The southern press., 1852-03-06
Eafthsf Bsssts fstsssn iE6ssfs Cisnsns and
Khefta
IN SENATE February 20, 1862.
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~ oA1ANhA - Ootua'I -~l AOtAs
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Mr.. CLEMENS ad.
.pL. a. - SAID
.J.nator descanted on the fact that said
ia would not vote to repeal the bill abolishing
the slave trade in the District of Columbia; and
announced, with great emphasis, that it is not
the mere fact that the slave trade is abolished
in the District of Columbia TO which he objects,
but that it is the penalty affixed to a violation
Of the law. Does not that Senator know that
that very penalty has been affixed to it since
| 1909 Does not that Senator know that the
only effect of the bill which passed at the last
Congress was to extend the provisions of the
law of 1901 to the citizens of Maryland! IL
was copied, word for word fiom the Maryland
| law, which had been extended to this District
ever since 1901, except as to Virginia and Mary
land. There has not been o time since 1901
when that Senator, or any citizen Of South
Carolina, could have brought slave here and
offered him for sale without mourning the PEN
atty of emancipation Yet this is now raised as
bugbear with which to frighten grown men at
the South 1t has not alarmed us much here
tofore we have submitted to it with very
great degree of patience. 1t is too late now,
when it is only extended to the State OF Many
| land, for us to raise complaints upon the SUBJ
| Thomas Jefferson; and Maryland, the only
party interested, heartily approves Of the law of
| 1850.
There is another matter to which must
refer. The Senator from South Carolina chose
to read an extract from my speech, upon which
| he put a construction which he knew, or ought
to have known, it would not bear In reference
| to Mr.. Calhoun, said:
SHe was never u secessionsts, and am
authorized to say that the proof Of 1t will be-
fore long be given to the world. He regarded
the attempt Of single State to go out of the
Union as madness, and died in that opinion"
did not mean to assert that Mr.. Calhoun
did not believe there might be a right of seces-
sion | used the term "secessonist" as the
Senator understands it. And state again, that
Mr.. Calhoun did hold the opinion that the seces-
sion of single State would be madness. In q
conversation which | had with him, but short
time previous to his death, he said " We could
have carried matters much further than we did
lin 1882, but then Tennessee would have been
arrayed against South Carolina, Kentucky
against Virginia, and other Southern States
against each other, and that would have de.
feated the very object we had. in view. My
object was to consolidate the whole South, to
unite them upon one platform, and | never
! portion of them from another" That was hi.
policy, honestly entertained, however wrong
may think it to be. But as for the secession
the peaceable secession of single State, he al
ways knew it was madness. 1t was something
which his great mind could not comprehend.
4 | am charged with saying on former occa
sion, that disunon might be peaceable. True
u did say so, and | say so again. If the whole Of
1.-THE Southern States should determine to leave
the Union, think they would be permitted to
go peaceably, because any attempt at coercion
would be folly But even then have no idea
that peace could exist for any length of time
With long line of frontier, upon which posts
and garrsons would necessarily be kept up by
both parties, causes of dssension would soon
arise, and war, with all its evils, would soon be
upon us. That however, is totally different
thing from the attempt of one, or two, or three
States to go out by themselves. Those whose
sympathies were on the side of the invaded
State, would rush to her rescue, and thus the
whole republic might become involved in a war
which would terminate only with the termina.
ton of our liberties.
The Senator complains that | went from
Washington " submissionist." did 90 from
here prepared to submit TO the law, and TO per-
form my part IA good citizen under t. Invent
had not obtained all we asked, still we bad OBJ.
tanned something with which we could afford to
be content.
| When | reached there found demapoguas
haranguing the people all through the State
endeavoring to persuade them that they had been
wronged, outraged, and robbed; and did there
what hope | shall do on all similar coca, ions
II dared TO get upon the stump and tell them
the truth. The August election proved that the
people were with me, for there was not one
solitary man in the whole State Of Alabama
who did not, before that election closed, deny
that he was a secessionist or disunionist. A man
could not have been elected constable in any
respectable beat in the State, who would have
proclaimed such sentiments as have been uttered
by the Senator from South Carolina.
Sir, am submissonst, and the people oil
my State are submssonsts; but we are South.
ern Rights men nevertheless. Better Southern
Rights men than those who not long since were
warning against us, but who now come here and
take seats cheek-by jowl with PRESTON KrSe
RANToUL, CHASE, HALE, and SUMNER. We
have manifested our devotion 20 the South. as
well as our devotion to the Union, and we will
! do il again whenever proper occasion arises.
= And now, Mr.. President, leave the Senator
from South Carolina TO the enjoyment of MI
the laurels he has acquired by his assault upon
me.
Mr.. RHETT. Mr.. President, the course Of
the Senator from Alabama Is precisely that
which expected il would be. anticipated Il
in conversation with friend before spoke
He had, without any cause on my part, stigma
/ TIED me here on this noor-as one guilty OF
treason snd knavery. ] knew very well that .
man who would commit such an offence, who
/ would insult without proyocation, would no,
hesitate, under the exposure ] intended to make
10 add insult to insult Therefore, when he
yesterday pursued the course which he did pur
sue, il was precisely what expected
did not as the Senator charges, brood two
months over his attack. lie heard what stated
on this point in his presence in the Senate
stated that neither knew nor heard of what he
had said concerning me, until just before wa,
leaving my home in South Carolina to come "a
4 this city On my arrival here waited for the
resolution, on which he had attacked me, 10 come
up for consideration. Seeing The course OF
things, was in a hurry 10 read his speech. But