The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-20
CONGRESSIONAL,
srEECH Or MR. RHErT.

SPpt, a relation 10 me Compromise Measures delivered
IN tie Senate, December is and 10. 1851
Mr. President; Al the close of the last session
Of Congress The senator from Kentucky. MIR CLAY,l
not now In his seat in replying to certain remarks
had made the resolution he had offered relative to
the negro riot in Boston, thought proper throw out
some personal impuations against me- This senator had
BEFORE when was not member OF the Senate, dealt in
the same strain of npntation. | arose whilst he was
speaking and stated 10 the Senate that, whilst had not
the slightest objection TO the personal the senator
was pursuing, ! hoped the Senate would not DENY me
parts Of the chamber promptly said "certainy." The
.enaor from Kentucky expressed his Willingness that
should reply to him but as be was according 10 the
usasss Of the Senate delivering final speech in reply
aud wished the Of reference to be taken on the rss
ou,on when he had closed his speech he said he would
yield the floor then. wished it. that might respond
because he had not yet finished his speech The sena-
Tors around me then said. "Reply when the report on
the resolution comes in" To this assenied. The res
oution was then referred TO the Judiciary Committee
waited here afterwards in my seat every morning for
ou,on was referred on Monday, and on on Tuesday
Wednesday, Thursday Friday. and Saturday, | waited
in my seat IN vain. On Saturday got into the contest
the internal improvement bill, which not only con-
scmed all the time which could have been applied such
matter. but very nearly occasioned the loss of the ap
propriation bills. mean to blame for the report
moi being made but wish say, that SO soon as
The senator from Kentucky shall appear in his seat. and
able to mDgle IN debaie shall throw my self the
indulgence OF the Senate 70 make the reply then meda
ted 10 his imputaions: My business now will be with
VI. /
II thai senator had thought proper to announce on the
floor OF the Senate that, according TO his views of the
constitution OF the United States State had no right TO
scedesom the Union, and that, therefore, she did Sc
cede from the Union. those Of her citizens who sup.
ported her in her secession would be demagogues and
iraitors, 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 dispuation. But the senator did not pursue
this course He denounced the secessonists" Of South
Carolina as "demagogues and traitors" seeking TO dis
solve the Union, and lavshed his praises on those
whom he said had overlhrown them. There is not
much force in epithes they are generally the
Of silly weakness or malignant rage TO man intent
upon grave realities or serious enterprises affecting his
rights and liberties, words very trifes; and words
mnons when they would perdiously be,ray the people
strike down liberty, that they be OF little conse.
quehce TO freeman, much less to senator. would not
Iay the shghes regard to them when falling from that
senator, but for the fact that stand here in
tye capaciy Sir. General Gage. writing to the British
government, describes the revolutionary patriots in Bos
people, and would lei the Test in their rghtful allie
glance; and doubt not tina, Benedict Arnold alter he
had deserted our cause, spoke appany Of Washington
foul rebel and traitor. The OF that day were not
hur. by epthets denuncations 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 the greater part of
them, believe, secessionsts-they disunoDisis and
hesitate not here TO say, citizen of South Carolina
and senator, that, under the circumstances in which the
South Ia now placed, am secessionist-l am dis
unlonlst So long my sovereign-the State repre-
sent-shall continue, in the Union, am bound. am
swoIn 10 support the constitution OF the United States
but IN my opinion, The compact OF the constitution is vi
olated-tbe Union OF the constitution is dssovei-and
her duly it is her right 10 project her people from
the expressions and dangers which surround them.
propose this day 10 lay before the Senate OF the
grounds upon which, believe. the people OF South Car
olna have to the conclusion that they cannot under
existing circumstances live peace much less in honor,
in this confederacy unless it shall be reformed from it's
foundations. Since le45 mot twenty years ago, the
senator IRON Mississippi repesens) have despaired Of
reforming lhs government by the government itself ii
capable OF reformation, IT must be reformed, in my opin-
ion BY the sovereign parties 10 the constitution Whether
they should attempt TO reform by their Independent
on, or break up hnay should this aclion fa IN re.
forming it. will depend upon the fact whether good
irremedably bad government There is nothing
wrong in upturniDg governments. Bad governments
ought TO be oyerthrowD-good governments only ought
TO be supported and on this principle II that
ihers, by seven years dissolved their union with
the British throne The question is what sort OF gov
eminent is practically established the South by
The government OF the United States and, solving this
question, will be able TO who the dcmagoaues
and traitors in the South
And hTst cir, let us take up the Compromise, rs
IT is called, which the senator from mississippi de-
setibes, not only constitutional, but most beneh-
cent n rs operations. According 10 his view, il has
asyed all the grefs dispersed all the dlscontens OF
the southern people. and Is worthy OF reiterated ex
preston in the Senate OF their ardent and grateful
support, Lei us analyze It,
The great, leading wrong, il any exist towards the
South, Is in the disposition OF our territories To know
It's magnitude we must understand The extent OF our ter
nOld baDd statement OIL le1tliones
before acquired by treaty any territory from Mexico.
They were as follows;
Square milos
l. Nor,hwes, of the Mississippi and east OF
The Rocky mountains. exclusive OF the
Indian territory 723.2iS
2. Add the part OF The old Northwest Terri.
tory added TO Minnesota in violation OF
the Virginia deed of cession % 1896
J Oregon Territory 34l,463
0s7,O47
Making in all one million eighty seven thousand and
foriy square miles, being territory enough 10
make twenty EIGHT States as large Ohio. From all
this territory slavery excluded by the Missouri Com
promise and the act establishing Oregon Territory.
was member OF the other house when the last
passed, and remember well the appeals made
BY The members from the free States the members
from the savebojng States not TO oppose the exclusion
OF slavery IRON Oregon, and thus disturb the Missouri
OF me Missouri Compromise, and on this ground alone
tae Dill passed and obtained the executive sanction
appears IN the presidential message Congress accom-
panying its approval.
BY such professions abandoned as soon a. the Mia
sou Compromise could give anything to the South the
ree States appropriated all OF our erritories-enough
have shown, to make twenty eigh, free States, and
enough when organized into States to give them the
constitutional majority in Congress TO alter the consu-
hon as they pleased. But this did not satisfy them
We acquired afterwards from Mexico by treaty
r.r, Square miles.
.alioInla ddS ,6oi
new Mexico l2t,g33
ihas as ihey afterwards took " 52,0IS
625,642
DIX hundred and tweaty Ave thousand six hundred
and ior,ytwo square mes-more than all the present
nee States IN the conederacy, and enough 10 make six
@ ,een States as large as Ohio The controversy which