The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-26

will appear more evident by adverting to the
last great speech delivered by the honorable
Senator from South Carolina, Mr. Rhett. In
that speech he dwells at some length on the
imminent danger to Southern institutions from
appointing jsdges and marshals to preside
over the Territories who are not reliable IN
constituting and enforcing the law OF slavery.
The enthusiastic manner in which Mr.. Rhett
and his party support Pierce and King shows
their entire confidence in the ticket III regard
to this point. Let no man, then, fold his arms
with the delusive argument that this question
of slavery in the Territories is settled.
Mr.. Chairman, ! have spoken frankly and
freely of the political condition of the country.
| have animadyerted upon the proiilgacy OF
party, and party machinery and OF the recre-
ancy of its leaders who assume to direct the
Government. But let me assure you, 1t Is
from no other motive than to express my own
views and the views of those who sent me here,
on the great question before us and what !
conceive to be our duties and responsibilities
at the present crisis
No well-informed mind sir, will deny that
we possess an important influence in the family
of States, and that we can WELD it for veal or
for woe both in regard to ourselves and to the
destiny of nations. The Constitution of our
country guarantees to us the legitimate and
only efficient means of all reform-freedOm of
speech and of the press. "These rights are in
estimable to freemen and formidable to ty-
rants only They are now openly and boldly
attacked. The arguments used against these
peaceful remedies for the evils that afillct our
country, is, that the Government is too weak
to bear up under the agitation or free discus
sion of question 50 delicate" as that which
relates to the rights u all the people that such
discussion serves to disturb the public peace
and to endanger the perpetuity of the Union.
What sad comment on our political instltu-
tions How cheering to tyrants, how discOura-
ging to the victims of oppression Sir. this is
II libel on the American People, and | hurl
back the foul asperson upon the heads of its
authors This great guarantee of our magma
charta of free discussion is held dearer by every
true republican than life itself We cannot
forget that it was purchased by the struggles
and sufferings Of our illustriOus ancestors, for
the maintenance of which they pledged their
lives their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
Can we do less five are legitimate sons, we
shall rush to the scene of battle and resist these
conspiraces lately formed at Baltimore for its
overthrow. The enemy is now fairly in the
field, with the two old parties forming the right
and left wings of his army, inviting a conflict
Who are the men to volunteer We have
them in the country. Let the occasion bring
them out We want no mere hrelings We
desire none but volunteers who enlist to serve
during the war. With such recruits, our enc
mics will find that they have engaged in seri-
Gus contest with fearful odds against them.
" Can league formed against the Almighty
prosper :" Gentlemen should remember that
it is not the feebleness of numbers against
which they contend, but a mighty under-cur-
rent of truth, that laughs at ma orities, and
controls or sweeps them away in its onward
career.
True, the great Being that upholds and pro-
tects us all, is kind and long-sufering, and is
even now speaking to us in the language of in
spiration-" Come let us reason together;
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be-
come white as wool" Yet the Hunkers, in
the pride of their numbers, have repudiated
reason" and have closed the door against it
by the decree of finality"
Sir, these conspirators against the liberties
of the people may persist in this war against
freedom; but they should remember that God
cannot take sides with the oppressor; and
that, unless history and revelation prove
falsehOod, unless justice and the Divine law
prove fiction, they must utterly fail 1t is
but question Of time and the prospective
victors can afford to "wait a little longer"
Hear the words of distinguished states
man, Mr.. Soule, uttered few weeks since,
in the Senate:
We boast exultingly of our wisdom. Do We
mean to hide it under bushel, from fear that its
light would set the world in flames! As well might
Christianity have been confined to the walls of
church, or to the enclosures of coister What had
it effected for mankind what had it effected for it
solf, without tho spirit that promulgated it to the
world9 Onward. onward. To stand still is to he
lfeless-ijierio is death Had the Colonies stood
still, would this be tho Government it is %
Sir, let Northern doughfaces and services
ponder upon the truthful sentiment proclaimed
by Southerner, the meaning of which is that
"fnality' IS death
Mr.. Chairman, will say but word more,
and conclude. Cobweb resolutions may be
passed again and again to check the onward
march of the present age, by depressing the
outgushng sympathies of the human heart
but they will serve only to show the folly and
the blindness of frail human nature, when at
war with principles as uncomfortable as the
laws of attraction and repulsiOn. "A citation -
will 60 on; fnality' will pass away the
people will become regencrated, and our coun-
try redeemed. The influence Of our social and
religious institutions will go eastward, west
ward, and southwark, until bleeding Africa,
once the seat of learning and empire, shall be-
come the recipient of our blessings instead of
our curses-until the Indian and the Mexican,
the Chinaman and the Japanese, shall minglc
in the same social circles and rejoice that they
live under II constitutional and representative
Government, which cherishes equally the rights
of all! Our commerce, too, will become greatly
enlarged by enlightened views of reciprocal
trade, under the fostering aid Of oceanic steam
navigation. 1t shall win new triumphs in the
cause of civilization, and register the wisdom
and justice of our policy in the hearts of
coming generations
Let us, then, devote ourselves more faithfully
to these great objects so worthy of our regard
Let us cherish those hopes in which we have
iondly INDUCED Let us raise our conceptions
to the highly responsible duties assigned us.
Let our ambition and our Legislative policy be
as broad az the cause of universal humanity :;
the fulflment of our mission, the political re-
generation Of the world!