The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-29
THE REPU BLIC.
rllE coMpRoMlsE MEAsuaEs.

SPEECH OF MIR. CLEMENS, OF Alabama,
On The Resolution declaring The Compromise
measures 10 be defnitiee settlement Of all
the questions groOing ont cf The subject Of
domestic sLdeery. DeliUered IN The Senate,
December n, 1851.
Mr. CLEMENS said
Mr. President II ii had been left 10 me TO deter
mine whether this resolution should be introduced
would most probably have answered, No. Not
that doubted its prOprcty-not that ever had
any fears of the consequences which might flow
from it. But some Of those with whom | have
been accustomed 70 act did entertain the opinion
that il might result in evil, and am always will
ing to pay some respect even 10 the JsGTs Of an
ally. The resolution, however, 10 now here, and
the question i'd not upon the propriety OF AIS in
PRODUCTION, but upon the duty Of it's passage. The
character OF the debate which has taken place rem
ders il imperative, in my Judgment that it shall be
passed. II has been assailed In manner and from
quarters which gave to Us no astonishnent The
scene witnessed the other day during the de-
livery by the Senator from South Carolina (Mr.
kHBTT) of his haranguc surprised one here;
but il would have been matter Of profound as
tonisbment TO the country II they could have been
spectators of what occurred There was the Sena-
tor from Massachusetts, (Mr. SuMSER,) the Sena-
tor from Ohio, (Mr. CHAsE,) and the Senator from
New Hampshire, (Mr, HALE,) gathered about him
in a sort of fratcrnal ring, while the countenance
Of the Senator from New York (hIr. SEwARD) was
radiant with gladness. Thus exhibited the
spectacle of an extreme southern Senator dcnounc-
ing. in no measured terms, the Government OF his
country, and declaring himself disunionist, on
account of alleged wrongs hcaped upon him, with
four as rabid Aboitionists this land contains,
drinking in his words with eager approbation-ap
plaudng, cheering, and encouraging him All this
was nothing new 10 us, however strange 1t may
appear to the plain and honest yeomanry of the
country. Nor was it, when camly considered, at
oil unnatural
ga fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind"
There s sympathy in treason ns well as in knavery;
and those who earnestly striving to accomplish
the same end need not quarrel about the separate
means employed.
The senior Senator from South Carolina, (Mr.
BUTLER,) to whom never allude except in terms
of the highest respect, has questioned the propfl-
city of this resolution, because, he Gays, II give
| no additional validity TO the law. True, sir. it
| cannot BUTT can and will do something better.
1t will give an assurance TO the country that we IN
tend TO put an end TO agitation. II will strike
| from the hands of the demagogue the most potent
| weapon with which he ia armed. Tho north
ern Freesoier is daily proclaming that there
| is obligation upon him to abide by the Com
| promise, because southern men determined
| to uproot and destroy il. In proof of this he
| cites tho resolutions OF Southern Rights associa-
tions, and the speeches Of southern Rights orators
The southern secessonist tells his hearers that
| the Compromise is nullity, and cites III his turn
the acts and declarations OF bis northern CO. labor
ers. Thus they go on, each party playing into
| the hands Of the other-each one furnishing the
| other with the means Of rousng and keeping alive
/
! Is passed by such minority as trust u will bo,
! that game will be at an end. The friends OF law
and good order point TO substantial assurance
that The peace OF the country and the existence of
| the Union shall no, again DO put III jeopardy.
was no friend of the Compromise; IS it necessh-
ry for TO say that do not now approve OF all its
parts. believe that by that settlement the North
acquired more than she was larry entitled to, ana
| that we lost more than ought TO have been ask
ed TO yield II is thing, however, TO reaist the
passage Of law and quite another thing Go resist
| the law after il has passed. When those bills had
received tho sanction of the President the only al
ternRtives which presented themselves to my mind
were, acq,iesence rcpoiution. Before revolution
was resolved upon, felt ii 20 be my duty to ex-
| anime in what manner the bills passed, and
against whom tho to be levied. The re-
suit of that examination proved that If wrong had
been DONE tho South well as the North had par
tioipated in it, and that If secession was the rem
edy, we must secede from southern as well as from
northern States ! intend to take up those inea-
sures by one, and show the manner in which
they passed into laws, not for the purpose Of i'm
parting any information to the Senate, but mainly
10 place upon the record, in convenient form for
reference, facts which sincerely wish were In the
possession of every man in the South. Let 10
man attribute to me any special design TO concIl-
ate northern men by what am about TO say.
have said the same things where there
no northern auditors--no northern sympathizers.
1t Is not at all my purpose to defend the North.
have no intention OF removing from the shou-
ders of her people one feathers weight OF blame
which Justly attaches to them. They have some
times exhibited IA rapacity Tor the public spoils
which ono has condemned in stronger terms
than / have But while will not defend, viii
not assail without cause. intend TO be juat to
them, as hope to receive justice at their hands.
The admission of California, however wrong in
itself, however baneful in it's influences, was no
case of northern aggression. ! know the charge
has been iterated and reiterated until II has walked
every echo in the southern portion Of thc continents
but that only proves the tcnacliy with which men
will cling to a cherished ialsehood Let me reca-
nil q California
was first recommended by southern Democratic
President. James k Polk sent for the Senator
from Illinois, (Nlr. DoUeLAs,) and requested him
to draw up bill for that purpose IL Is true, the
bill prepared by the Senator from Illinois was
better bill than the one which finally passed; but
that docs not affect the present inquiry. 1t recog-
nised If il did not establish, the principle that the
people of any part OF the pubic territories have
right, under peculiar circumstances, to demand ad-
mitance into the Union, without any previous law
Of Congress authorizing them TO adopt consutu-
ton, and without any enumeration OF inhabitants.
1t practically asserted that the only question Con-
grcas was bound to ask before admitting State was,
'Is her constitution republican," and affirmed that
all irregularities might be waived when the public
good required it. Congress did not act Mr..
Polk desired. The next step was also taken by a
southern President. General Taylor came into
Office, and recommended the admission OF Caiior-
MIA a che is Up 10 this time the North had
manifested eagerness TO bring in California.
southern mon only had moved In the matter. Nor
there even at any time anything like unani-
nous opposition ON the part OF the South When
the bill was finally passed, eight OF the fifteen
southern States furnished votes for il. Kentucky
gave seven out of ten, aud Tennessee seven cut
Of eleven, in the House Of Representatives thus
showing decided majority in both States in favor
of the bill. With what appearance of truth then,
can il now be asserted that this is unmitgated
case of northern aggression, and that VIC OF the
South have been robbed of territory acquired
mainly by southern blood and southern treasure.
No two States in this Union acquired more glory |
during the Mexican war than Tennessee and Ken |
lucky. Each one OF them furnished -four regiments
OF volunteers, exclusive OF their due proportion OF
regulars, and both OF them maintained on every |
field the high character they had won in previous
wars. The bones Of many gallant Tennessecan /
now lies bleaching beneath the walls Of Monterey |
and in the pass -of Cerro Gordo, and the field Of
Buena Vista made red with the beet blood of
kentucky Can it be believed that the people % |
those States, whose dauntlcss courage has almost
passed into proyorb, should not only be willing
TO submit TO shameless robbery of rights thus
dearly purchascd, but that they should themselves
aid in that robbery, and become party to their
own degradation No, Mr.. President, the truth is,
il was difference Of judgment merely. thought
il wrong 10 admit California, and voted against il.
.., -, IL