The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-02-22


Louisiana; all Texas all the territores which have
been acquired by the Government OF the United
States during its sixty years operation have been
slave territories the theatre Of slavery with ex-
ceptlon that have mentioned Of that lying North
ofthe line SO deg 80 min.
And here, IN the case of war made essentially
by the South growing out of the annexation OF
Texas, which was u measure proposed by the
SOnth in the councils al the country and which
led 10 the war with Mexco-I do not say all OF
the south, but the major portion of the South
pressed the annexation of Texas upon the coun-
uy-lhe measure as have said led to the war
with MeNico,and tlnt war led to the acquisition of
those Territories which now constitute the bone Of
contention between the different members OF tho
COnlederaoy. And nnw, sir. for the first time after
the three great acquisitions of Texas. Florida and
I Louisiana have been made and have redounded
10 Tue benefit OF the South-now for the first
| time. when three territories are attempted 10 be
introduced without the institution Of slavery,
put it to the hearts OF my countrymen Of the
South, it it is right 10 press matters To the disas-
trous consequences which have been indicated
no longer ago than this very morning on the oc
casiou of the presentation Of certain resolutions
even extending TO dissolution of the Union.-
Mr.. President cannot believeit.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Will the Senator give
way for an adjournment
Mr.. CLAY Oh. no; if do not weary the pa
tience OF the Senate, prefer to go on. think
| can begin to see land shall soon come to the
conclusion of what have to say. Such is the
Union aud such are the glorious fruits which are
now threatened with subversion and destruction.
Well sir, the first question which naturally ars-
es is, supposing the Union be dissolved for any of
the causes or grievances which are complained
Of, how far will dissolution furnish remedy for
these grieyancesl If the Union is to be dissolved
for any existing cause it will be because slavery
is interdicted or not allowed to be introduced in
to the ceded territories or because slavery is
threatened TO be abolished in the District of Co.
lumbia; or because fugitive slaves are not restor
ed, as in my opinion they ought to be, to their
masters. These believe would be The causes,
il there be any causes which can lead to the
dreadful event to which have referred. Let us
suppose the Union dissolved: what remedy does
it, in a severed state, furnish for the grievances
complained of in its united condition. Will you
be able at the South to push slavery into the CO.
ded territory How are you TO do it, supposng
the North, or all the States north of the Potomac,
in possession Of the navy aud army of the Uni
ted Smtesl Can You expect, say, under these
circumstances. that If there is dissolution oil
tue Union, you can carry slavery into California
and New Mexico? Sir, you cannot dream OF such
trict of Columbia aud the Union were dissolved,
would the dissolution of the Union restore sla-
very in the District of Columbial Is your chance
for the recovery of your fugitive slaves safer in
state OF dissolution or severence of the Union
thnn when i'll the Union itsefl Why sir, what is
the ste Of the iacll In the Union you lose some
slaves and recover others; but here let me revert
to fact which | ought to have noticed before.
because it is highly credable to the courts aud
luries Of the free States. In every instance. as
tar us my information extends in which an APP
peal has been made to the courts OF Justice to re-
cover pena ties from those who have assisted in
decDying slaves from their masters-n every in
stance as far as have heard, the court has
asserted the rights of the owner, and the
Jury has promptly returned an adequate ver-
diet on his behalf Well, sir. there is then some
remedy whilst you are IA part of tho Union for
the recnvery Of your slaves and some indemnii.
cation for their loss. What would you have il
the Union was severedl Why, then, the severed
parts would he independent Of each other-for-
esn countries and slaves escaping from one to the
other would he like slaves escaping from the u
nited States To Canada There would be 10 right
OF extradiOn no right 10 denaud your slaves;
no right to appeal To the courts Of justice to in
demnlly you for the loss of your slaves. Where
one slave escapes now by running away from his
master, hundreds and thousands would escape il
the Union was dissevered-l care not how nor
where you run the line. or whether independent
soveregntes be established. Well. sir, finally.
will you, IN case of a dissolution Of the Union,
be safer with your slaves within the separated
portions OF the States than you are now3 Mr..
President. that they will escape much more fire.
qnenily from the border States no one will deny.
Aud sir. must take occasion here to say, that
in -
any Que or more OF the States 10 secede from the
Union War aud dissolution OF the Union are
Identical and inevitable in my opinion. There
can be- dissolution of the Union only by consent
or by war, Consent no one can anticipate, from
any existing state Oi things, is likely to he given
war is tlleony alternative by which dissolution
could be accomplished. II consent were given
III it were possible that we were tn he sepera
ted by one great liue-in less than sixty days af-
ter such consent was given, war wOnld break ont
between the slnvehndng and uonslnveholding
portions of the Union-between The twU indie
pendent parts into which it would be erected in
virtue OF the act Ut separation. In less than six.
~ days, | believe, our slaves from Kentucky,
Hacking over in numbers In the other side OF the
river, would be- pursued by their owners. Oar
hot aud ardent spirits would he restrained by no
sense of the right which appertaius to the in.
WI llt OtHbl SltlO vi lNol, SuUuu
that be the line of separation. They would pur-
sue their slaves into the adjacent free States;
they would be repelled and the consequence
would be, that in less than sixty days. war would
be blazing in every part Of this now happy and
peaceful land
And sir how are you going to seperate the
States of this cOnlederncyl In my humble opin-
ion, Mr. President, we should begin with at least
three seperate coniederaces. There would BE- a
COnfedrracy of the North, a Conlederacy of the
Southern Atlantic slaveholding States, and Con
iederacy ofthe Valley oIthe Mississippi My life
upon itthat the vast population which has already
concentrated and will concentrate on the head-
waters and the tributaries of the Mississippi will
never give their consent that the mouth OF that
river shall be held subject to the power Of any TO-
reign State or community whatever. Such, be-
lieve, would be the consequences ola dissolution
Of the Union Immediately ensuing; but other con-
iederacies would spring up from time to time, as
dissatisfaction and discomfort were dissemina-
ted throughout the countryside Confederacy of
the Lakes. perhaps the Coniederacy OF the New
Enghnd or OF tie Middle States. All, sir, the
veil which covers these sad aud disastrous even ts
that lie beyond it, is too thick to be penetrated or
lifted by any mortal eye or hand.
Mr., President, | am directly opposed to any
purpose OF secession or separation. | am ior
staying within the Union and delying any portion
of this confederacy to expel me or drive me out
of the Union. | am for staying within the Union
aud fighting for my rights. il necessary, with the
sword, within the bounds and under the safe.
guard of the Union. am tor viudicating those
rights, not by being driven out of the Union
harshly and unceremoniously by any portion OF
this conlederacy, Here am within it, and here
mean to stand and die, as far us my individual
wishes or purposes can go-wthin il to protect
my property aud defend myself, deiying all the