The southern press., 1851-12-27
Speech Of Mr.. Rhen, Of South Carolina.
THE COMPROMISE MEASURES.

/. measures.
Mr.. RHErT said:
! Mr.. PRESIDENT: At the close of the last ses-
sion of Congress, the Senator from Kentucky,
Mr.. CLAY, not now in his seat, in replying to
certain remarks l. had made on the resolution he
had offered relative to The negro riot in Boston,
! thought proper to throw out some personal In-
putations against me. This Senator had before,
when was not member of the Senate, dealt
in the same strain of imputation arose whilst
he was speaking, and stated 10 the Senate that,
whilst h d not the slightest objection to the
personal course the Senator was pursuing, |
| hoped the Senate would not deny me the priv
lege of rep ying to it. The senator's from all
parts of the chamber promptly said, "certainly."
The Senator from Kentucky expressed his will
lingness that should reply to him. but as he
! was, according TO the usages OF the Senate, de-
| livering final speech in reply, and wished the
vote of reference to be taken on the resolution
when he had closed his Speech he said he would
yield the floor then, it wished it, that might
respond to his remarks. ! answered that
could not do that, because he had not yet fin
ished his s. eech. The senators around me then
said, "Reply when the report on the resolution
comes in" To this assented The resolution
was then referred to the Judiciary Committee.
waited here afterwards in my seat every morn
ing for the report OF the committee, prepared to
reply. Theresolution was referred on Monday
and on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday, waited in my seat in vain. On
Saturday we got into the contest on the internal
Improvement bill, which not only consume all
the time which could have been applied 10 such
a matter, but very nearly occasioned the loss of
the appropriation bills mean to bam, no
one for the report not being made; but wish
now to say, that as soon as the Senator from
Kentucky shall appear in his seat. and be able to
mingle in debate, shall throw myself on the
indulgence of the Senate to make the reply
th.n medtated to his imputations. My bust
ness now, will be with the Senator from Missls
spp, Mr.. FoorE.
If that Senator had thought proper to an
nounce, on the floor of the Senate, that accord
ing to his views of the Constitution of tn.
United States, a State had no right to seceie
from the Union-and that therefore, if she did
secede from the Union, those of her citizens
who supported her in her secession would be-
demagogues and traitors, | do not know that |
should have noticed his positions From the
foundation of the government, the principles on
which such conclusion might rest, have been
matters of dsputaton. But the Senator did
not pursue this course. He denounce the Sc
cessonists" of Sou h Carolina as " demagogues
and traitors" seeking to dissolve the Union; and
lavished mis- praises on those who, he said, had
| overthrown them. There is not much force in
epithets; they are generally the resorts of silly
weakness or malignant rage To man intent
upon grave realities or serious enterprises affect
ing his rights and Liberties, words are very tri
hes and words like these, have so often been
used by tyrants and their mnionS, when they
| would perhdiously betray the people Or strike
down liberty, that they can be of little conse-
quence to freeman, much less to "A Senator
would not pay the slightest regard to them when
falling from that Senator bat for the fact that
stand here in representative capacity Sir,
General Gage writing to the British govern.
ment, describes the revolutionary patriots in
Hoston rs troublesome demagogues who de-
ceved the people ard would not let them rest in
their righlful allegiance !" ard doubt no, that
Benedict Arnold, after he had deserted our cause,
spoke fppanty OF Washington as a foul rebel
and traitor. The men Of that day were not
hurt by epithets or denunciations nor will any
man be concerned about them who is conscious
Of defending his rights and liberties II is with
the reality ] care now 10 deal. The people
whom ] represent are, the greater part of them,
l. believe, secessioDits--they are disunionists
and ! hesitate not here to say as a citizen OF
South Carolina and a Senator that, under the
circumstances in which the South is now placed
am a secessioni,t-I am disunionist SO
long as my soveregn-the State represent
hall continue in the Union, ] am bound, as |
am sworn, 10 SUI port the Constitution Of the
United States; but in my opinion, the compact
Of the Constitution is volated-the Union of
tie Constitution is dis. olved-and il is her duty,
as it is her right, to protect her people from the
expressions and dangers which surround them.
I al. 4 - .g Al
of the grounds upon which, ] believe, the people
Of South Carolina have come TO the conclusion
that they cannot, under existing circumstances,
live in peace, much less in honor, in this confed.
eracy, unless il shall be reformed from its foun.
dations. Since ls45 mot twenty years ago,
"a the Senator from Mississippi represents),
have 6espaircd Of reforming this government by
the government itself II capable Of reforna.
ton, il must be reformed, in my opinion, by the
/ sovereign parties 10 the Constitution Whether
( they should attempt 10 reform il by their indie
pendent action. or break itup finally should this
action fail in reforming il, will depend upon the
/ fact whether il is good or an irremediably bad
overnment There is nothing wrong in upturn.
ing governments Bad governments ought to
be over;hrown-good governments only ought
70 be supported; aud on this principle it was,
that our fathers, by seven years war, dissolved
their union with the British throne Tie ques
ton is, what sort Of government is now practi
cal'y established over the South by the govern
ment Of the United States? And, solving this
question, we will be- able 10 see who are the
/ demagoRucs aud traitors in the South.
And fret sir, let us take up the compromise
as il is called, which tn Senator from Mississippi
describes. ~ not only CONSTITUTIONAL but most
benefccnt in its operations. According to his
view, il has alldyei AL The griefs, dispersed all
the d.cDntcnis Of the South IN people, and is
worthy Of reiterated expression in the Ser ate
Of their mo,t ardent and grateful support. Let
us analyze IL,
The great, leading wong, " any exist to-
wards the South, is in Ne disposition of our
territories To know ia magnitude, we under
stand the extent of our territories hold in
/ my hand statement of our territories before
'e acquired by treaty any, territory from Mexico.
! They were as follows:
Squire miles
! |. Northwest Of the Mississippi and