Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-06-14
Speech of the Hon. David yyilmot,

| NIX CHAlRmAN. ms lengtnoDou OeDdIe,
my Judgment, has been productive of at leas
one good result. 1t has disclosed, beyond al
question of denial or equivocation, the polio,
and purpose of the South. 1t affords ample
justification, if any were needed, whore the patti
OF duty Is so clearly marked out, for firm adhe
renee 10 the policy upon which | have stood from
the first, and upon which mean TO stand through
out of this momentous struggle.
OF the character of this struggle, if there were
ever room for doubt, there can be doubt no long.
| er. 1t must now be conceded that there is sub
stance In the controversy-that the principle OF
posture prohibition by Congress, against slavery
IN the territories of the nation is not an abstrac-
| ton, having no practical result. Four years OF
earnest and often acrimonious debate in the halls
OF this Capltol-an agitation widespread as the
country, reaching all classes, and stirring to
their profoundest depths the passions of men,
attests the magnitude of the struggle, and the
mighty interests dependent upon its issue. EX-
cept that protracted and bloody conflict which
gave birth to the nation, none has arisen, and,
IN my Judgment, none will arise in our subse-
quent history, involving interests so vast, con-
sequences so mOmentous for good or evil, as the
one now pressing its fearful weight upon us
reaching, as it does, to the remOtest posterity,
and involving, if not the existence, the charac-
ter and policy Of our Government, so long as
we shall have -ame and place among the
family Of nations. The ultimate decision Of the
present controversy will settle the great ques-
ton of the condition and destiny Of the South
ern half of this continent 1t will elso settle an
other great Observation-Disclosures this Government
shall be administered in the spirit that gave it
birth, or whether the sutferngs and trials of the
Revolution shall have been endured in vain
whether our democratic institutions are TO stand,
or this Government become an Aristocracy,
based upon slave property and slave representa-
ton.
In the aspect Of results thus lasting and mo-
mentous, has the present struggle been viewed
by those interested in the extension and perpct-
uatlon OF slavery. On their part, the conflict
has been maintained in a spirit and temper com
mcnsuratc with their estimate of the magnitude
OF the interests involved. In behalf of slavery,
this battle has been fought with desperation
kindred to madness. Indissolubihty united in
the bonds of Il supreme and ull-cOntroing selfish
ness, embarrassed by no dissensons, restrained
by no ties of brotherhood, nor by the obligations
OF high and holy patliotism-the champions of
human bondage stand banded together pressing
on directly TO the accomplishment of their OBJ
Icct, and threatening, if thWaried in their pur-
pose, the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Union. and the
total extinction Of the free institutions under
which we live Such, sir, is the spirit and
temper of the Slave Power as exhibited in this
otrugglc--a power as inS0icnt, as arrogant, as
d iiant OF right and justice and law, as the most
Reasonable conspiracy that ever reared its head
against a just and benign Government.
ST. this spirit of threatening and defiance
mast he successfully resisted or we are our
sety.a Cue vericst of slaves. What! shall the
line Of our conduct be prescribed TO us under
the pressure of reasonable threats We have
sevcray sworn to support the Constitution each
man for himself; and for our fidelity in this ro-
spect, we stand individually responsible to God
and the country But we are told that we must
understand the Constitution as it shall be taught
us by the advocates of slavery: we must adopt
their construction Of that instrument; and if we
presume to oversep the limits OF their inter-
probation, that the Union will be dissolved, and
our system OF government OVerhrOWn. Not
only this, but the line of Our action Is prescribed
to VA, within the acknowledged limits of the
Constitution. "NeW States may BE- admitted
by the Congress into the Uuion." is the explicit
language O; that instrument. Yet we are given
to understand, if we presume TO exercise this
clear and admitted power in the case of Calilor-
MIA, without making certain concessions TO sla-
very as an equivalent, that measures of a revo-
Iutionary char ctcr will be brought into reqaisi-
ton 10 arrest our action; that the ordinary Gov
eminent supplies will be withheld; that the y@aS
sad ndYS will be called, in defiance OF parlia-
mentary law and usage, upon frivolous and d.
atory motions, until the end of .he present Con-
gress.
ST, where are we? Is this a chamber in
which the representatives of treemen meet for
the discussion and determination of grave and
important questions or is it a theater upon
which slaves arc taught their obligations and
their duties! 1t behoovcs us to examine the
ground rpon which we stand. We have arrived
at point from which we canno: retreat without
a surrender of our Independence a. representa-
ives upon this floor. | repeat it, lca must go
forlrard! TO step back, to cover under these
threats. is base dishonor, 4 virtual surrender of
our rights and he rights OF the lrccmen whose
representatives we are. 1t is no question of
feeling or personal pride, but of Independent &C
ton upon this tloor-of the exercise Of those &C
knowicdged powers which belong 10 this Gov
ernmeut be exercised Il rough its constitutional
organ? or is band of conspirators to arrest its
action, and set its authority at defiance? This.
sir, is the point we have reached, | am for
meeting the issue here and roW. | will yield
nothing to treason will know no concessions
TO the threats of faction. 1t would be base cow
ardice--a base dereliction of public duty-a sur
render of the constitutional powers Of this House
into the hands of factious minority subvCrsive
of all rghtful authority, and destructive of the
very foundations Of our institutions OF Govern
ment
Who is it, and " hat is it, that dares thus hurl
defiance at the constitutional authority OF this
Governmcnt-that dares TO threaten Il dismem-
berment of this Union | answer, an aristocra-
CIV of Shareholders, who, not content with that
! share of influence and power given them by the
Constitution. demand the absolute control of this
! Government-the right 10 dictate the sphere and
/ the modes of It's action. What could be more
! despotic than to make the existence Of the Gov
! eminent depend upon the acquioscence of Con
! press in such a construction of the Constitution
| as the representatives of particular section
! choose to place upon it, from time to time II
we will make our action conform 10 the Con
stitution as it shall be eXpounded TO Us by the
representatives from the slave states, we are as
sured that all shall be well-that agitation shall
shall cease, and peace and harmony be restored
to our country; but if we dare to read that in
strument for ourselves, and 10 act upon our TN
Outstanding of its true meaning, we are threat
ened with commissions and bloodshed and civl
war If one man should assume the right TO fly
an authoritative construction upon the Consti
tution-to dictate what Congress might, AM
what it might not do; acquiescence in this de