The daily union., 1852-01-17
sPEEUn or mia. soULE,


1, Oo,o,,sas Louisiana dsliUsrsd September 8, 1854
The aecamatious that welcome nae TO these hustings
.sk out il mistake them not your anxiety 10 hear,
NJ voI NAV fairly Judge of them, the opinions of one
hose course in the councils OF the nation has been an
nsdseed upon in certain portions o lhe State Oy de-
;Tang political opponents and by reckless party deia.
% ss being not only dangerous but actually hostile to
Sour peace, 10 your dignity, and 10 your interests
Those opinions can no more be my desire than is
!; ny power 10 conceal from you. They belong 10 the
hslory OF the country. They were formed upon deep
nd solemn deberation They had, and still retain, the
sanction Of any best judgment, and spread out acces
hs 10 all upon the leaves o that truthful and impress
ave Journal where for grave and weighty reasons no
Ioubi The opinions and acts OF your public men are faith
Sny registered and preserved Most readily, therefore,
ha make them the theme OF my discourse TO you and
Mead IN their yindCation the cause 10 which they owe
fbsT origin, ard indeed all their importance
IA i a cause in which we have all equal stake,
wings as well as democrais-a cause INVOLVING in its
sses not only our rank and condition IN lhe great con-
sdefaey which holds the American States together but
ibe yeIy existence OF that coniederacy ITSELF and. to
pYlenl the deslines OF whole world
Sucb cause we should approach in proper spirit |
sha address myself 10 il with mind unbiased either
N, Marty feelings or by considerations of private concern
nenl Let me hope that | shall find in this audience
neither impatient nor preudiced hearers, but that the
contrary, sha DC lls'eheu " Win cohslueIde anu unh
ieuupied attention.
in the Senate OF the United States, just emerging
from The war which Mexicos folly and stubbonness had
brought upon US, and most needlessy prolonged.
By the treaty OF Guadalupe Hidalgo, an almost bound
ess empire OF territory, with vast border OF ocean, had
been added to our already gigantic possessions We
about dispose OF the conquest had achieved and to
distribute and regulate the increase of political influence
and power which every section Of country TO derive
from il. We OF the South had been participants in the
struggle through which il had been accomplished TO the
fullest extent OF our resources and abilities. We had
contributed by far the largest proportion Of the forces
gagged in the war, twoihrds OF the supplies which had
maintained them and, in the touching and sadly eloquent
lana al "A n
fohs Of the grapss I" We, OF course, presumed that
would also be permitted TO participate in the fruits OF
victory. But the Nothwho, before they were secured
had denounced acquisitions nearious and mon
strous spoialion and punder-now claimed them all TO
herself, and insisted that the South should not have
foohold on that soil which she had strenuously and
so efficiently contributed 10 wrest from the enemy and
which was still moist with the blood of her braves, and
whened with the bones OF her dead.
Mr. Polk's administration was drawing To- close.
Already had the two great national parties essayed
their Rchmonds in the field The presidential canvass
was to begin. and the contest opened upon what
principles should prevail in the organization Of the Terri
loes acquired from Mexico. Were they TO be dedicated
exclusively TO free SOIL was the South TO he allowed
any share in them Such the question mooted from
one end Of the country to the other and in part of it
with fercer and indomiiable spirit than i'll Lou
isana wheret each party claimed for the Candidate of
its the security which his election 10 give the
South that her rights would be protected and her interests
saIeguarded War to the knife was, during the whole
contest denounced against all sorts of propi,osaganst
all attempts al excluding us from the partition about 10
be effected. What did we mean then? What were we
after! Did we, in imitation OF those gallant Bostonians
OF l775, intend to fight for some empty phrase for less
han preamble ?" Was to sight from few innoc
uous words law OF Congress, that vented so
much wrath and trumped up such menacng resolutions
No. slrs-no, sirs II was for something more grave,
more substantial momenlous. that we engaged in
the struggle We engaged n il TO vndicate our rights as
sovereign communities, and TO assert rank equals
Sach was the object the boon for which, at one time,
we all joined in loud and undivided proestation
against the usurpations with which the North was
threatening the South.
We had ceased to WELD in Congress that influence
which. in days gone by. had enabled to protect
selves against unequal and oppressive legislation. Out
of the thirty States of which the Union consisted but
fourteen could be claimed as being in the interest OF the
South. We had hardly power enough TO check the IN,
cessant invasion which the northern majority was com
hitting upon our rights and franchises through insulting
agitation and unspaIing abuse and we were last becom
ing feeble and impoient minority and while the hos
tlty at the North was increasing with our growing
weakness, had in prospect an immense territory
drown open 10 the grasp OF ireesosm, out OF WHICH II
might sovereignties TO overpower US ii we
should, at any future me ever attempt TO resist It's en-
croachments, and TO put stop 10 lis uiurpatons Such
was our condition in 1siS.
But hen stood up like men, and like men burst
seri our rights and claim our due. And mark how the
administration that controlled the government was i'm
bodened and neved by the stand took and the front
we opposed TO the insulting preenslons oi the North The
Mexican commissioners who were empowered 10 trea,
wthhe United peace had been instructed by their
10 require that he United States should bind
themselves not 10 permit slavery be established in the
territories ceded by the treaty. !" and minister (Mr
IrlsO solicited, entreaied 10 admit the restriction
among the other clauses OF the treaty Here is what Mr.
Inst says Tin his correspondence with the government at
Washingon) OF his conference with the Mexican COM
mssoners in relation TO this subject "Our conversation
was perfectly frank and less friendly and The more
effective upon their minds nasmuch as was enabled to
say, with perfect sincerity that although their impressions
respecting the practical effect OF slavery Of the United
States were had doubt entirely erroneous, yet there
was probably no difference between my individual views
and sentiments slavery considered in ITSELF and those
which they entertained. | concluded by assuring them
that the mention OF the subject in any treaty TO which the
United States a party absolute inposbihiy
that no President Of G Uniied States pod dare present any
neA treaty 10 ts Senate aud hat3h IN their popu 70
9u The trhoie territory described In projsi increased
nh IN pais and IN addition 10 thai covered foot thick all
u u pure gold, upon the single condition that sapey should
traud,d there could not entertain the offer for
m'mtU hink Of communicating IL 10 Washing
Ifm.T
Nor was this demonstration confined 10 the attitude
nus assumed by minister in the negotiations that
brought about the treaty OF peace.
When the treaty itself came before the American SEN
ale for ratification the attempt renewed TO insert in
y the restriction proposed by Mexico but II failed most
sgnallythe proposition obtaining but vote oil fifteen
yeas out OF a Senate OF sixty
Had we but maintained ourselves in the proud posi-
lion which we then occupied, we would still be with
our rights the equals OF our partners aud what it is
bow proposed we should become--unoompla and
ucking submissonists the objects OF the ockIng eers
nd saunting insults oggressve and arrogant free soil
new President in the meanwhile had been inducied
Pnlo the executive chair After the unsuccessful effort
ned at previous session TO place the whole controversy
lbe hands oi the judicial department OF the government,
~ attempt was now made to clothe the President with
W. Necessary powers TO organize governments IN The