The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-06-14
Speech of Hon. Mike Walsh, of
New York

on the 18th inst, which excited much atten.
tion-the members crowding round him du.
ring its delivery. From this speech we give
a few extracts. that will be read with interest
Mr.. Walsh took the floor
Several Members. Come up the aisle,
where we can hear you
Mr.. Walsh. | do not desire. Mr.. Chair
man, to leave my seat. as a good many gen.
tlemen have done, and taken their position
m the aisle, thereby promising very much.
(Laughter) | do not wish to raise expecta-
tions too high.
Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen Of the com
mittee, if had consulted my own desire, 1
should have contensed myself with a silent
vote on this question. And it is only now,
in compliance with the wishes and requests
Of other gentlemen. that | have consented to
say few words. am. however. backed up
and strengthened 10 doing so by the fact that
some Of my colleagues from New York nave
also availed themselves Of the same opportu-
nifty
Sir, DO not need to stand here and make
any speech in vindication Of my COURSE
That is known, not only to the people of my
district but the people Of the whole country.
| have not been man Of idle and empty
profession; have been one Of performances !;
and every act Of my life has proved the sin
cerity Of my motives. When | was elected
to represent my district in Congress, was
asked for no pledge-no pledges but my past
life and my present conduct. The people Of
my district knew me, and | believe they
knew the worst side Of me before they learn
ed the other Q4aughter)
This bill, designed to give organic Law 70
the people Of Kansas and Nebraska. has been
so thoroughly discussed. that it would be pre-
sumptiOus on my part to undertake to throw
any new light upon It. or to illustrate the his
tory Of the measure. which seems to form
great and leading obstacle to certain Demo-
Gratis in tLis House.
It was discussed thoroughly and ably by
those on the side Of the question upon which
| standby the gentleman from Georgia.
weeks and weeks. if not months ago; and |
viii not attempt TO traverse tho ground over
again, for the purpose Of speaking for my
constituents. Whatever | speak for them. |
speak to them. | never write out speeches.
never correct one; and never care a straw
what becomes Of them after they have been
made.
Sir, the history Of the Missouri compro-
mise, shall, as said before. not attempt to
discuss. / care not what proud array OF
names may be now brought forward to give
sanctity to, or to perpetuate its existence
Il is enough for me TO know that its enact
ment was violation, and a gross one, Of the
Constitution Of the United States. If it
we're a compromise at ALL it was a compro-
mise Of that glorious instrument.
Sir the constitutional convention was the
place Cor compromises. Il was at once the
birthplace and the grave Of all compromises.
Sir. the Federal Constitution is the organic
law Of this land II is solemn compact be-
tween the Federal Government and the sew
eral States. under which the relative powers
Of each are properly guarded; and no Con-
gress, no thousand Congresses. no tacit. cow
ardly assent upon the part of any one, can
make a violation of its humblest provision
binding upon posteiiy
The course pursued by the opponents Of
this bin is well known to every man through
out the land The hurried and imperious
manner in which it was sent to the Commit
tee Of the Whole, under the spur Of the pre-.
vious question. without an opportunity of
saying one word in reply-without the op-
portunity Of asking single question-is
we'll known. When that act was done, then
came the exultation Of all the Federalists
and Abolitionists, from one end Of the coun-
try to the other. over the supposed death of
the Kansas and Nebraska BILL
What change came over the spirit Of
those gentlemen. when they saw that bill
quietly. unostentatiously, without any under
handed sneaking, or unmanly advantage,
rescued from the oblivion to which they
thought to have effectually consigned IT,
What their CONSERVATION when they heard a
notice given here BY gentleman who had
the matter in charge, that on certain day he |
would move to take il up; and then heard |
him state the purport Of the motion which
he would make
What then was the course Of the oppo-
nents Of this bill after it was extricated =
Here we sat up for thirty-six hours in par
liamentary contest unprecedented almost in
our legislative history
/ do not know but that the physical endu-
rance Of that contest may have been a very
great trial to some gentlemen. but to one who
had gone through the drilling which | have,
il was source Of infinite arsusement.-
tLaughter) Sir, thirty-six hours to person
who had slept in engine bunk houses. and
gone through the coffee and cake chop =
Test. seeing who could set up the latest and
the longest, il was matter OF refreshing
amusement; while / saw those who we're the
oudest and most determined to sit il out,
stretched out. aud covered up with cloaks
and shawls. (I4aughter.)
Now. sir, the whole Of that scenc was
yrossIy misrepresented. as everything upon
his side Of the question has been. As
,inaN illustration Of the gross perversion
which has taken place with regard to y,
viii simply refer TO an account Of little
,i0bt scene which took place between the
Gentleman from Virginia. (AIr. EdmundsOn,)
md the gentleman from Ohio, lMr. Camp
,elIA which reminded me very much Of a
model artist establishment in Canal street,
Vhere men work in stable during the day
md represent the gods at night. The one is
IL