The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-16

principles of the Revolution or are 20 insensi
bic to the obligations which those lnaxims ana
principles impose as TO acquiesce in the viola.
ton of this compact. Sir, the Senator from
Illinois tells us that he proposes final settle.
mcnt of all territorial questions in respect to
Slavery, by tho application Of the principle of
popular sovereignty What kind of popular
sovereignty is that which allows one portion Of
the people to enslave another portion Is that
the doctrine of equal rights2 Is that exact
Justice! Is that the teaching Of enlightened
liberal progressive Democracy! No. sir no !
/, There can be no real Democracy which does
not fully maintain the rights Of man, as man.
Living, practical earnest Democracy impera-
lively requires us, while carefully sustaining
from unconstitutional inter ference with the
internal regulations of any State upon the
subject OF Slavery, or any other subject, to in
sist upon the practical application of its great
prlncIp.es In all the legislation of Congress.
repeat sir, that we who maintain these
principles will stand shoulder to shoulder with
the men who, differing from us upon other
questions, will yet unite with us in opposition
| to the violation of plighted faith contemplated
by this bill. There are men. and not a few.
who arc willing to adhere to the Compromise
of 1850. If the Missouri prohibition, which
that Compromise incorporates and preserves
among It's own provisions, shall be repealed
abrogated, broken up, thousands will say
Away with all compromises they are rot
worth the paper on which they ale printed :
We will return TO the old principles of the Con.
stitution. We will assert the ancient doctrine
that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty.
or property, by thelegisiation of Congress, with
out due process Of law. Carrying out that
principle into its practical applications, we will
not cease cur efforts uhtil Slavery shall cease
TO ex st wherever it can I've reached by the con-
stitutional action Of the Government
Sir, have faith III progress. have faith in
Democracy The planting and growth OF this.
nation, upon this western continent was not an
accident. The esta blishment of the American
Government, upon the sublime principles of the
Declaration of Independence, and the organ-
cation of the Union Of those States under our
existing Constitution, was the work of great
men, inspired by great ideas guided by Divine
Providence. These men, the fathers of the
Republic, have bequcathed to us the great
duty Of 20 administering the Government
which they organized, to protect the rights
to guard the interests, and promote the we'll
being of all persons within it's jurisdiction, and
thus present to the nations of the earth n noble
example of wise and Just sclfgovcrnment Sir,
have faith enough to believe that we shall yet
fulfil this high duty Let me borrow the insp-
ration of MILTON, while declare my belief
that We have yet country "not degeneratcd,
nor dropping to a fatal decay, but destined by
casting off the old and wrinkled skin of cor
ruption, 10 OuttiUe thtSe pangS, AND WAX YOUNG
AGAIN, AND, ENTERING THE GLORIOUS WAYS OF
TRUTH AND PROSPEROUS VIRTUE BECOME GREAT
AND HONORABLE IN THESE LATTER AGES Me
thinks ice in my mind great and puissant
nation rousing herself like strong man after
sleep, and shaking her invincible locks Me.
thinks sec her rs an eagle mewing her mighty
youth, and kindiing her unddS-leh epes At THE
FULL MIDDAY BEAM; PURGING AND UNscALING
HER LoNG-ABUsED SIGHT AT THE FOUNTAIN IT.
SELF OF HEAVENLY RADIANCE; while the whole
noise of timorous and focking birds, with those
also that love the twilight flut!er about amazed
at what she means, and in their envious Cab
bic would prognosticate year OF scots and
scisms"
Sir, We may fulfil this sublime destiny if we
will but faithfully adhere to tho great maxims
of the Revolution honestly carry into their lie.
gitimate practical applications the high princi-
pies of Democracy; and preserve involate
phghted faith and solemn compacts. Let
do this, putting our trust in the God Of our
fathers, and there is no dream of national pros
perity, power, and glory, which ancient or mod
ern builders of ideal commonwealths ever con-
oo''cH, "hioH We may ii'S Hof" 10 Ithiizc. Ddt
II we turn aside from thee ways Of honor, to
walk in the by-patbs of temporary expedients,
compromising with wrong abetting oppression,
and repudiating faith, the wisdom and devo.
ton and labOrs Of our fathers will have been
all-all in vain.
Sir, trust that the result of this discussion
will show that the American Senate will sane
ton no breach OF compact Let us strike from
the bill the statement which historical facts
and our personal recollections disprove, and
then reject every proposition which looks to
ward Il violation of the plightod faith and sol
cmn compact which our fathers made, and
which we, their sons arc bound, by every ii.
of obligation sacredIy to maintain