The republic., 1851-12-17

ed that she should herself right herself Ihe strug-
gle now was not for hberty-It was Tor HE. lie
was for the South acting now and at once. What
would ehe gain by delaying' Ihe result wac ln-
eyita bic she was doomed Hence he was a seces-
sonist He for secession by South Carolina
with other States If they choose but at all events
secession. They could not be worse oil than now;
Tie guns Of Fort Moultrie could bat be discharged
upon them; they could but be enslaved, and that
they were now. He considered the tyranny OF this
Government equal to that Of Austria.
He next examined the question whether State
had light TO secede or not. He contended for the
right. Ii was not one derived from the Constitu-
ton. 1t was necessary incident 10 their soye-
reignty He read various documents TO sustain
his positions. He denied that the General Govern
ment had any power TO coerce state, and sus-
tanned this by reading from the journal OF the con
vepiion which framed the Constitution OF the uni
ted States, that several propositions giving that
power had been rejected lie cited Mr Jenerson'
the Kentucky resolutions, the speeches and reso-
lutons of John Randolph and Others to sustain his
argument that a State had right to secede.
He cited also speech made by the Senator from
Mississippi, on the occasion oil presenting cerIaln
resolutions of the Legislature of that State, as evil
dence that that Senator had maintained the right
of a State to secede
Mr. FOOTE denied having ever said the right OF
secession was constitutional right he had main
tanned, and did now, that il was revolutionary
right TO be resorted to only IN cases OF inoeraole
oppression
revolutionary right OF secession was all nonsense.
To say man had right TO do an act, and give TO
another power TO interfere with and molest him Tor
it. was all nonsense. Such right was of no value.
The revolutionary right to secede was like the SEN
ator's Compromise-all humbug.
He declared he owed allegiance to South Caro-
lima and to no other State. He recognised her as
his only sovereign. He would obey her com.
mands, and if any other State, or II this General
Government should interfere with him, they would
be foul commuters of wrong.
He helieved that the 1Tst cannon hred by the
Geaeral Government to coerce South Carolina,
would rouse the people of the South, who would fly
to her assistance and support, and that the inva-
ders would meet with defeat and discontinue.
He alluded to the circumstance OF additional
troops having been sent 10 the orts near Charles
ton and to the fact that the people of that city had
been denied the privilege, which they had enjoyed
from time immcmoral, of celebrating their annual
festival on the grounds Of that fort. He said the
circumstance would never be forgotten.
He considered the Senator from Mississippi the
last man who should have attacked the late MIR.
Calhoun He detailed the circumstances of MIR.
CaIhoun's last speech-h last legacy to his coun-
try-its being read by Mr.. MASON, in consequence
of the weak state of Mr.. C.-to the attack of Mr..
FoorE on that speech the day after its delivery
by Mr. Calhoun. On that day Mr.. Calhoun went
home, and to bed-his dying bed. The Senator from
Mississippi had hurried him, to his grave.
Mr. F0OTE said that he had heard all the Sena-
tor had said a thousand times before. He did not
feel under any necessity to reply to il; he had
piled and refuted all that was said frequently be-
fore. If the Senate would now take vote on the
resolution he would not continue the debate
Mr.. BORLAND said he supposed no other Sena-
tor desired to speak, and he would, therefore, &c
bring the subject to a test move to lay 1t on the
table.
MIR. MASON desiring TO make explanation
the motion was Withdrawn
And the Senate adjourned.