The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-29

did not concur in. don't impute any bad motive u
them; am ready to believe they are Americans all
They may not have thought them necessary; they
may have thought these laws would be passed
without their concurrence Let all that pass away
II they are now men who will stand by what is
done. and stand up for their country, and say that
these laws were passed by majority OF the whole
country, and we must stand by them and live by
them, will respect them all friends.
Now, gentlemen, allow me TO ask OF you, to-day,
what do you think would have been the condition
OF the country ut this time, in your judgment, II
these laws had not been passed by the last Con-
gresss If the question of the Texas boundary had
not been settled, New Mexico and Utah had been
left as desert places, and NO government had been
provided for them; and If the other great question
70 which State laws had opposed 30 many obstacles
in the restoration Of fugtvcs had not been settled
ask, what would have been the state of this coun.
try nowl You men OF Erie county, you men OF New
subject What would have been the state OF the coun
try, now, ut this moment, if these laws had not
been passed? 1 have given my opinion that we
should have had civil war. refer it to you,
therefore, for your consideration. Mediate on it;
do not be carried away by any notions or ideas oi
metaphysics; think practically on the great ques.
ton OF what would have been the condition Of the
United States at this moment If we had not settled
these agitatng questions. l have stated, in my
opinions there would have been civil war.
Gentlemen, will you allow me for moment to
advert to myself have been long time in pub
lie life; OF course not many years remain to me.
At the commencement of 1850 saw something Of
the condition of the country, and thought the in
evitable consequence would be civil war. saw
danger in leaving Utah and New Mexico without
any government, q prey to the power Of Texas.
saw this condition Of things arising from the inter
ference Of some of the States in defeating some Of
the operations Of the Constitution in respect to the
restoration Of fugitive slaves; and, gentlemen, /
made up my mind to encounter whatever might
betidc me; and allow me to say something which
was not entirely unexpected. member Of the
House OF Representatives told me that he had
made list of one hundred and forty speeches
which had been made in Congress on tho slave
~ question. THAT 10 very large number, my
FRIEND" said, "but how is that1" "Why," said
he, ga northern man gets up and speaks with con-
hammer knocks him down; then gets up south
ern man. and he speaks with more warmth and
equal eloquence. He is nearer the Gun, and he
comes out against the North. He speaks his hour,
one hundred and forty speeches my st.''
SWELL, said /, "what they?" "If the speak
err" said he, "was northern man, he held forth
against slavery; and if he was from the South, he
abused the North; and all those speeches sent
by the members to their own localities, where they
the of the local Irritation which existed
at the time. In this way the other side Of the ques
ton was not heard-that is the way of it" l
thought that in this state Of things quiet
sary: You can't suppose that was indifferent to
the danger. am Massachusetts man, and know
what Massachusetts used to be. am q Massachu-
setts man. Massachusetts has kept me great
her, and mean to do 80, as long as live. Zap
plause.
Well, gentlemen, suppose that on that occasion
mad taken different course from what did. II
may allude to any thing 30 Insignificant az my
self-supposc that, ON the 7th of March, instead of
making speech that would reconcile the country,
had joined in the general clamor of the party
suppose had said will have nothing to do with
any accommodation-we will admit no satisfac-
ton-we will let Texas invade New Mexico-we
will leave New Mexico and Utah to take care of
themselves and we will plant ourselves on the Will
mot proviso, and let the d. take the hindermost.
Now, gentlemen, don't mean to say that great
consequence would follow from that; but suppose
had taken such a course. How could be blamed
for it, Was not Massachusetts man? Did mot
know Massachusetts, sentiments and prejudices?
But what of that! am an American! [Greatap
plausel | was made whole man by God, and
don't mean to make myself half one. [Trsmen-
dous outbursts of APPLAUSE felt had duty to
perform to my country-to my own reputation; for
battered myself that service of forty years has
given me some character. ! thought it was my
duty, and did not care what was to give way.
felt it to be my duty to come Quito 60 for my
country, and my whole country, and to exert any
power had to keep that country together (Great
applause cared for nothing, was afraid Of no
thing; but meant to do my duty.
Duty performed makes a man happy; duty ne
around him; and therefore. gentlemen, in the
lace OF all circumstances and danger, was ready
to go forth and do that which thought my coun-
try-your country-demanded of me. And, gen.
tlemen, allow me to say here, to-day. that if the
fate Of John Rogers had been presented to me-ifI
had seen the stake-if had heard tho thorns
crackling-by the blessing of Almighty God.
would have gone on and discharged the duty
which thought my country called upon me to
perform. would have become q martyr to save
my country
And now. gentlemen, farewell Live and be
happy live like patriots; live like Americans;
live in the enjoyment of the nestimablc blessings
which your fathers prepared for you; and, if any
thing that may do hereafter should be inconsis-
tent in the slightest degree with the opinions and
principles which have addressed to YOU then dis
card me ever from your recollection.