The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-02

well. Continuing to address Mr.. Spencer.l The
resolution itself, Enacted on is not treasonit only
maniiests reasonable purpose. When this pur,
pose 10 proclaimed-and il Is proclaimed that II
will be carried out in all casesand is carried into
effect, BY force Of arms or numbers, in any one
case that constitutes looking To war against
the Union; and. If it were necessary, might cite
in illustration the Of John Shays, who suffered
death in Washin time, for being concerned In
the whisky instruction of that day. There was
probably an error here. Shays's rebellion was in
Pennsylvania Now, various are the arguments.
and various the efforts to denounce this law-to
oppose its executon--to keep it up question
of agitation; and they are as various as the va
ried ingenuity OF man, and the various aspect OF
such questions when they come before the peo-
pie. And common thing II is to say that
the law is odous-that it can't be executed, and
will not be executed. That has always been said
By those who don't mean il shall be executed-not
by anybody else. They assume the fact that it
can't be executed, TO make that true which they
wish shall turn out TO be true. They wish that il
shall not be executed and, therefore, announce to
all mankind that il can't be executed. When pub
lie men-your conductors ofnewspapers-thus deal
with the subject. they deal unfairly with IT, Those
who have types at command, have perfect right
to express their opinions; but doubt their right to
express opinions as facts. l doubt whether they
have right to say--not as matter opinion, but OF
factthat this particular law is odious here and
elsewhere that it cannot be executed. That only
proves that they Of opinion that II ought not
that they hope II may not be executed. go that
length. do not find any of that description of tho
public press who say we wish it were otherwise.
They do not cay, ''sec il any wrong is inflicted
anybody by it; hope to find in its operation
no wrong or injury to anybody" Does any of them
hold that language? Not one. The wish is father to
the thought They wish that it may not be executed,
and therefore they say il cannot and will not be
cuted That is ofthe modes presenting thecase
fair mode OF doing it. There are other forms and
modes-and might omit to notice the clustering
abolition societies Of Boston and elsewhere un-
worthy Of regard-but there are other forns more
nsidious and equally eficacious; there are men
who say, when you talk of amending that law,
that they hope it will not be touched You talk OF
attempting it, and they dssuade you. They say,
"Letic remain az obnoxious as it can be, and 80
much the sooner 1t will disgust, and be detested
by the whole community" am ashamed to say
that such sentiments have been avowed by those
in Massachusetts who ought to be utterly, utterly
ashamed to utter such opinions. For what do they
mean! They mean to make the law obnoxious--
so obnoxious that it shall not be executed. They
suggest no other law-they oppose all amend
ment-oppose doing any thing that shall make il
less distasteful. What do they mean? They mean,
and they know it, that there shall exist no law
whatever for carrying into effect this provision eff
the Constitution Of the country. They wish to
strike il out, to annu it. They oppose it in every
possible form short of personal resistance, and to
do this they say the worsc the law is the better
They say we have now topic, and for mercy's
sake don't amend the horrible law of 1850 Laugh
ter Then again they say, 1--WE are for eternal
agitation and discussion of this questionable peo-
pie can't be bound by it. Every member Of Con-
gress has right to move the repeal Of this well
any other law" Who does not know this? A
member must act according to his discretion.
No doubt he has right tomorrow, if Congress
were in session, to move repeal of the slave law;
but this takes whit another. He has just much
right to move to tear down the Capitol, until one
stone shall not be left upon another; just much
right TO move to disband the army, and to throw
the ordnance and arms into the sea- He has just
much right to move that all the chips of war of the
United States shall be collected and burned illu-
mination like that which Lit up the walls Of ancient
Troy. He may do any of these things. The question
10, is he prudent wise-a real friend of the coun-
try, or adverse to il? That is all. And greater
question lies behind: VIII the people support him
in it? IL il tho result of the good sense of the
northern people, that the question shall have nci-
Their ressnor quiet, but shall be constantly kept up
"a topic OF agitation? shall not decide il for
them, but leave them to do 80. Now, gentlemen,
this is serious Observation-Disclosures the Consti
can be maintained in part, and not in whole; whe
Their those interested in the preservation of one part
of it, finding their interests Ill that particular part
secured, are not likely enough, according to all
the experience Of human feeling, to discard that
portion intended not for their benefit, but for the
benefit of others? That is the question. For one,
confess don't see any reasonable prospect of
maintaining the Constitution Of the United States
unless we maintain it whole--impar tially,
honorably, periodically. Gentlemen. am dctan-
ing you too long; but allow me a few words on
other subject
The Constitution Of the United States consists in
a series OF mutual agreements and compromised
one thing being yielded by the South, another by
the North. The general mind having been brought
together, the whole was agreed 10, as l said,
series of compromises We'll, who does not see
that? Had the North particular interest in that!
Had the North interest? Was nothing yielded
by the South to the North? Gentlemen, you are
proud citizens Of great commercial State. You
know that New York ships float over the whole
world, and bring abundance of riches to your own
shores. You know that this is the result Of the com
mercial policy OF the United States; but how was
the commerce established; by what constitutional
provisions; and for whose benefit? The South was
never commercial country. The plantation States
were never commercial Their interest always was,
rs they thought what they think it TO be now-free
trade; the unrestricted admission of foreigners in
competition in all branches OF business. But what
did they do! They agreed to form government
that should regulate commerce according to the
wants and wishes of the northern States; and when
the Constitution went into operation, commercial
system was also established, which rose up the
whole glory Of New York and New England.
lApplause.l
Wen, what did Congress do under northern
leader, with southern acquiesccnce? What did it
dos 1t protected the commerce of New York and
the eastern StatQs, first by preference by way of
tonnage duties, and next by way Of higher tonnage
on foreign ships, which have never been surreh-
dered TO this day but in consideration of Just equ-
vaent SO in that respect, without grudging or hui
initiation the part OF the South, but generously
and farly-not in the way of concession, but in the
true spirit OF the Constitution-the commerce OF
New York and the New England States was pro-
tectcd by the provision Of the Constitution TO which
have referred. But that 10 not all.
Friends. Fellow citzens Men of New York!
Docs this country not now extend from Maine to
Mexico, and beyond? And have we not State
beyond Cape Horn, belonging nevertheless to us as
part Of our commercial system? And what does
New York enjoys What do Massachusetts and
Maine enjoy' They enjoy an exclusive right OF
carrying on the coastiDg trade from State TO State
on the Atlantic, and around Cape Horn to the Pa
cihc. And that is great source of wealth and
emoument, of comfort and good living, thou
sand times greater than any other commercial
source whatever. It is this exclusive right to tho
coastng trade which the northern States possess,
which was granted to them, which they have ever
held, and which up to this day there has been no
attempt TO rescue from them.
Now. what would you cay , this day of the pre-
valcnce Of notions of free trader What would you
say if the South and the West to join together
and repeal this lawl-and they have the votes to
do it Tomorrow. What would you say il they
should join hands and shy that these men of the
North and New England who put this slight on