Washington telegraph., 1851-04-23

There are differences of law, TIE
Southern States, without their own fault.
by course of events for which they
were not responsible, had slavery estab-
lished among them, did not all the States
know that? Did not they deal with them
upon that basis? Did not they recognize
that state of things? Entirely. entirely
That was matter of local legislation,
of State right and State administration
with which the North at that time had
not the slightest inclination to interfere,
in any respect whatever and they ought
not to have had, because it was one of
those things that did not enter into :hat
general scope of political ASSOCIATION
which the colonies meant to form.
Gentlemen, concur in the sentiments
expressed by you ALL and thank God
they were expressed by you all-in the
resolutions passed here on the 10th of
December.
You say that the Constitution Of the
United States has accomplished all the
objects. civil and political. which the
most sanguine of its farmers and friends
anticipated; and that the affections Of the
people Of Maryland are justly rivetted to
its principles by the memory of the
characters OF the wise and good men
who framed it, as well as by the blessings
they literally bestow throughout the
world That is my sentiment. My
heart is in it. (Applause.) Altogether.
| live and breathe, | walk and sleep--I
had almost said | pray 20 God daily-in
the very sentiment of that resolution
Their you go on to assert sentiment
equally just. You say that proper APP
probation of these blessings would lead
every State in the Union to ador, all
such measures as may from time to time
be necessary to give complete and full
effect to any proviso of the Constitution,
or the laws pursuant thereto intended for
the protection of any part of this great
common country. True, every word true.
And allow me to say that any State,
North or South, which departs an iota
from the sentiment of that resolution is
disloyal to this Union. Great applause
Neither, SO far as any act Of that sort
has been committed, such State has
no portion Of my regard l do not sym
pathise with it. | rebnke it wherever |
speak, on all occasions when it is proper
for me 10 express my sentiments If
there are States-and [ am afraid there
are-which have sought by ingenious
contrivances of State Legislation, by
round about and crooking courses of pol.
ICY to thwart the just exercises and full
fment of the laws Of Congress passed
to carry into effect the compscts Of the
Constitution, that State, so far, is entitled
to no regard from me. At the North
there have certainly been some intlma-
tions in certain States OF such policy.
At the South another danger seems TO
have arisen; and 1t is subject Of very
serious lamentation to me. 1t would seem
that there is disposition in some quar-
ters to secede from the Union of these
States "Secede!" va word of OMNIBUS
import. Secede from what? Secede from
this Government which has carried the
country to such pitch of glory in 60 or
70 years? To secede from all the honors
and renown which il has accomplished.
And to secede where? Wherever there
is a terminus q quo there is terminus
ad quem. Where are they going! Gap
plause.) Whoever entertains such sentl-
ments regard with a spirit of commsera-
ton. think il is malady Of the mind.
[ think that their feelings have become
entirely diseased. think that they know
no: what they do. And yet. gentlemen,
l do not think it the part of prudence to
criminate. or to taunt, or TO provoke.
Leave them to their own consideration.
Let them dwell on secession many days,
and inwardly digest it. (Laughter) And
SO far as l have any voice in the Councils
of the country, this meditation of theirs
shall never be disturbed; not q breath
shall ruffle their sensibillty; until it comes
to point where something is done that
comes to an actual conflict with the Con-
stitution. (Applause.)
1t is paneful when we reflect that
State SO highly distinguished, so full OF
high spirits and cavaliers, State which
took such an active part i'll the Revou-
ton, and which took, such an active part
in the early administration of the Govern
ment, which has produced so many men
who have honored the country and honor.
ed themselves i'll the public servlce-it Is
painful, | say, and humiliating, to con-
slider that their decendants of the present
generation, seem willing to forget the
whole glorIes Of their country, to take
one stripe and one star, and 60 out of the
Union with it. (Laughter.) A returning
sense of patriotism and proprlety will
check them. do not know what might
happen if there had been more general
spirit of disunion. Icannot persuade my
self that honest and honorable mea, in
genous men. young men, who wish TO
live for glory and renown, and character,
will ever leave that Union which their
fathers established. that Constitution
which has made their State like all the
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