The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-26

where nc MINK he must change his position tb
side OF the Houses provided, always, he find seat
here for the democratic party is really getting SO crowd
ed thai there 10 bat little room TO accommodate any
But MIR Chairman. his position and his show The
prominence, 10 which have alluded, OF this subject II
Is not strange, perhaps that this prominence should ex
is do not speak oil IT in order 70 complain OF IT,
am not at all unmndiul OF the circumstances out oil
which the Compromise grew; nor do under estimate
the services and the courage OF those who doubt
ful times stood firmly BY IT, and carried forward 10 sue
cess. Since that period il has furnished its own ynd.
Gallon II has gone abroad through the whole length
and breadth OF the land with healing upon lis wings;
and wherever i has appeared the waves have subsidized,
the storm has disappeared, and there has been peace
among the people. Sir, am Compromise man myself.
II had been in the Congress which passed il, would
have voted Tor III and hope there is now serious in
enion in any quarter OF this Union 10 disturb IT, have
right TO speak for the whole North, but from my oh
sevation in that section, do not believe that any such
disposition exists there and assure gentlemen, II they
desire TO know the northern sentiment upon this subject,
they should gather it, not from the discodan voices OF
Massachusetts, but from those sounds OF victory which
have just come TO u.s. distinct, emphatic, and cheering,
IRON the good old democratic State OF New Hampshire
But, Mr.. Chairman. however valuable il may be, and
however much may deserve, upon proper OCCASIONS 10
be affirmed, yet the Compromise Is not entitled 10 be dig
nfied into political creed by itself with the
gentleman from Georgia, Mr. HILLYER who spoke upon
yesterday, that it is not political principle IL is
only the fruit OF certain old and established democratic
principles, applied TO serious exlgency in affairs Had
the democratic party rumphed in 1913, do not believe
the Compromise would ever have been necessary But
the wings first plunged the nation into difficulty and then
called upon the democracy TO come 10 its relief The de.
the summons, and every difficulty was thus safely over.
come. But now, sir, instead OF dwelling too earnestly
upon the remedy then applied il not rather the part Of
wisdom TO guard against the OF any exgency
which may make a similar remedy necessary! Our
safety lies to me, in administering govern
men faithfully, according to the design OF its founders
and never permitting its adjustment OF powers TO
be disturbed or any OF its compromises violated srhs
government Of the United States" said President Polk,
the youngest OF our Presidents, as he was one OF the
purest and soundest Of statesmen sis OF deega
ted and limited powers and il is by strict adherence
the clearly granted powers, and by abstaning from the
exercise Of doubtful unauthorized implied powers,
renee Of those unfortunate collisions between the federal
and State authorities which have occasionally so much
disturbed the harmony Of system and threaten.
ed the perpetuity Of our glorious Union"
Mr., Chairman, when our fathers emerged from the
revolution, and had had time 10 look about them and 10
understand their own political wants, they met in
venon and framed for themselves constitution That
admirable instrument for its structure, its simplicity, its
wise adaptation OF means TO ends, is still OF the Won
ders OF political science wherever it is known Yet what,
after all is its great merritt Why as seems to me- that
little Other systems have failed because they at
tempted too much ours has succeeded because under
took only what could perform. Oar fathers had just
appreciation OF individual freedom and wise confidence
IN the usefulness OF local governments Hence they were
cautious and limited in their grants 10 the central govern
ment and, far possible avoided all interference with
the freedom OF individuals, and the sovereignty OF the
States Thus, man may live lifetime in the interior
OF this Union without feeling directly the action oil the
general government His business is with the parish,
the town, the county the State and the central govern
OF their respective functions Under this protection and
restrained only by laws which he himself has assisted 10
make, every citizen IS free TO fashion, his fortunes in
his own way He may think and write and publish He
may TOLL and invent, and improve His intellect and his
hands are bis own and he may do with them he will
Equally free, under some familiar restrictions, the
local governments They feel the direct action OF the
people, and take their very shape and form from the pop
ular will. They are moulded, and remoulded and i'm
proved, from time TO me Just according to the judgment
OF those who control them Sir something was said here
the other day upon the principles OF political progress
Here, IN my Judgment among the people and the States,
is the great theatre OF progress under government II
the last few years Virginia and Ohio, and New YorR,
and Kentucky, and Maryland and Delaware, and know
not how many other States besides have recently adopted
new and reformed constitutions and il is gratifying 10
observe that wherever these reforms have been accom-
pshed there has been decided accession OF strength to
The democratic party But the federal constitution has
NAMED the same, and in IFS structure and general pnc
Piles trust II will thus continue for generations yet to
come Is not perfect in all lis provisions II has been
amended heretofore and il may be amended again. Yet
no one can y approach II for that purpose without feel
that he eads upon sacred ground Experiments there
are OF too great importance TO be lightly hazarded and
he who attempts 10 employ his improving skill upon the
should feel that he the knife OF the
surgeon in the very region OF the heart The constitu
ton not perfect but il is founded believe, upon true
principles; and have great distrus OF any progress
which has reference 10 these principles 10 politics,
as in other sciences, he who would improve must have
starting point of doctrine, and some recognised
truths 10 guide him. OF what value would be the calcu
laons OF astronomer who neglected the laws OF grav
Itation, or those oil mathematician who had forgotten
the multiplication table And So what confidence be
had in political movement OF REFORM which has no
starting point OF admitted truths, and is guided by
mark OF principlei
Sir, there two kinds OF progress The one de-
finite, regulated and steers by compass the other is wild
and dashng, and too magnificent 10 be defined The one
drives the chariot oil the sum- TO give light TO all the
earth the other like the tabled Phaeton, seizes the
Iens with passion drives madly of the course and
ly ngulis the world in darkness The one moves on
with steady step and sure, "ke seed that knows its
rider " the other. like the wild horse OF Mazeppa, goes
careerng bush and brake over moor and mountain
through morass and forest, until al last from sheer
hauson, II SINKS down amidst the regions OF barbarsm
and savage life. From progress OF the one kind have
come those wholesome State reforms 10 which have
fered from progress OF the other kind have those
numerous fantastic schenesibe very hoomerism OF poll
lcs-which, under various familiar names, nest the
country at The present day Sir, agitation is not always
progress. We have had some signal illustrations OF this
the OF France, where, from time TO time, the
ocean heaves and RACES, but accompshes nothing but
France has shed blood enough during the
last sixty years TO fertilze continent for liberty Yet
what useful results has she accomplished She has
changed King Tor an Emperor, and an Emperor back
again Tor King she reposed little while beneath the
degrading sway OF Louis Philippe, and has now emerged
.om new revolution 10 complete her degradation by
sinking into subsection, beneath the shadow OF name
She has established no magma chdria, bill OF rights,
no religious liberty, habess eorp, act freedom OF
speech and the press and really have no other
The midst OF Paris which shall control not only all gen.
eral and national affairs, but shall extend its Briarean
TO regulate the OF every department and
every village, and every famiy the empire The Pesi-