The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-09
CALIFORNIA AND THE COMPROMISE
Z SPEECH OF
MIR. r. 8. BoCoCK, of Virginia,

"a . q b
Mr.. 7. 8. BoCoCK, Of Virginia.
a In THE Heusx OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Ala M0HPAY, jane 8, 1850.
Upon The difficulty bettoeen Ae North and The
South upon the Slarery Question.
The House being in Committee of the
Whole on the California Message
Mr. BOCOCK said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN: When / attempted, now
many weeks ago. to obtain the floor, l did SO,
under the belief that / had some remarks to
submit, not inappropriate to the condition Of
the debate as it then stood. But so long has
been the period of my probation in getting an
opportunity to submit my views, and so great
has been the change in the aspect Of affairs
since first attempted to do so, that what might
then have been not altogether inappropriate,
would now appear antiquated, il not antedilu-
Wan; and though shall make some efforts to
modernize the views which 1 shall submit by
examining, to some extent, the compromise re-
Gently proposed in the Senate, must be so
candid as to say, that do not come forward
with any high expectation of adding much to
the interest felt, or the information possessed
on the absorbing questions which are connected
with the message under consideration.
Neither do come into this discussion with
another view Of which might by some be sus-
pected. l am Virginian, connected with that
State by every tie Of interest, affection, and
duty, and certainly desire no higher need of
praise for my public conduct, than that it should
be considered worthy of Virginia. Under
these circumstances it may well be suppo-
sed that have not heard with entire compo-
sure everything which has been said during the
present session, in relation to that time-honored
State. Contemplate insinuations and foul as
pensions have been freely uttered against her.
Some gentlemen have spoken Of her, as if they
were pouring out from full heart the accumu-
lated malignity of years. Others have attacked
her with such hearty goodwill, as well might
lead us to conclude that they were acting under
the deliberate conviction, that their only mode
of acquiring lasting notoriety was, to attach
themselves, even in the character of defaIners,
with something honorable and respected. There
may be wisdom, as the world calls it, in their
course. Certainly notoriety has been achieved
in an eminent degree by deeds of bad repute.
The unhappy youth who, with impious hand,
set fire to the temple of the great Diana, gained
what he sought, a place in history, as permanent
as that of him who Pounds an empire. Even the
serpents which, floating over the bosom Of the
waters, attacked LAGOON, the Genius of Trojan
liberty and clasping him in their foul coils, crush
ed him to death, gained thereby an immortality
as lasting as his own. Scarcely less worthy than
these, are the men who seek to degrade and in
jure an unoffendng community. Whether such
were the only means by which they could gain
notoriety, they had to determine for themselves.
What has Virginia done! Rather, what has she
not done for the Union, and what has she re-
ceived at its hands? Whatever may be said of
the number of her sons who hold offices of la
Dor here under this Government, (and think
there is great exaggeraton about this; for know
of none from the district which represent,) the
State has asked but little and received but little
What interest Of hers has ever been the subject
Of special protection? What rivers Of hers have
been cleared-what roads constructed-what
harbors improved? On the other hand, she has
been taxed for the protection of other interests,
for the construction of other roads, for the i'm
provement of other rivers and harbors Look,
then, to the beautiful Northwest, laid out into
five States, teeming with an active population
and studded with thriving towns! This was her
gift You solicited it at her hands, and received
It by her conveyance, acknowledging in every
form her title to it. Now you say you owe her
no thanks, because it was never hers. Look to
your battle fields, nearly all of which are white
with the Wondering bones of her slayeholding
sons. You admired their prowess and praised
their heroism once; now you say that they lived
line of her Presdents-her Washington, her
Jefferson, her Madison, her Monroe! Yousought
their services in council then; you say now that
the election of each was sectional triumph-a
slave victory. So long, you say, with complaint,
did the South hold the Government! You were
too kind then, or you are unjust now But Vir-
ginia will 90 on unchecked in her course and
undimned in any lustre she may possess. When
the bright travellers of the heBvens shall be re-
tarded or annoyed, because ours and spaniels
bay and bark at them, then it will be necessary
to protect Virginia against such assaults and
such assailants She needs no defence now
Her spirit sits selfpossessed amid her mountains
and her valleys, and unfolding to her sons the
scroll of her past history, she proclaims, with
affectionate warning, Sic itur ad astra."
leone not forward, repeat for the purpose
of defending her now. / have simply desired to
add my suggestions to those which have been
made by Others in reference to the critical con-
dition Of the country, and the best way to rescue
it. These suggestions may appear humble
enough Indeed, Mr. Chairman, when think
of the contests for the floor which prevail here,
and the unimportant use to which it is put when
obtained, perhaps, most especially in my own
case, am very forcibly reminded of a custom
which once prevailed, and perhaps does still, in
the markets of the East. The vendors of fruit
proceeding into the midst of the market place,
cry out with loud voice, g In the name of the
Prophet, in the name of the Prophecies"
But though we may have nothing better than
figs to offer, we are all disposed to believe, that
there may be some peculiar merit in our own
figs, which will make them serviceable, if not to
the country, at least to our own districts.
Without further preface proceed to the sub
ject in hand. 1t has been charged, Mr.. Chair
man, on this floor and elsewhere, that the excite
ment which has existed, and to some extent still
does exist in this House, and in the country, on
the slavery agitation, has been mainly the result
of party agitation gotten up and continued
with a view to weaken and embarrass the pre-
sent Administration of the Executive Depart
ment of the Government. This is grievous
charge, whether we consider the enormity Of the
means represented to have been used, or the lit
tleness of the purpose for which they are said
to have been employed. The sum of the charge
is, that the Democratic party of this country,
forgetful of every obligation owed to them
selves, to the Constitution, and to the country at
large, have been willing to infame the public