The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-01

sending Us DAILY subsebers with 20 enclosed o. ssvs
subscriber with so enclosed win enuue copy II me
same saiuoa as they furnish subscribers for, r@sis
State Of Mississippi from the Union or with South Caro
anu oet oes on account OF what was done, by the
passage oil the compromise measures Ii cannot be shown
sir by any authoritative OF The party. Il csnnot BE-
shown by any authoritative declaration in writing OF The
party II may be true that there some certain ind
yduals III The State OF Mississippi who ook such pos
ton II may be there presses in the State that
look such position But, sir is the position Of great
party amounting TO onehalf OF the whole OF the people
OF Mississippi TO be fixed and decided by the expression
OF Inc opinion aud sentiments OF few individuals or of
single press, either IN the State or out of III Not at
all Inc position OF the party must be decided by the
authoritative acts OF the party, and their authoritative
declarations sent out In writing and say this charge
cannot oe hxed upon any party organization there
lions, al any OF lis meetings, in convention or otherwise
or OF IFS leaders, il may use the Term, or OF any large
number OF its members Oar position was this with ref
erence TO the measures OF compromise We believed
them to be unjust 10 the South; we believed we had
been wronged by these measures, and we thought the
best way obtain redress for that WRONG waA 10 say
That we believed tnat the measures were unjust, and
that had been wronged We believed the best way to
obtain security for The future was TO demonstrate against
these wrongs, and ask guarantees against future ag
gressons. This was our position. and we made no
ulimalum upon which the dissolution of the Union was
staked in the event Of refusal of these demands Onr
remedies, sir, all within the onion and under the
IcoDstutlon they such remedies as were reasona
BILE and such as, the southern States had cooperaed
been granted by the North Our position may be illus
ated by what have read in the play believe
It is written in the play OF King Richard III when that
monarch was usurpng his way to the throne BY the mnr
der OF all who stood between him and the object OF his
ambition AT the time, perhaps, of the mysterious death
OF Clarence and Edward. when there was great tumut
among the people, two citizens being in conversation
about the strange events which passing around them
and the dangers that encompassed them and the State
one said to the other
"When clouds seen wise men put their cloaks;
When great leaves fall, then wnte 3 hand
When The sun sets who doth not look for nlghtW
SO stood the State rights men OF Mississippi towards
what they considered the usurpng power OF the federal
government in the enactment of these of
promise. There were tumult and excitement among the
people. They communed with each other upon the
strange events which passing here, and the dan
gers which threatened them, they and another
OF their trusted men fall from them to the other side
They saw the clouds in the sky and they thought that
time 10 wrap their cloaks about them and prepare
for the, coming storm They the great leaves fall
from the tree OF Liberty, and they knew that the winter
Of their discomfort was near at hand. They saw the
sun OF their political freedom eliminating from his bright
meridian from which he dlfused his equal rays upon ev
cry State in the Union, and sinking down into that dark
night of centrasm, in which and through which they
were 10 be mled through all future time by The usnrp
ing hand of federal inequality. This the position
which they occupied They saw the danger, and they
thought 1t was time to meet it. But their remedies were
all within the Union and under the constitution And
sir, have ielt II my duty to-day TO place them right up
on TINS question before the country, being charged false
ly charged they throughout the country
pyng position of dsunion account OF the measures
OF compromise when they sought only, by organiza
on on the part Of the southern States to obtain reason
able redress, il they might do so for wrongs which
done them, and guarantees, possible, against future sg
gression t3
Mr. President has been said that we were disunion
lists becanse seeking this redress and these guarantees,
we asked or demanded an amendment Of the federal
stliuon will say SIR in reference to the democratic
Staierghts party in Mississippi, that, a party, il by
no authoritative act took the position that they de-
manded an amendment OF the constitution. II was not
taken by the democratic Siaerghts party in the egisla
fnra fsaa h,., L.1l 49,
party. But, sir, will say further because am willing
TO put the question in its fairness before the country that
for myself and large number Of the party. and they
were IN favor OF guarantees which did require amend
mens 10 the constitution And. sir, have yet to learn
how i IS that the Union is TO be destroyed by salutary
amendments to The constitution amendments provided
for by The constitution ITSELF and suggested as proper by
the Father Of his Country, whenever there danger
Of the federal power nsnpng those rights which spe
trine OF the amendment of the constitution have ts
orgin' In Mississippi ! have no doubt, from the
manner IN which IT was misrepresented, that many
persons perhaps suppose that il had its origin in
that State, and that II commenced with General Quit
man. because he suggested il simply individual
opinion as measure OF safety for the South have no
doubt that throughout the country generally from sm
lar misrepresentation, many persons believe that il had
It's origin with MIR. Calhoun, because in his last great
speech here he said that the Union might easily be pre-
served by the North doing justice the South and by
such an amendment OF the constitution would give
TO us safety and security in the future But, sir, had
not its origin either IN the State OF Mississippi with Cen
eral Quman, here with Mr. Calhoun II has its orr.
gin in the constitution ITSELF The fifth article OF the
constitution provides that when necessary the constitu
lion may be amended. have never yet learned that a
proposition simply 10 amend the constitution by adding TO
ta deciatory restrictive clause when doubtful pow
proposed TO be exercised by the majority unjust
y TO the minority, the minority unable resist them,
TO be taken indication OF intention dissolve the
Union. Sir, in looking into the constitution find that
the very first business OF the FIRST session OF the first Con-
gess that sat under the constitution propose
twelve amendments 10 IT, ten OF which were adopted
And Mr.. President, the language OF the preamble 10
these amendments is
"The conventions of a number of the States having
the time OF their adopting the constitution, expressed do
sire Ia order TO prevent mconstrucon abuse Of its
powers, that farther deelaraoy and restrictive clauses
should be added and, extending the ground OF public
confidence in the government will best the bene6
cent ends OF It's Institution"
That is what our fathers thought OF amendments OF
the constitutions and by referring 10 these amendments,
allow ask where do you find the great guarantee
for religious toeraton1 Where the great right OF free
dom OF speech and OF the press Where the great right
OF petition Why, sir. in the first amendment TO the
constitution. Where. Mr. President, do you find the
great guarantee to the citizen OF speedy public trial by
an impartial jury OF the State district wherein the
crime shall have been commiited-the right 10 be in
formed Of the OF the accusation be confronted
by the witnesses against him, and TO have compulsory
process for obtaining witnesses in hs fayorl In the
sixth article OF the amendments TO the constitution.
Where do you find the great guarantee against excessive
bail against excessive fines, and against cruel and un
usual punlshmens In the eighth article of the amend
ments TO the constitution Where do you find the great
guarantee OF the political liberty OF the States against
usurpaon by the federal government In the ninth and