The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-17

complexions. Prominent among them all were,
particularly distinguished, the late high priest of
| New York Democracy, Benjamin Il. Butler, who
with his own right hand, offered the famous Texas
annexation resolutions in the Baltimore Polk con
venton of 1874, and the honorable member of this
| House from Ohio, (Mr. GiDDINas,) who had been
equally distinguished by the gentle language used
| towards the authors Of that iniquity. There they
stood in the sight of the great multitude. in open.
public, and, if remember right, in actual physical
embrace, and the shouts OF men went up, and
the tears Of good women fell fast, at the touching
spectacle! And then the Buffalo platform was built.
| But, sir, il was sectional work; and storm of
| public opinion arose, rains descended, and the
| winds blew upon 1t, and IL was ruin. The host
was scattered, and hardly plank was left for
struggling swimmer.
| And so It win be with the Nashville convention
and its sectional platform. That of Buffalo was
called because the back Of northern endurance
| broken by the nomination Of General Taylor; and
now, the cup of southern endurance is drained by
his election; and southern gentlemen now preach
up crusade TO Nashville! The earth is yet fresh,
the turf is yet green upon the grave of the one, and
! its funeral bakemeats will suffice to furnish forth
the barbecue of the other. And the fate of the first
will be that of the latter, The ghost of Buffalo
points with its skinny finger TO the destiny of
Nashville. Both, in their turn, cause excitement,
| disturbance, and anxiety. But when the storm
shall have passed, as it will pass and the clouds
| arc lifted, and the skies grow bright, then the
friends Of the Constitution and the Union standing
| around "the pilot who has weathered the Storm"
shall behold, from the safe Shore the floating car
and broken chariot wheels of the hosts of fol-
| y fanaticism and faction in one common wreck
whired away, and straight are seen no more!"
So will it ever be with geographical and sectional
| combinations.
| And now, sir, having thus traced the history of
the causes of the present disturbed condition of the
| public mind and arrangement of public business,
and the purposes for which excitement is kept up,
let examine little closely into the grounds
which alleged for these complaints of the South,
and the threats which put forth by their presses
representatives, and legislatures of resistance at
| all hazards, and to the last extremity -
We areaccused Of attempted ggressions-north-
aggressions, which justify revolt and resistance
union will surely follow. The gentleman from
| Alabama (Mr. HILLIARD) told US the other day .
that che passage Of The Wilmot proUso iDoiid driUe
the southern people into resstance into revolutionary
resistance y and the gentleman from North Caro-,
| lima MIR. CLiNGMAN) has more than limited at the
use of pistols and bowie knives upon this floor.
Why is all this? For what is civil war thus to
come? What great and stupendous crime is about
| to be committed, which either in the Judgment of
the world, of Heaven, is to justify and sanctify
revolution and bloodshed? What does the North
that her Representative this floor SHALL in usual
course of business, and in the ordinary forms OF
| Legislation, vote against extending human slavery
into regions where it does not now exist. This is
| all! 1t is not proposed TO do any thing by force
4 nor to raise any armies; to levy any taxes
70 crush any State; nor TO tread down any mans
liberty. We propose TO VOTE that within our Ter
riories, wherever freedom now has her home, there
| she may continue to dwell forever
And it is for ibis that bloodshed anarchy and
! revolution are 10 come Great and glorious cause
for rebellion Sure TO receive the aPplauding judg-
ment of mankind and OF posterity!
Sir, well remember the striking words of the
| highly accomplished and distinguished gentleman
from Alabama before me. sMr: HLLIAan,l when,
j his character, confessed that upon this question
| the judgment of mankind was against him and
| those with whom he acted. The words made upon
me deep impression for the tribunal Of the opin-
/ oft he fy befn wi
this Judgment was confessed, Is one which neither
| citizen nor statesman can safely or lightly disre-
gard Well-informed, enlightened public opin-
ION constitutes the only foundation upon which
laws can stand, or governments endure and he
who defes it may wel begin TO suspect, not merely
the justice of his cause, but his chance Of success
Nearly thirty years ago, when the Holy Alliance
of Europe was engaged in attempts TO crush free
governments, il was well said in this House that
1.-THE public opinion of the civilized world is rap
idly gaining an ascendency over mere brute force
II is already able to oppose the most formidable OBJ
struction TO the progress Of injustice and oppres
sion; and it grows more intelligent and more in
tense, IL will be more formidable. IL may be 81
lenced by military power, but it cannot be con
quered. IL Is elastic, irrepressible and invulnera
bic 10 the weapons Of ordinary warfare.
Until this be proptated, satisfied il is vain for
| power To talk either Of trump or repose-
There Is enemy that still exists. to check the
| glory Of these triumphs II follows the conqueror
back TO the Of his ovations; it calls upon him
10 take notice that the world, though silent Is yet
IL SHOWS the sceptrc oil ms VIC
tory Is barren sceptre; that IL shall moulder to
dry ashes in his grasp. la the midst Of his exuta
ton, Il pierces his with cry Of injured justice;
II denounces against him the indignation of an en-
hghtened and civilized age; II turns TO bitterness
the cup OF his rejoicing, and wounds him with the
sting which belongs 10 the consciousness of having
outraged the opinion OF mankind. MIR. Webster's
speech on the Greek revolution, Jan. 19, 1923
To the gentleman from Alabama and 10 those
| who, like him, think that the attempt 10 extend
slavery into free territory will justify revolution,
commend a profound consideration Of these sent-
ments
But our ears are constantly filed with this cry of
northern aggressions, long and continued, as well
"a others contemplated, upon southern rights, and
| propose 10 review these accusations well my
brief time will permit, and 10 compare them a lit
tic with the complaints which we. tho other
hand, feel that we have right 20 make against the
South, ahd see how the account, in good truth.
does stand
The complaints from the South are Of various
kinds, but may be divided into two clssses-frst,
those which grow out Of the action of Congress and
the General Government; and, second, the acts
Of the legislatures Of the States and Of the people Of
the States.
And, i'm the first place, what has Congress OF any
Department Of the General Government yet done,
or failed 10 do, OF which the South has reason to
complain No gentleman here, no Legislative re-
solve from southern State, has pointed a single
one But turn 10 the other side OF the picture, and
point you TO a uniform course OF legislation pur-
sued TO suit southern demands and sustain southern
Il
the annexation OF Texas, and of the 70 conquer
Mexican territory; and, running back the
mind instantly also adverts TO the acquisition of
Louisiana. Need do more than glance at the ca
PRECIOUS action upon the subject Of the tariff max
ing IL high when southern statesmen thought their
sectional interests were to be promoted, and shifting
down the protection Of the free lsborer Of the North
as soon az their views choose 10 changei Or TO the
deadly hostility manifested against the improve
ment OF northern harbors and rivers, and Presiden-
tlal veioes intcrposed 10 prevent IT, Need show by
the records that great majority OF all the honor
able and lucrative Offices OF the nation have ever
been enjoyed by southern mem In short, does not
every one know that, from period shortly after
the organization Of the Government beginning
with the administration Of Mr. jefferson, and CON
tnung down to this hour, its action and the legis-
lstion Of Congress has been Of this chafacter2 We
all do know IL; and candid southern men, talking
among themselves, not only admit, but sometimes
boast Of IL.
have now before me evidence Of the hi gest char
acter this point, in speech of highly respect
able and leading representative from Virginia