The southern press., 1851-09-06
speech of Gen. Gilbert.

owed Iortn IN his every movement and tone.
His time will come.
speech Of GEN. Gilbert.
| Mr.. PRESIDENT. "A gentleman called at my
room few moments ago, and informed me the
Democratic convention here assembled desired
me to address it,
Unexpected as the call is, have, of course,
made no preparation to meet it, Nor am
aware of the subject on which my views are de-
sired by this honorable body. When entered,
there was matter before the meeting, and fear
my presence has been an interruption. But | anu
prepared, Mr.. President, to give my humble
opinions to my felow-ctizens at any moment,
touching any question legitinately within the
area Of debate.
repeat, do not know what line of remr&
should follow in obeying the dattering a42
made upon me. The great questions Of 1 tionrl
policy that 81 70 divided parties nee the early
days of the republic, are fam ar to all, and their
discussion could be of little interest here The
intelligence of the country has passed upon
them, and il were u + uitless task to disturb the
| Judgment thus pronounced. 1t was wise to look
to the future in the affairs of life.
| But there was one subject. the discussion of
which was peculiarly appropriate at the present
hour No man could shut his eyes to the fact
70 ientous clouds darkened the horizon, and
easuists could not deny that the future was preg-
nant with alarm. for the true patriot 1t was
selfevident that deep-rooted feeling against the
peculiar institutions Of the South, had grown
with the growth of cert in divisions of the
country, and strengthened with their strength
The little muddy rll had swelled into an ocean,
threatening the beautiful South with the fate of
the cities of the Plain. She had endured long
and weary years of wrong, and had been van
qushed in every conflict for Justice Coming
into the Union on terms Of perfect equality,
the Southern States are now powerless coun-
ell, and can present record of peril or the
part of their nemes, the free States " .orth
and West, revolving in the last deg Was
this humiliating safe of things to e9ntinrc
unto the end Must we endure, until we dis
appear from the ~ 1, Northern aggression and
insult? In frequent conversations, for he had
not heard the matter publicly discussed in this
State, he had been told that the compromise
must be taken as security for the future, and
that it was wrong to agitate the subject now.
The poor South, bleeding at every pore, must
not speak of her wrongs!. He had seen man.
ifesto issued from Washington and signed bv
large number of members of Congress-, calling
upon the country not to "agitnte" this tter
of Northern aggres ION! 1t threatened every
man who had the temerity to think and speak
upon broken faith and false protestltions, with
Punishment from the perfumed chambers of
| Office The South must bear her affl ctions
without a murmur; it is her duty to suffer, a
crime in her to "agitate," to speak, to remon-
strate, when she feels the iron enter her soul
Il there a man here who can believe there
will be spontaneous cessation of this war upon
the South? Is it possible that his mountain
wave of iniquty, that has swallowed up every
thing in its progress, can be stayed now, when we
are politically weak and defenceless? Having
met with no reverse, from her first attack upon
us to her triumph in the compromise, is 1T rens
enable to suppose that our enemies will stop
now in their fanatical career! No, no! The
lion makes no terms with the lamb. If | could
be assured this cessation of hostilities was not
iIusory--if dared to hope time would evolve
for the South brighter day-strong as my
feelings are, would say to the North, take all
but let us alone. Take California, purchased
with our blood and treasure, take New Mexico
take everything we should hold in common, and
we will bear as best we may the keen shafts of
your past malignity. But can reasonable men
believe that power so long victorious will be
listless now, when the road to fresh conquest is
before them! AS well may we except the
hound of Cuba, when testing the blood of its
victim, to permit it to depart in peace, as to
suppose that this sweeping tyranny of sections
would pause short of the full accomplishment
of its in fernal mission. Men who can pursue a
systematic course of wrong for near half GEN.
tury, will be slow to reli lquish the darling
object of their cold heart7 when their last effort
meets triumph, perfect, complete.
| Yet we are told we must not "agitate"-our
lips must be sealed. Such LANGUAGE could be
thundered by the Autocrat of Russia into the
trembling ear of serf but in the land of Wash
ineton il was insulting, nay, contemplate. Not
agitate public vrongsi Had such monarchial
sophistry as this obtained mastery in the days
of our colonial bondage, the stars and stripes
would not now wave on every sea- and command
the admiration Of world. II was an object near
his heart, to see this matter freely discussed by
the citizens Of Louisiana We had been taught
by great father of the Republic, that the price
of liberty was eternal vigilance. We should
meet together rs brothers and counsel upon the
grave questions that may soon, too soon, per-
haps, force themselves upon our consideration.
| lie yielded TO no man on enrth in attachment
10 the Union, but he wished that it might be such
Union as the Constitution ontemplated--sucb
Union as the founders Of the Republ made
and bequeathed to us. He would pour out his
hearts blood for the Union as IT stood in better
and happier days, based upon Right, Equality
and Justice. But we should be careful in ascer-
tanning IL the great work ofthe men of the Revo-
luton has not changed its features and proper
tons. We should take heed lest manly and sens
IDLE reverence for an instrument ofhuman design
does not lead to an mbecile dread, and blind
superstitous idolatry for this work Of wisdom.
Born in one extremity fthe Union, he had spent
many years in another; but wherever his lot
might be cast, he trusted God would confde to
his keeping the power to discriminate between
a substance and shadow.
Before he concluded his brief remarks, the
honorable gentleman said he would rim i'm
: plore his fellow citizens to reason to .ie upon
this vital question Of Northern "a sion.
They should decide in their own r. SIS what
course they would take when the day of trial
came upon us. lie remembered when a
boy 10 have seen on a militia flag in a little
/, town. these words Of wisdom :-"In time of
peace prepare for war" five acted wisely we
would place ourselves in an attitude to meet
, and to bear up against the storm when It should
: burst upon us. The crisis, he believed, was