The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-17

AASslIJ anu lull1 anu Ills COUCluSfOHs,
which | had arrived at, in circumstances
so favorable for arriving at just conclu-
sIons, l was entirely unwilling to repeal,
In season of excitement and temptation.
| spoke of the democratic theory. But
the soul Of that theory is the majority prin-
ciple. Hence, to violate this principle is
TO abandon that theory. | was, frequently,
told, that those rules Of the House, in the
expert use of which the taking of the vote
on the Nebraska bill could be STAYED off
| indefinitely were made for the very pur-
pose of enabling the minority TO hold the
majority at bay, whenever 1t might please
to do so. But this did not influence me.
| For in the first place, | could not believe,
| that they were made for so wronglul-for
so ant-democratic-a purpose: and, IN the
second place, even had | thus believed, l.,
nevertheless, could not have consented to
use them for that purpose. There Is
no rule-nay, there is no enactment, how
ever solemn or commanding, that | can
consent to WELD against the all-Tltal and
sacred majority principle; or, Ill other
words, against democracy itself.
When | complained, that the plan in
| question was revolution, | was charged
with inconsistency with
my well-known readiness TO rescue fu-
gitivc slave. 1t is true, that would res
| cue a fugitive slave. Nevertheless, l felt
not the pertincncc Of the charge ef incOn-
sistency. In rescuing him, / take my
stand outside of the Government, and
am a confessed revolutionist. Let it be
remembered, that it is only, whilst and
where, | am inside Of the Government,
that | acknowledge myself bound to bow
TO the will Of the majority. l bow to 1t IN
the legislative hall and in the courtroom /;
and everywhere and always do bow to it;
until the purposed erccution of the decree,
that is ntolerablc. Then | rebel. They are
guilty Of anticipating the only proper time
for rebellion, who resort to 1t, during the
process of legislation. | sit in the House
of Representatives and hear my fellow
members discuss. and see them vote upon,
bill, which wrongs me greatly. Argu-
mcnt and persuasion and my vote are all,
that can, legitimately, oppose 10 Its pas
sage. If it pass, and its enforcement be
contemplated, it viii be, then, for me TO
decide whether to rebel against the Gov
crnment and to resist the enforcement.
| need say no more, in explanation,
or defence, of my grounds for refusing
TO 90 into the scheme to prevent the
majority from bringing the House to a vote
on the Nebraska bill. | will, however,
before leaving this subject, advert TO the
fact, that for refusing to 60 into this
scheme-into this physical struggle, which
continued through thirty-fye successive
hours-into this strife to see which party
could 90 the longer, without sleeping,
and eating, and, would that could add,
without drinking also-my reputation for
fidelity to the ant-slavcry cause has sui-
icred not 4 little, in some quarters. More
over, 1t IS not only in this wise, that |
suffered Joss by refusing to follow the
multitude on that occasion. My rcputa-
ton for sound understanding, poor as it
was beforehand poor as that of every
radical and earnest abolitionist must con-
tinue TO be, until abolition shall be in the
ascendant-is far poorer now. 1t Is, |
suppose, for my singularity on that MEM
oiabe occasion, that a very distinguished
and much-esteemed editor tells the world,
that ] am deficient in common sense"
am happy to believe, however that this
editor wall readily admit, that it is far bet
ter to be " deficient in common sense
than in common honesty: and that, when
ne shall have 5cad tins letter, he will clearly
see, that, with my views Of the comprc-
hcnsiyc and sacred claims of the majority
principle, | could not have gone into the
combination IN question, and yet have re-
tanned common honesty. | was a fool in
this editors esteem not TO go into it. But
he will now, perceive, that | would have
been rogue, had gone into it. He will,
now, be glad, thatI did not 90 into it. For
much as he values knowledge, he values
integrity more. And were he, now, to
meet me, be would press my hand, and
thank me, that | played the fool in pref
orcncc to playing the rogue.
By the way, will not this editor allow
me TO remind him, that when, little
more than three short years ago, went
into different parts OF our State to speak
against certain Senators for their daring
to prevent the necessary ma lority of the
Senate from passing the Canal bill, he
had no ccnsures, but rather praises, to
bestow on me? 1t Is true, that he and
both desired the success Of the Canal bill;
and that we both desired the defeat Of tn
Nebraska bill. And it is true, therefore
that, whilst my principles worked forI
and my interests and wishes, in the for
mer case, they worked, Cat least, os some
thought,) against them, in the latter
| Was this, however, Il good reason whyl
should not allow them TO work ia the la
ter, as well as IN the former, case? | ask
| this editor ask the word-hOw it was
| possible for me to fall in with this polio '
! Of preventing the vote on the Nebraska
| bill, unless | was, also, prepared to revoke
my condemnation Of the like policy on
the part of the Senators, TO whom | have
referred.
Let it not be thought, that | call in
question either the wisdom or integrity oI
the members Of Congress, who went into
this combination. Wiser and better men
than myself went into it. Nevertheless,
they could not have gone into it, he'd they
entertained my views, be those views
sound OF false, of the rights of the major
ity.
Ere leaving the Nebraska bill, | VIII
briefly refer to the censures, which have
been cast on one of my private letters
The whole, or none, of that letter should
have been printed. | was sorry to see
disjointed parts of it in print. The letter
is not before me. But, | remember, that
| spoke in 1t against night-sessions o.
Congress, and declared, that, had the
hour of three in the morning been appoint,
ed for taking the vote on the Nebraska bill
should not have been present. This dec
Iaration has been seized on, to show