conduct OF their representatives
+ State and federal, is not yet destroyed
But whilst we see many who seen
+ 10 bestruggllng for the unenviable no
teriety oftiring our political dome, anC