The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-04

legislative expedent, unu-ual indeed and rarely
to BE- justified, bat sll tar preferable as pre-
ventive, to revolution as q remedy. The people
of California did not want State government
for the support of which they would nece ,sariIy
be loaded with taxes They desire to be- or
ganized into territory, the expenses of which
would fall on US, not on them. They adopted a
constitution and form of State government as
last resort, because they could adopt no other,
and their necessities demanded government OF
some kind. Upon the principle that we are re-
sponsibe for acts Of omission as well as CON-
mission, the Senator is chargeable with full
share Of guilt for whatever wrong the admission
of California may be supposed to nflIct.
1t is we'll known to you, Mr.. President that
have never justified the admission of California,
and in that respect have no Inconsistencies to
answer for. In the last speech made upon the
compromise, stated distinctly and emphaticay
that my original opinions were unchanged that
| submitted to it because, among other things,
resistance was folly and madness. Two of the
most powerful Southern States had given over
wheming majorties for the bill. Did the Sena-
tor expec. ms to go home and preach the duty
of secession from Tennessee and Kentucky
from Virginia, Maryland, Texas, Missouri, North
Carolna-from all but the few States usually
expect me to aid him in the establishment of
little confederacy upon the gulf, within whose
narrow limits such men as the Senator might
Fl cure conspicu ~! Iressted the passing, of
the law When passed-and by the aid of.
Southern men who had ~ good right to Judge
a, had submitted to decision could not
prevent.
The Senator says denounced the admission
of California. 1t will be difficult for him to find
such language in any speech Of mine. Bnt
suppose such was the tendency of my argument,
was | to insist on that opinion as infaible in
opposition to the opinions Of 80 many Southern
men older and ADLER than am NV own con
struction of tie Constitution would of course
govern me- so long as was called on to vote or
speak in this Chamber; but when the matter
had passed from us, when it became question
of submission or civil war, ! was fully at liberty
to dstrust my own judgment, and TO hesitate
before advised resort to that last dreadful
alternative. trust that anisfree from the ar
rogance of supposing that my judgment is nfal-
libe, and that no man can beslHA honest and
incorruptibe friend of the South Whose opinions
do not coincide with mine. did not believe,
and would not say, that many of our best
men yourself included) were either traitors to
the South or ignorant of the Constitution. I
thought it quite as likely that might be mis-.
taken as that you were, and acted accordingly.
The Senator says, that at one time coun-
selled dissolution of the Union Not so.
The very speeches from which he has read
prove the utter falsity of the charge. On the
18th of February, 1850, in the speech from
which he has read, used this language:
81 know that to me Individually there has
been attributed deliberate design to dissolve
this Union. Great God! what have to gain
by such a course? | have no bitter enmites
against any section, or against any party
have no disappointed aspirations urging me on
to desperate expedienIs. There is not in this
broad land single individual with fewer mo.
tives to disturb its harmony. have friends,
and warm ones, in all its parts. For long
time commanded New England regiment.
For long time was associated with Northern
men in all the scenes which make up the
changeful drama of soldiers life Does any
one suppose that can contemplate with salts
faction the possibility of standing face to face
foes with those by whom have so often
stood side by side as friends The charge is
gross absurdity; but even absurdities may
come to be believed by constant repetition"
How was it possible for me to have used
stronger language in repelling the charge of dis
union? 1t seems to me that it would have been
impossible to select words of palmer import.
Again, sir, said:
Much of this | cannot prevent; but when
the charge is made here in my presence, that
am factionist or that those who .ct with me
are 80, shall repel it in terms which admit of
no double meaning. Sir, do not believe that
there is single man in the entire South who
desires disunon for ITSELF"
Here not only repealed it for myself, but for
all who were acting with me- At that day |
believed what | said. At that day | believed
there was not a traitor to be found in the broad
savannas of the South. | regret that have
been compelled to change that opinion. In that
respect have been Inconsistent; and if the sen.
atcr had based his charge upon that ground
should have entered no defence 1t is with pain
and modification acknowledge there are those
among us who have avowed not merely will
ingness but an anxiety to level this fair fabric
with the groun1. | know that in the ewes of
such men have committed deadly sin. But
it is one of which | have not repented and
now repeat, that as long az hand of mine can
be raised to prevent it, not one stone, not one
atom, of that glorious edifice shall be removed
Another extract and shall leave this branch
of the subject. 1t is from my speech ofthe goth
OF February, 1850, in reply to Mr.. CLAY:
"The senator is mistaken if he supposes he
can say anything of the possible consequences
of disunon which has not occurred to us. We
have often manifested our sense of the evils Of
disunion, and never more 80 than at the present
time. We do not mean to dissolve" &c.
After these emphatic declarations, made at all
times, not only during the tendency of the com
promise measures, but before their Introduction;
not made after it was ascertained that Southern
men had voted for and sustained them, but be.
fore | could possibly know what course they
would pursue, what right did any man have to
suppose that would advocate secession, both
from the North and a large portion of the SJuth9
The truth Is, that no man did believe it, No
one at that day dreamed of disunion, save as
desperate remedy for intolerable oppression.
None looked TO it as thing to be desired 1t
was contemplated by all with shudder, al.
though some of us certainly believed it might
become necessity for whatever violent Ian
guage may have been used by me or others,
there was an excuse in the attending circum-
stances not now to be found We came here
claiming certain rights and privileges, which it