Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-21

SPEECH OF GEN. WADDY THOMfcoN,
on SOUTH cARoLIsA,
At the Dinner ofte MaryLsnd Historical Society on the
10th Of May.
FROM THE BALTIMORE PATRIOT or ruEsDAr'
The Hon. JoHs BARNEY introduced Gen. THOMPSON 80
the following remarks:
At this evenulmoment, when every heart - ,L
pulsation from the lofty peaks of the Rocky Mouny - =
Atlantic and Pacific oceans, with prayers ior me on
appropriate to welcome to our board dis!ss 81
Of the South-a Union man, Southern ~.
steadfast in the faith and here permit M - - ..s
however widespread seems % be the disg: 49,. NV
lent in South Carolina, It il my rm and nn,s;oss Sv
~. sonb;.,,v of Ss msruded pcal rebrands, goaded
by imaginary wrongs to prefer Of an Independent,
sovereignty where they may s. uo Po~sf anu
importance, to the countler wi s'0'ous ooA-
PROMPTED by the des, ndant Of Carroll name halowed
in the affections Of eyy friend human liberty, whose glo-
Oqs example 10 thereto fortune uoeuossd BY
anv Of bis and his subsequent devotion 10 the
PRINCIPLES and actces of pure Repubcsnsm for him
the title Of mus Romanorum, the last survivor Of that
ilusrous bnd who framed this immortal instrument, Car
roll desreso tender tribute of respect welcome and
distinguished guest
Gen. WADDr THoxrsos, Of South Carolina The true
champion Of freedom Union man.
After the applause had subsidized Gen. THOMPSON said
The sentiment which has just been announced and which
has been kindly and tengy received refers to three
subjects myself Federal Union, and my own beloved
State Of the FIRST it is not becoming that should speak
Of the last il it, and, II speak feel will be to give
utterance to feelings Of pride and OF deep affection One OF
the earliest and most OF my political opinions has
been that with the Of the Federal Union in
dissouby united the duration Of free Institutions and the
liberties the hopes and the happiness Of man IN all time to
come. This opinion has rpened into fixed principle all
the more fixed and cherished from residence in country
subjected TO all the evils uncertainties and OF
constantly succeeding revolutions.
The experiment of the capacity Of man for segoyenment
has before been made under circumstances so favorable
Il never will be again and put out the light Of
great and thus far successful experiment. and the world left
forever in the darkness of despoisma darkness profound
and hopeless.
have looked somewhat into the history Of other condera
ces-their rise, glory, and greatness their disruption, de-
cline and ruin find there nothing but warnings, not Of
DANGER but Of certain and entire destruction. will not make
uugacous return for your kindness as to n Ct upon you
long historical dissertation. But there is something mo-
ntoy in the HHg which led to the Peoponesan
and its disastrous and DISCRIMINATING effects upon the free nst
uons and the greatness and the glory OF Greece and the
parallel to the present state Of things amongst US cannot fail
to suggest warning to all rghtmnded and nght-hearted
men. How few the causes Of collision and Of war be-
the States Greece and those which exist amongst the
different States Of this confederacy That diversity Of employ
and of predictions, which, whilst we remain united,
constitute the strongest Of all the bonds Of union, will if
are ever sepsraed be the fruitful Of collision and Of
protraced apd sanguinary The single question Of
tradition Of fugitive slaves would Of inevitable certainty lead
to war ip months. Does any suppose that if
the people of the North will not yield that question
to preserve the Union, that they will yield after the Union
is dissolved and dissolved that very point would not
give rush for the concession Of the right to secede leave
that question to abstract theorists and acute dialeccans
separation take place with the unanimous assent of
all the States six months could no. by possibility elapse be-
fore collisions would the borders which would light
up the flames Of civil through the whole length and breadth
of the confederacy And such war without parallel in all
the elements Of hate calamity and horror by any recorded in
the darkest pages Of mans hisoy-a war; from the contem
paon Of which the heart shraks with asckening and
despair On what other field have met enemies equal
as proud, as warke mplacab and with more than the
proverba ranco and vengeance OF civil freely yield
the palm OF courage those who look with composue
upon such future that confess that have not the
courage do it. But should pity the weakness Of the
who admitting the DANGER nay the probability Of all these
amies, would refer book of political economy,
that might derive consolation from the fact that should
purchase cotton domescs shade cheaper The madness Of
rushing upon such fearful changes with such is
than equaed by the folly and the aacy of such calculations
say nothing Of that love Of countthe result Of common
struggles Dangers and gloreand the sentiment OF pride in
belonging great nation that sentiment without which no
people great and renowned Yet sir nevertheless
there was time when would have taken this leap, all fear
full When the people Of the Northern States well
knowing that slavery forbidden by God himself n New
Mexco-Calorna having been already admted-and forbid
den by laws much eversible and powerful than the
Wimot proviso, God himself more powerful than
Wmot, if may without everence say yet if, well
knowing this they had persisted in forcing this drugged and
loahsome cup upon for the sake Of assang the pin
cple they said, but really for the sake of the insult
would like the strong Of old, have embraced the pillars
Of her temple, if only for the vengeance Of common ruin
and he born slave and deserves his destiny who would
not With nations with individuals existence is only
blessing on certain conditions and the first Of these honor
pefec. and intact But thanks to that good Providence which
has increasingly watched us and next that Providence
that noble band Of patriots from the free States at the head
of whom stands Webster, pus inter pares, and Cass and
Dickinson this bitter cup has passed from and hope and
believe forever shanever forget the sublime spectacle which
Mr. Webster presented little than year ago, when he
delivered that greatest Of all his great speeches Coolies at the
Bridge called upon for the exercise of higher cour
agea courage to meet monster before which the baves
have quaied the ardor cirum proba jubentivm But
he looked at the magnitude Of the interests involved and the
imminency Of the DANGER and noby did he to his
work and do It. The Of the obligation which the coun-
try him will best be understood by inqung what would
have been th1 condition Of the country be had given
the prestige Of hsgeat and the Of his unsurass
ed eoqence the balefu anatcism which then pervad
ing all the free States And what the other hand, have
been the consequences Of the which he did pursue
Throughout the States Of the North have seen the ug
tive slave law enforced and fugitive slave carried through
the Of Boston, where there probably not single
who did not regard slavery with feeling which the word
aversion nadequaey expresses Are such signs these
and there have been many such, cheering to the heart Of
patriot Shall with such symptoms Of returning health
resort to the arsenic, dsunion
One word a. my honored State. am that there
is such thing as egotismtle less offensive that in
dividua egoism But trust that, in my present relations
to the State, may find apology for what about to
say It is known you all that my opinions opposed to
those Of majority, large majority, Of the State IL had
ohoc,s If anbtion Il was "a South Carolina alone that