The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-27

vile, o and
am not aware that requires higher degree Of
svLation 10 regulate the sairs OF master and servant
State TO decide ol ITSELF aud know OF no rea so why the
same principle should be extended the Territories
views IN all except the Instances in which voted
under your instructions Those were your votes and not
and after May tsr reeordsd~aNp SHALL NEVER HOLD NV
SELF RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM"
This speech was immediately printed and circulated all
over The Stale al the time travelled over a good
portion OF the States. and made many speeches OF the
same TENOR the last OF which made in the capital OF
our State lew weeks afterwards, the Legislature as
sembled, and one OF their first acts 10 repeal
The resolutions OF instructions to which have referred
and 10 pass resolutions approving oil the of my col
vote OF three or four TO From that day Illinois has
stood fm and unwaverng IN support OF the compromise
measures and OF all The compromises OF the consu-
ton.
Now, Mr. President, have done with these ex :
plantations and trust forever II have said anything
which savors OF egotism, know the Senate will pardon
me. and at the same lime sympathze in the necessity
which has imposed upon II had Omitted all that
was personal TO myself. my defence would have been in
complete and unsats acory could not have done less
and have done justice To myself and to those who are
connected with me. In view OF all the facts, | submit
the question whether the charge or insinuation that
was at any time favorable TO The Wilmot proviso
and is not grossly ungenerous and unjust. am willing
TO be held responsible for all my acts but wish 10 be
judged by my acts and not by malicious msreprcsenta
tons OF them do not claim to be iniallibe. may
have committed many errors and doubtless have; but
when am convinced OF them, will acknowledge them
like man and promptly correct them. wish 10 avoid
no responsibility do not belong to that school OF poll
| ticans.
In taking leave Of this subject wish 10 state that
have determined never 10 make another speech upon the
necessity for it will never exist, am heartily tired of the
controversy, and know the country Disguised with
In regard 70 the resolutions Of the senator from Msss
spP, will be pardoned for saying that much doubt the
wisdom and expectancy OF their introduction The
whole country is acqaiescing in the compromise
ureseveIywhere, North aud South. Nobody proposes TO
N
them originally, nor would they be were an
open and original question But since they have been
everybody seems to be disposed TO treat them final
settlement OF an Improbable controversy. So long AS
our opponents do not ag'lae for repeal or modification,
why should we agitae for any purpose' We claim that
the Compromise is final settlement Is final settle
ment open 10 discussion, and agitation and controversy
by its friends' What manner OF settlement, is that
which does not settle the difficulty and quiet the dis
pute Are not the friends of the Compromise becom-
ing The agtalors, and will not the country hold us
responsible Tor that which condemn and denounce
the abolonisls and free-soilerss These matters
worthy of consideration Those who preach peace
should not be the first to commence and reopen old
quarrel Besides, what good can the passage OF these
resolutions accomplish Will they add any force
validity 10 the comproms measures They are already
the law OF The land, and must forever remain so unless
friends Of these measures to remain SILENT and wait for
the abo,ionss 10 redeem their pledges to bring forward
their proposition TO repeal the fugitive law When such
proposition shall be brought in, let some senator from
the North rise-and il no one else does 1t willard
state that the country regards the Compromise final
settlement that final settlement is not open to dis
cussion and therefore 10 lay the proposition the
table My word for it, any proposition to repeal dis
turb the Compromise would be laid the table by
Of FIVE TO one. motion to repeal the fugitive law would
be voted down by vote Of five TO of the northern
men, wthou, counting southern vote Let such test
be made and the moral effect will be thousand. fold
greater than the passage OF any series OF resolutions.
believe the indicate be the interest OF the
friends of the Compromise. Besides, any attempt TO keep
up the agitation aud organization the basis OF the
Compromise after its opponents have abandoned their
active opposition and consented 10 acQuesce IN II,
although they do not approve OF it, will be looked upon
a political movement Tor ambitious purposes desire
both the great parties acquescc IN The Compromise
final settlement, but do no, wish TO have new
party organized on the basis Of that measure. The
democratic party good Union party as want, and
wish preserve its principles and organization, and
to triumph upon It's old issues. i desire no new
tests-no interpretations into the old creed II the
Compromise is to be made the test OF faith, the two
parties will, of course, be composed oil The friends
and opponents of that measure in battle array against
each other and the slavery question must OF necessity
continue the sole topic OF discussion aud controversy
That is the very thing which wish to avoid, and
which il the object Of the Compromise to prevent.
would therefore say the friends of those measures,
lei age.Ing stop the debate and drop the sub.
ject II do this the Compromise will be recognised
final settlement; if we do not, we have gained but little
by its adoption. These my views upon the subject,
expressed with great Difference TO the opinions OF others,
but with the hmesi conviction OF their correctness