The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-21

n@um Wednesday evening by one Of the largest and
most intelligent audiences we have ever seen assembled
IN inns CITY There was packing reinforcement Of
boys OF outsiders and effort procure large attend
ance; and yet there intelligence, more of
Character and influence. and enterprise present than we
have been accustomed 10 witness political assemblages
IN Years past, II was compliment emineny due the
distinguished Speaker and he evneed his appreeia-
lion OF i by the plain. straightforward, and manly
ner IN winch he responded TO IT, He made no effort at
dispay-he said nothing for effect and yet his speech
was powerful vindcaion of the action OF the govern
men! IN relation TO the compromise measures the action
o. the Georgia convention and the organization Of the
Having been introduced by Dr. Arnold in a few ap.
propra'e remarks Mr. Cobb proceeded in the first place,
COMPROMISE had been charged, he said, that the Com
promise was an aggression by the North upon the
stutional rights Of the south This he denied most
emphahcally The position Of the South, SO far as
her constitutional rights concerned, better
now than il had been for the last quarter Of century
While he could not have approved Of some parts OF it
views he considered it wise, LIBERAL and just to all parts
OF the country II was not aggressive upon rights
II violated no provision Of the constitutions and it in
way Affected njurousy the honor or the interests OF the
South Men should not expect-it was not just to
pect-that all their wishes should be carried out in
compromise where the most conflicting sentiments and
obduate preudces 10 be settled II is not right
yield nothing, and yet to exact everything. Such was
not the policy OF our fathers. The federal government,
he commended, was compromise; the constitution
compromise the Union was compromise; republican
| ism Itself was compromise. Compromise written
upon everything II was seen everywhere-n society," in
government and in all the varied and widespread rami
locations OF life. II was upon this just and universal
principle that the action OF the government had been
pedcaed and was upon this that he stood there to
at that point where they unwilling to concede any
thing TO the views and sentiments OF Others there could
be no further government Anarchy and misrule must
take the place OF law and ORDER and society be resolved
into its original elements.
While the speaker admitted that the immediate danger
was passed, il would not be just TO those whom he was
addressing, or to himself TO disguise the TACT that
there were many bitter opponents in all sections of
the country OF the action OF the government and Of
even the government itself. AT the North there
were men--intelligent, influential, and sncere-who
charged that the government had sacrificed every
northern principle at the foot OF southern power; while
al the South there were men, equally intelligent and sin
southern interests and honor had been offered up on the
altar 10 appease northern abolitonism These
pied directly opposite positions, and yet they
ring upon the government for the cause That ruin
to get control in its section too evident, he thought
to REQUIRE anything but the simple statement the FACT TO
put all the true friends Of the Union on their guard
In this connection, the honorable gentleman referred to
the recent action oil South Carolina He desired to speak
Of that State kindly and respectfully, his nature
That she had determined to strike blow for disunion
Charleston. the sentiment of her public and the
tone Of her presses and clubs While he hoped and be
eved she would not secede, he was convinced she was
at this time resolved to do 3d. and that required the
eIcse OF great prudence and obearaHce by the general
government and the southern States to prevent it, There
were three parties in South Caroina-the immediate
secessionss the ultimate secessonists and the Union
men, The first for dissolving the Union at once,
and by themselves; the second polite, cal
culatng, were, equally determined TO accomplish the
end, but they in favor OF tarrying for
ment in order to the cooperation of other
southern States the third friends OF the Union,
on the principles OF the Union party of Georgia.
The second patty be considered the most dangerous be-
cause il was the most polite. With them disunion
chronic disease-wilh the first il infammatory.
These two parties were equally bent upon the destuc-
had rendered the 'lead" in the disunon movement to
Georgia The compliment was grateful, yet il had been
firmly declined II was now evident that, in rendering
the "lcad," done only The condition that Geor-
gia would tread in the path which South Carolina would
point out for her But Georgia had marked out path
Tor hersea straight and honest path, such as her judg
nent approved oil and she would not permit herself
be diverted from either by the ailery threats Of
States al hand or those al distance. She had
taken her position. and There she would stand let other
people and States say and do what they please.
Mr. Cobb said he could not find appropriate terms 10
expIess himself in regard to the Georgia convention Ii
had, under trying circumstances, performed It's whole
duiy- had done rghi--and its action was but the en-
ering up OF the Judgment OF the people He would say
more lie verify believed that Georgia had sared The
Union. Such the belief elsewhere. She had ex
cited the admiration and respect OF the patriots Of all
tons OF the country SO just. dgnifed wise. had
been her conduct that he doubted not vast and ncreas
ing majority of her sons would continue TO uphold and
defend it, Yet he regretted to say that his " southern
rights friends (of whom he spoke with the utmost kind
ness and respec) differently disposed. Many OF
them denounced the action OF the convention, while
others of them poiessed disposition acquesce in it,,
" humutarng ii pas" lie would not call into ques
ton the sincerity patriotism OF such yet he could
not believe that Union could safely rely upon their
assistance in maintaining measures or government
which had "humuiaied' and "disgraced' them Men
must cooperate cordially and upon the convictions of
their judgments, they could accomplish no good He
feared, too, that II the people OF Georgia should by
their votes elevate such party to powera party thus
/" humii lated" and dssaGshed-t would not be long
however differently its members may think now, be-
fore they would place themselves sympathetic com.
munica,on with South Carolina, and with her, strike for
dsunion. Here lay the real danger. Georgia must be
true TO herselftrue to her action-or the Union
might yet be asunder She must follow the path
she had marked for herself, resouely and to the end
and il would conduct her TO safety and greatness She
was competent to take OF herself and did not re.
qure the aid advice Of any State, here elsewhere,
not believe that South Carolina had the rgh, 10 leopard
the institutions OF the South by her hasy and advsed
action Other States equally Interested in those in
stuiions and she could not in justice them take
upon herself to decide upon such issues and
drag them down with herself into the botomless pit OF
ga would give her to understand, 80 far
cerned that she need look for aid sympathy from
this Stale her efforts to overthrow the government
We may regret the she has marked oui-wc may
even sympa,hze with her-but nothing more We can
raise hands against the Union for anything in
the past.
Mr. Cobb deprecated the formation of sectional parties
whether they be called "southern-rghts" or otherwise
Organize sectional parties at the North and South the
East and West let them meet in the halls of Congress ;
let each insist Eat all hazards and to the last extremity
that is right and the others wrong, and he did not be-
leve the Union would endure month II could never
survive the bitterness the hatred and the violence which
such state oil things would engender,