The daily union., 1852-04-08

anarchy and civil the result Give noe The ..E Piu
r,bas Ohug. which ! now live under. rather than the
Liberty. Equality, and Fraternity" OF a licentioss
speak as northern, Connecticut man--proud OF
my State. which sent OF her sons to the battle
neld o. me revolution than any other Stale In proper
on 20 ner popnationproud of her institutions OF learn
ing her common schools, her quiet abodes Of religion.
OF industry and Of ihrtand proud Of her adventurous
clnzens whoss hardy enterprise leads them TO the four
quarters OF the globe and say that the land OF steady
habits" loves too much the Union is and she and
the whole North are indebted too much 10 il for her and
ihs,r prosperity ever 70 countenance treason against j.
But, sir, know may be met here with the cry Of
these agitators that there is danger OF dissolution
Il part Of the policy Of these seninels on the watch
whU ass fsp ss e he s
which have out in the debates upon this foor at
this session. of the honorable members from Mssissp-
p, can for doubt il! Why sir, the very fact
that talk Of secession enough 10 rouse the patriot
TO his sense Of dutyis sufficient 10 Of the vol
cano which is under our feet Let US pause for mo
lste war with Great Britain. convention Of the New
England States met at Hartford-that conventional it is
well known sat with closed doors, and the seal of
crecy was put upon its members II was, in my opinion
as un worthy concave met together and blush
for my native State that was ever permitted to hold its
sit,ings within The borders Of Connecticut What was
the object OF that convention Nothing positively
known at the time, but suspicion that suspicion, which,
as Randolph said memorable occasion, is often
more than equal TO the most damnng proof" proclaim
ed that il met to take for the secession Of the
New England States from the Union. You know, sir
how the public mind received this startling news and
the bitter and well merited Indignation which went up
from all parts OF the Union against this reasonable
sembage Sir, the rebuke Of an nsued people followed
is members 70 their graves, not one OF whom hardly
dared present himself afterwards 10 the people for their
surages Suppose, sir, that at that time, any had
predicted that in less than half century secession would
be openly advocated: who doubts but that he would
have been considered if not traitor 10 his country, at
least fit subject for the lunatic asylum
But what are we now witness to in this age OF reason
and progress in government! Why, sir when-above
oil yInrlr and Jpln
OF ours, whose ags covers the Atlantic and the Pacific
shoreswhose prosperity is wonder even to ourselves
whose flag is mistress OF the and under whose ample
folds the oppressed OF every nation taking refuge
we see conventions openly called presses openly advo
ealing, and orators proclamng from the house tops
secession and dissolution" and the people discuss;
ing that which, TO think OF at the time just alluded
TO, the public mind rose to rebuke.
And yet we told that there is danger in all this
Surely
sit lis the very error of the moon
She comes more near the earth than she was wont,
And makes men mad"
Mr. Chairman, the secession of sovereign State from
10 perform where there is will (and God grant it may
never aIse) to do IT, Whether il is constitutional or
revolutionary right which be exercised is question
which have time TO discuss here prefer TO look at
the practical bearing OF the result shoad the issue OF Sc
cesslon ever be made. Suppose State determines upon
secession, what power speak not OF rghf OF the fed
remain in the conederacyi Has il any power In theory,
even, it is questionable TO minds while in prac-
cal point OF view il is powerless. What govern,
ment formed upon compact and compromise, and
founded upon the will and affection of the people gov
erned and deriving all its strength from the popular
voice, compelling the people of sovereign State, at the
point of the bayone,,o remain in Union whose only
bond is good will and affection The idea is with
every principle OF republican government But il
is carried out, what then Tell the worth Of that
State TO this Union which is KEEP, only by force OF
powder and ball Let State determine upon secession,
and while the strong arm OF federal authority cannot
force IL 10 return 10 It's place in the friendly galaxy OF
stars which compose the Unio, will be easy under.
taking 10 persuade back to the point before occupied
by The side OF lis sister States in the couiederacy.
MIR. Chairman, the people o the North have not until
OF late, aroused themselves 10 knowledge OF the ruin
which has threatened the Union. Immersed in business,
and bent the pursuits OF honest gain they have been
unmndfu OF the danger which has surrounded them
while designing and politicians, with selfish ends.
have been sporting with the institutions OF the country
like child with bauble The political question Of
slavery in the States in the Territories the federal
government has nothing IN my opinion TO do with III,
finding the culture of tobacco unprohlable choose 10
plant my field with corn, have right TO destroy my
neghbofs field, abuse him, because he continues TO
plant weed which, in my opinion. forced upon me by
my own experience is destroying his land and which, IN
its effects, has injurious influence upon the health OF
the community around us No more righ, has the State
OF Connecticut 10 say to South Carolina Your slave labor
is unprofiable have found therefore you must
abolish H. II and my friend from Virginia owners
OF tract OF land which he and contributed 10 purchase
have no exclusive right TO tell him how that land shall
be cultivated or managed, has he that right
and is with the Territories belonging to this govern
mentt is not in the power OF the federal government 10
say that Connecticut may not go into them with her factory
mills and that Virginia cannot enter them with her prop
etty.
Mr.. Chairman, whoever has listened, upnH this floor
elsewhere. 10 the speeches OF those gentlemen who
claim to be the exclusive friends OF what they the
antI-slave Influence in this country, must have re-
marked the frequent expressions OF "lbery" and "hu
manIty" with which they abound, and the taunts OF
"African oppression" which freely avished upon
The OF those whose notions OF the institutions OF this
government do not correspond with their own, these
gentlemen the only minded men in the land
aud reflected the sound views always held upon the
slavery question at the North
Now, sir, believe am good friend 10 liberty and
humanity the most violent abolitonis or free soer in
this hall OF Congress; and further believe that the IL
lustrious men OF revolutionary times who helped 10
frame constitution had strict notions of the "righs
OF man. any OF its advocates in this our day and gen.
Grafton
this confederacy and examine the positions which they
have occupied in regard TO this matter OF slavery Let
US how New England has AT times stood
Ii is well known, sir, that IN the convention which
framed the constitution OF the United States the subject
of slavery and the slave trade prominent topic OF
debate Up TO this time the States had right 10 import
slaves from Africa or from any part OF the globe. This
report apon and that committee reported in favor of stop
ing the slave trade after the year 1900 The South
not satisfied with the restriction proposed and the sub
ject again referred back 10 the committee who re.
ported the limit of 1900, and the committee finally reported
extend the time TO the year 1903 This report was
accepted and the result became part OF the constitution
Now lei gentlemen look at the record OF the convention,
slave trade from the time originally reported to the
vention. What do we find, srf Why, that the only
New England States then represented in the convention
New Hampshire, and Massachusetis-voted