The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-20

by ali the horrors of seryile and civil God deliver
the South from such union and such patrols Yes you
would do lust as Austria dd-you would call IN The ald
OF Russian butchers Such your attachments to the
Unon and such your tender meTcies 10 the Souh Sir
if this be the union that the North loves must say
YOUR slaves already The Union that love is the union
OF equality and Justice, and ratemy-the Union OF the
constitution. Yes, sir the constitution is the Union;
We have no other bond OF union. Ours IS Union OF
law and moi OF force II had its origin IN the common
consent OF the people Ii founded principles OF
justice; and every encroachmeat upon the constitu.
10 members OF this House, and implore them 10 re-
spect lis guarantees. 1--WE ask nothing bur what
is right: we will submit to nothing that is wrong" |"
sprung il we TO submit 10 the aggressions
OF unauthorized power. We would be unworthy
the Of Anglo-Saxons. Our fathers resisted the
OF duty. but il the power claimed by Great Britain 10
leg islate for in all whatsoever. II was the
right which she asserted 10 lax Engshmen without rep
principle, il with fathers but it is question
OF existence. We should bear in mind what has ever
been the OF power when led by the el spirit Of
fanaticsm We have example OF in the island Of
ST. Domingo, the most wealthy and beautiful isle OF
the Indies Now il is almost buried in barbarian dark
ness-a waste and desert There abolition carried hre
Sir such may be The fate of the southern States, they
Yield upon this question Fanatcism has never yet let
60 Its hold upon its victim, unless when compelled BY
force or fear
hope many, at the North who have not yielded to
this fanatcism, and who, if they could, have doubt
would gladly arrest this aggression But SO many OF
both political parties have or less committed them
selves TO the doctrines OF free-soism, that must
that when il comes 10 voting this floor, our cause
appears 10 be almost if not quite hopeless But will
not yet despair OF the republic, and will continue
hope that at least those this side of the House who
in times past have stood by the constitution will
tnue 70 do So and trust that on the other side there
may be some who will be prepared to do US ustics and
the Union for | repeat, that do not believe
that this Union survive the disranchisement and
degradation Of the southern States Sir do say this
in the language of threatening. The South makes no
threats she simply tells you that we must respect each
others rights sepaatethat must agree better than
loves the Unon but she has yet thought Of wagng
against the North for the purpose OF efeciing a
change of public sentiments has she yet proposed IN
her extremity of attachment 10 the Union to ravage one
half the States with fire and sword All we say is that
will assert our rights, ard hai II II becomes necessa-
ry, will meet force with force Yes SIR, we OF the
South will resist aggression, u be forced upon US; we
pay for H. We know that no people have ever long been
Tree, unless they stood ready defend their rghtshe
of their own privileges In ordinary times,
The constitution is sufficient protection but times like
these when prejudice and passion aud the thirst OF Sec
tona power, control in the halls OF legislation consu
ions are valueless only they define the boundaries Of
power and of privilege, and teach where Resistance
should begin, and where aggression must cease The
privilege of bearing and the courage 10 use them,
al such times OF more value than all the constitutions
that have ever been written No people can be long
much misgoverned who have arms IN their hands and
the knowledge of their We know that the tree Of
liberty has been watered with the blood and
nured with the bones OF patriots: all the liberty now
upon the earth has been purchased by the blood OF
II necessary we will do as our fathers have done
before u.s.
Sir would ask why do our northern brethren force
this alternative upon usi Why do you urge upon
state of facts utterly hostile TO the Union and IN violation
OF the constitution Has not government a. least 10
you, answered the purposes OF Us creaon Have we mol
this earth Have the lines fallen TO us IN pleasant
places, and have not goody hertage-the heritage
Of liberty, equality, and abundance we have already
grown from thirteen thirty States, and have territory
safc ceni for many years Our eagles from their
eyre on the Rocky Mountains, dip their wings in the At
anc and Pacific oceans and our banners noai upon the
ST. Lawrence and the Rio Grande. We can almost say,
the continent the boundless continent N ours destiny
great glorous has been granted 10 any peo
pie would again ask are these blessings All 70 oe sac
rihced. trust there is, however, but one way IN
which they be retained, and that by respecting the
guarantees OF the constitution and giving evenhaDded
justice TO the South We have never asked more
ed in that spirit OF concession and promise in which
the constitution adopted; and have never once
given 10 the North cause TO complain OF an aggressive
spirit nor have violated one condition oil any
compromise which we have made. We have ever been
generous and forbearng Virginia yielded Tor the sake
OF harmony and equality all The territory north oi The
Ohio free States which was previously slave territory
we divided Louisiana and Texas with you both OF which
were slave territory and in the session OF Congress be-
fore the last offered almost unanimously TO accept the
Clayton compromise BILL and received but twenty
two democratic votes and no, one wing vote IRON the
North | would ask, What did that bill give u.s. Why,
nothing but simply the right to try the constitutional
question issue between IN the courts oil the Union
Even this you denied and shut out IRON the courts
OF Justice And al the last session OF Congress you
fused 10 pass Walkers amendment 10 the appropriation
bill, which simply extended the provisions OF the con-
siItuion 10 New Mexico and California: even this you
refused submit 10 the eandor and justice OF this
House and this nation, II could have asked taken
less You deny TO us the guarantees OF the constitution,
and still expect IRON submission. Tbs IS impossible
Submission 10 Acknowledged wrong would be social and
political degradation. We cannot be brought to this.
Mr. Chairman, have charged against the Norh that
she has dsregarded her constitutional compact and that
she invades our chartered rights This circumstance
calculated 10 excite the most melancholy and alarming
reflections But is not the less true Heretofore
contests have been 10 the effect OF measures but
the constitution the ark OF our political covenant, which
contains the pghied faith Of the States and OF the peo
pie the object OF attack Yes, sr, the constitution BY
which we live, and for which, II necessary we should
be prepared die has been despsed and rejected IN ref
enre 10 the rights OF the slave States and every Inven
ton OF the imagination rs set up ~ opposhon 70 ~
presume that there not man within the sound o my
who does not know thai the last clause OF the 4th
article oil the constitution Gin reference TO fugitive saves)
is dead letter That article requires that such
slaves shall be delivered up on clam OF the owner-
thereby making the duty OF the State 10 attend 70 the
delivery This most, II not all OF the Tree States have
refused 10 do and of them have nulihed the con-
This clause of the constitution is in the words
as the clause Immediately preceding il, IN reference
TO iugItyes iron jBsce and that has generally been
executed in good faith, thereby showing that there
is no ground for explanation on the plea OF difference
10 construction. This is point IN which the vio-