The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-30
CONGRESSIONAL.
APEECH on nR. CLEMENS,
or AIAAAMA


OF ALABAMA,
Oa The Resoluton declaring The Compromise msasares 10
be defnaue settlement of all The questions grotp,ug
oSi Of ae suted Of domestic slavery; delivered in Ike
Senate December "a, 1851
Mr. CLEMENS said;
Mr. President: II il had been left TO me TO determine
whether this resolution should be introduced | would
most probably have answered, No Not that | doubted
its pI0prieyn0t that had any fears of the con,e-
quences which might flow from it, But some of those
with whom have been accustomed 10 act did entertain
the opinion that might result 10 evil. and am always
willing 10 pay some respect even to the fears of ally
The resolution however, is here, and The question
is not upon the popriey OF it's introduction bur upon the
duty Of ITS passage The character of the debate which
has taken place renders II Imperative in my judgment,
that shall be passed. II has been assailed in manner
aud from quarters hch gave no astonshment The
scene we witnessed ,ns Other day during he delivery BY
harangue surprised here; but would have been
matter o profonnd asoAshnsni 70 The soualsy M .hey
could have been spectators OF what occurred There
was the senator from Massachusetts, [Mr SUMNER the
senator from Ohio. Mr. CHAsE,l and the senator from
New Hampshire. [Mr HALE.l gathered about him in
aor from New York Mr. SEWARD was radiant with
gadness. Thus was exhibited the spectacle of an ex
IRENE southern senator denouncins. in no measured
TERMS the government OF his country and declaring him
self disunionist on account OF alleged wrongs 6eaped
upon him, with four rabd abolonsts as this land
contains drinking in his words with eager appreciation
appauding, cheering. and encouraging HIM All this
nothing new to us. however strange II may appear
10 the plain and honest yeomansy OF the country Nor
was II, Wnen caIlIy COnsiueTeu al all unnatural
:" fellow feeling makes wondrous kind
There is sympathy in as well as in knavery
and those who earnestly striving TO accomplish the
end need not quarrel about the separate
poyed ~
whom never allude except in terms OF the highest
spect-has questioned the proprety OF this resolution
because, he says II can give no additional validity to the
law True, sir, IT cannot But il and will do some
thing better. II will give an assurance TO the country
that intend 10 put end TO agitation. It will strike
from The hands o. The demagogue the most potent weapon
daily procaimng that there is obligation upon him to
abide BY the Compromise, because southern men are de-
iemned to uproot and destroy it, In proof of this he
cites the resolutions of southern rights associations
and the speeches oil southern-rights orators. The
southern secessons tells his hearers that the Compro-
mise nuy and cites in his Turn the acts and declaa-
lions Of his northern co laborers Thus they go each
party playing into the hands OF the olher-each fur
nishng the other with the means OF rousng and keeping
alive public distrust and enmy. Ii this resolution is
passed by such majority as trust il will be- that
game will be at end The friends OF law and good
order point substantial that the peace
again be put in jeopardy. | was no friend OF the Com
promise. is il necessary for 10 say that do not
approve of all its parts believe that by that set
uemen the North acquired more Than she was fairly en-
titled 10, and that We lost than ought TO have
been asked TO yield, II is one thing however, to
ssl the passage of law, and quite another thing 10
resist the law after II has passed. When those bills
had received the sanction OF the President, the only
alternatives which presented themselves 10 my mind
feD0lufOn. Before revolution
resolved upon felt il 10 be my duty TO examine in
what manner the bills passed. and against whom
the be levied The result OF that examination
proved that il wrong had been done the South well
the North had participated in il. and that il secession
the remedy, we must secede from southern well
from northern States: intend TO take up those
ures one by one, and show the in which they
passed into laws not for the purpose OF mparng any in
formation to the Senate, but mainly TO place upon the
record, convenient form for reference, facts which
sincerely wish In the possession OF every in
the South Let attribute TO any special design
conciliaie northern men by what about to say
have said the things where there were Lorihern
purpose defend the North. have intention OF re-
moving from the shoulders Of her people one feathers
weight OF blame which justly attaches TO them. They
have sometimes exhibited rapacy Tor the public spois
which one has condemned in stronger terms than
have. But while will not defend, will net assa with
out cause. nlendt 10 be Just 10 them, as hope TO re-
ve justice al their hands The admission OF California,
however wrong in ilself-however baneful in its nlu
ences-was case OF northern aggression. | know the
charge has been eraied and reiterated until II has walked
every echo in the southern portion oil the continent; but
that only proves the tenaci,y with which will cling
10 cherished fasehood Let recapiiulate the facts
The admission OF California first recommended by
southern democratic President James Polk sent for
the senator from illinois, Mr. DouoLAs. and requested
him 10 draw up bill for that purpose II true The bill
prepared by the from Illinois better bill than
the which finally passed but that does not affect the
present inquiry IL recognised II II dad not establish, the
principle that the people OF any part OF the public terrific
mes have right, under peculiar circumstances TO de
nand admi,tance into the Union without any previous
law oil Congress authorizing them to adopt constitution,
and without any enumeration OF Inhabitants II practi.
ealy asserted that the only question Congress was bound
10 ask before admitting State was. Is her coDs'itu
Ton republican and affirmed that all irregularities might
be waived when The public good required it. Congress
did not act as Mr.. Polk desired The next step also
taken by a southern President General Taylor came into
Office and recommended the admission OF California
she is Up to this time the North had manifested no
esgerness 10 bring IN California. Southern only
had moved in the matter Nor there even at any time
anything like unanimous opposition the part OF the
South When the bill finally passed, eight Of the
fifteen southern States furnished votes for it, Kentucky
gave out OF and Tennessee OF eleven
IN the House OF Representatives-huss showing decided
majority in both States in favor Of the bill With what
appearance OF truth then. be asserted that
his unmitigated OF northern aggression, and
that Of the South have been robbed Of territory
CURED mainly BY southern blood and southern treasure
No two States in this Union acquired glory during
the Mexican war than Tennessee and Kentucky. Each
one OF them furnished four regiments OF volunteers ex-
elusive of their due proportion of regulars and both of
them maintained every field, the high character they
had won IN previous wars The bones OF many a gallant
Tennesseean now lies bleaching beneath the walls of
Monterey, and IN the pass OF Ceno Gordo and the field
Of Buena Vista was made red with The best blood OF
kentucky Can il be believed that the people OF those
States, whose dauness courage has almost passed into
aproyerb, should not only be willing to submit to a
shameless robbery of rights thus dearly purchased, but
That they should themselves aid IN that robbery and be-
come party to their deg radiation No, Mr Presi-
dent the truth is, ii difference of judgment merely
thought wrong 10 admit California. and voted against
~ They thought II right and voted for it, They be-
heyed 10 be IN accordance with the great democratic
principle that people, whether lev many. enti-
tied TO government Congress had failed 10 give Calf
nFnPp nj md a.. IL. Lx,n