The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-28

message which | read yesterday and relied on Every
sentiment contained N mar messase h n NJ F,es
man. knows that he and read from Jackson
,ion his notification message, and bs laeweli aaasss
On the stump all Mississippi and our adSeisafes da
not dare 10 90 Those gentlemen care moi READ eueh
aoetrines The devil would soon be found sitting on
fence on frosty morning reaanS nc iioy nl
sons proclamation his nullhcat'on message, OF ms
farewell address am not ashamed TO confess Ihat am
= lack son man. ! always was. sgfee WIN Jackson
views as stated in his messages. II that makes me
consoidanonst, | am consolidatonist; and should
not envy the who Is not IN favor Oh inns soi OF con
solidaton for il is the consolidation OF Washington,
who thought that the consolidation OF the Union was
most capital Thing.
The gentleman says that have been unfortunate IN
the language have used, he has been, because in.
troduced 10 the Senate some time ago the resolutions oil
the Mississippi convention, and approved OF them why
on every stump N he Ha,e 81 bner ~ eVe;s
every Union speech which my friends bad The honor OF
making tapd many OF them made both mastery and elo
quent speeches put ourselves on the ground OF that
October convention referred TO lis address and reso
utions with pride and pleasure, We declared among
Union men, with the appreciation OF Union men-wilh
The appreciation OF the members of the convention and
The president OF that bodyhat those resolutions
looked TO secession, but merely looked TO such disu-
Mon might be forced upon us by resolve to rum The
South. 1t merely meant TO say that revolution
would be forced upon by the adoption OF the Wilmot
pToviao-by the abolition OF slavery in the District OF
Columbaby the abolition OF slavery in the States, by
a continued Withholding Of our constitutional rights,
which have now been secured by the fugitive slave bill,
which the gentleman seems 10 consider unconstitutional
This, and other things which were mentioned, would be
looked upon necessarily eyincve OF such hostility on
the part OF the North TO our Institutions as would call
upon extent TO take counsel together TO know
what do and then, alter exhausting all consi-
tuonal means OF pachcation would do the best we
could II dsunlon were forced upon But certain II is
that always wished 10 maintain the Union invioate
We believed that the only safety for domestic ns
tutions in this world is under the American iag-under
the protection OF this great government Let the Union
be dissolved TO- morrow, and the gentleman will find thai,
the institution OF slavery cannot be sustained nobly as
II has been sustained. have done with that point
The gentleman says am responsible for the southern
meeting which was held here about three years ago. |
am proud to acknowledge that | in some degree re-
sponsibe for that meeting. When The southern repre-
sentaves assembled that OCCASION there not one
word of treason uttered. There is not word in the
Mr.. President, signed it. Is i secession document
Certainly not Is it notification document Certainly
not We related our rights and made an appeal to our
fellow .citizens-a calm, dgnifed, and mastery appeal
the object OF which to the Union, by having
fraternal understanding with brethren OF The North
II had thought i looked to disnnon, would have hest
tated long before signed that document.
The gentleman has referred TO proceeding IN the othe
House. which has been very often referred sometimes
for the purpose Of Idicule and sometimes Tor The pu
o It, have no sensibliiy on the subject did state
here that feared serious proceedings would occur in
the House Of Representatives, and deemed il my duty
TO state that such might be the case. member OF the
House OF Representatives, who is also now member
informed me that member from the North had assured
the chair, in order to drag California in separate
That member declared that in the event OF any
such movement taking place. he should look upon a;
Revolutionary proceeding, and should act accordingly
He inquired of me what thought OF il. told him thai
what he proposed to do nothing but right He asked
me il | had pistol | told bin that had not tina
would SUIT his purpose IN any contest OF arms should
arise. he then asked me what sort OF one would suit
recommended him TO get Colts revolver. | said thai
II such revolutionary proceeding as that was Iesored
to- after solemn warning if contest OF arms was to
occur, we should constituents and fight out
here. had conversation with the venerable senator
from Kentucky Mr.. CLAY upon that subject This was
at time OF great excitement Ii proposed 10 force
California into The Union as separate measure under
circumstances very disTespectul as thought, 10 the
South Such being the did fear that bloody
test might occur somewhere and that if ii did any
where we had better fight il out here. and be done with
it. Under such circumstances came into this body and
urged some early action the subject. As Union
man, as man OF peace, urged some early action on
these great questions. | wished them TO be equtably
settled, with view OF preventing such scenes IRON oc.
curing.
Was that osieataiioss exhibition of desire my
part 10 bring about such scenes And II the gentleman
would look back perhaps he would ind that that warn.
ing had more or less effect not in the way OF alarming
but in the way 10 extent OF opening the eyes OF
true patriots and philanthrops,s 10 the consequences
likely TO If did not settle these questions speed
lily The Texas boundary question was then open.
Speeches had been made upon IT, which denounced al
the nme-speeches which thought calculated 10 ncie
the United States troops in Mexico 10 shAl the blood of
Texan citizens. There men in Nashville, as MIR.
Henderson has shown who gave him the that
Texas should hold the question unseilied they would
send military force to aid her collision OF arms was
almost inevitable. Nothing, in my opinion but The sea-
sonable nteposon Of the President OF the United States,
in message which has been much censued by many,
and cooperative action OF others, who did great deal
more than has yet appeared in the public prints OF the
country, prevented that question from remaining unset,
tied am that. without these influences, collision
OF would have occurred that would have destroyed
this Union. Such were the circumstances which
rounded il and deemed il my duty work assduousy
tor the purpose Of assusgng undue excitement,
Cling who misunderstood each other, and bring log
about the adoption Of judicous and equitable plan
Of settlement have deemed il my duty 10 endeavor as
far as could, TO prevent the successful operation OF
certain mschievous influences which knew TO be at
work
have no further explanation TO make | must express
myself being profoundly obliged 10 the honorable
ato from Texas who has permitted me on this occasion
TO defend myself must also thank the Senate for per-
hitting me at this time thus to occupy It's attention.
The Senate then adjourned.