Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-04-16
HON. MIR. mAcDoSALD,s sPEECm.

matter.
HON. MIR. MAcDONALD's sPEECm.
The great want Of the country Is political
independence, or, to express il In other words,
independence amongst politicians. Men in
public life are too often slaves TO cliques, neigh.
borhoods, and sections. When not slaves 10
them, when their ambition or their interests
overleap those narrow bounds, they become
slaves and tools TO The powers that be, In the
hope that the powers that be win reward them,
and seldom do they get their reward. Their
own convictions are stiiled, and they act upon
the convictions Of otQers. Independence
wild, eccentric, irregular independence, but
a wellregulated, jndicious independence--is q
great virtue in public men. II is as great as
it is rlre.
The present Congress does not contain a
member who has exhibited stronger sense
of right, a sterner vindication Of the Constitu-
ton, sterner spirit Of American independence,
and more contemptuous disregard Of those
mischievous isms that unfortunately have such
sway in some of the northern States, than the
Hon. Mr.. Macdonald Of Maine. His course
and his speech on the Nebraska bill are such Is
to challenge the appreciation and the admira-
ton of the constitutional democracy Of the
whole country. The legislature of Maine at.
tempted to overawe the representatives Of that
State by instructions in reference TO the Ne
braska bill. When Mr.. Macdonald delivered
his speech, the following resolution was sus
pended in tcrrorem over him:
"Resolred, That the senators in Congress from
Maine be instructed, and the representatives
requested, to oppose in every practicable way
the passage of the Nebraska bill, so called, so
long as it shall contain any provision repeating,
abrogating, resembling, or in any way invali.
dating the provisions of the act Of Congress-
approved March 6, 1920, commonly called the
Missouri compromise"
To the senators this was On instruction, to
the members of the House of Representatives
request Mr.. Macdonald spurned it; he
treated it with scorn, and he rebuked the legis
lature in well-merited terms Of severity. He
accused that body of disregarding the wishes Of
the people in many respects, and quoted facts
to sustain ~his charge. Mr.. Macdonald rises
above the barriers that cramp and con6ne so
many politicians. He manifests true Ameri.
can instincts, principles, and sympathies. We
have read his speech with much pleasure, and
regret that it is not in our power to spread it
before our readers today. We can only give
the conclusion of it, which is as follows:
aSir, in closing, / must allude again to the
bad taste which is shown by the opponents Of
the bill in what will designate their threat
arguments.
aThe death's-head and bloody.. bones poll
tically, of those who voted forthe Missouri COM
promise in 1920, are paraded like felon's
corpse. This may alarm the fears, it will not
convince the judgment. Let me say, sir, that
if this bill has caused, and is still exciting,
such intense public Indignation at the north as
to Justify evil forbodings for those who adva-
cate it, that the quiet which the measures of
adjustment in 1850 occasioned was all delu.
sion. The general acclaim of appreciation,
which was heard from all sections of the coun-
try on that occasion, was the merest song Of
the syren, if our land is again to be convulsed
with excitement by re-enactment of the prin-
ciple oftheadjustment
'"How false to history, if this excitement ex-
ists were the impressions of Clay and Webster,
men whose hearts were so devoted to the peace
and prosperity Of this Union, when they turned
for the last time their eyes upon the sun in the
heavens. For more than third of q century
they had been connected with the legislation
of the country. During this period they had
been prominently connected with the party
questions of the day. In their age, sir, when
declining years reminded them of other worlds,
their intellects still vigorous, Providence seemed
to reserve them to take part in those great
measures of adjustment between the north and
the south--high occasion and most noble &C
tors. The occasion was one for the exhibition
of patriotism; the country and not party
was in danger. If their former course had
been partisan, they now rose superior to party,
and it was patriotic. Their reward was the
appreciation Of admiring countrymen, and the
territorial policy in which the Earring interests
of the north and the south were reconcled.
Following in their footsteps, and seeking to
maintain the bond Of peace, are the friends
Of this measure to be told that they are agitat-
ing the country Sir, it seems to me that it is
the opponents and not the friends of the Ne
braska bill, who are the agitators. While the
latter regard the measures Of adjustment of
1850 as final, the former are striving to main
tain the abandoned policy of 1920, by which
the federal government assumed the control of
the irritating question Of slavery. If to stand
by the legislation of 1850 is agitation, then we
are agitators; if to maintain the cardinal
rights Of free government is agitation, then we
are agitators; and if to grant to Nebraska the
same immunities which Utah and New Mexico
enjoy is agitation, then we are agitators.
Entertaining the views and opinions Of the
bill which have SO indfferently expressed, I
shall most heartily give it my vote, and in do
ing so, / shall not only act upon the convic-
tons of my Judgment, but in pursuance of that
spirit Of compromise which has ever been the
harbinger ofpeace to our beloved country
"Sir, sectional clamor does not disturb me,
nor will violent denunciation swerve me from
my purpose; but / shall abide in confidence
the Judgment Of my constituents. It is their
right to reign and rule in political affairs. 1t
is for this right which contend. If in its ex-
ercise, my support Of this measure is condemn
ed, ! shall cheerfully submit to their judgment,
Al 4.