The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. JAMES CooPEl
or PEsNsYLyAHfA
Delivered 10 the Senate, February "a, 1864,


n .. or PEsssrLyAsiAi
p Delyeredin the Senate, February "a, 1864,
= NEBRASKA AND KANSAS,
The Senate having under consideration the Nebraska-
1. Mr. COOPER said,
Mr. PnrslprSr: am very anxious TO address the SEN
briefly on the subject which under consideration,
IA fearing that my engagements may prevent from
yng another opportunity to do so, am disposed TO pro-
ed now should be the pleasure of the Senate III
knooosed that the debate would be continued for
AVS 10 come should ask The indulgence Of the Senate To
hermit me 10 postpone the remarks which propose to sub
nit for some convenient opportunity but as know
me senator from Illinois Mr.. DoucLAs desires to have a
vote on the bill, and as am unwilling to be the of
delay the hour IS, and eramped as shall be for
lime will proceed at once. ~ $40 ~ NJ Et ~ . a.
And the outset permit to say Mr.. President, that
n ia with feelings of than ordinary soIcude that |
address the Senate at this time; aud the for
his socude is that believe the passage of the bill which
now pending is fraught with than ordinary danger
the peace harmony, and iIaterna relations of the differ
Int OF the country dread contention and aga-
on not because fear that they will sunder the
les which bind together the North and the South bur be-
ause they will sooner lster lead TO estrangement if
dstrust and hatred, between the different sections of the
Union. I. M . as 10
For my own part, Mr.. President / can say With the
prove IL hs, entertain no feeling Of ehmi,y ogains,
buy man or any section shall indulge in any in
dous Comparisons Between the various States Of the
dcracy. On the contrary Mr.. President regard every
Doo 81 The country as part Of tho heritage 6equeahed
Ia US by fathers; and claim interest in the glory
Ipower, and happiness Of tho whole. feel jealousy
envy 81 sau H. ans q ar
grateful to my heart and as stimulating 70 my Amer
pde the progress of Pennsy or Massachu-
sets. Ny opposition 10 this measure is neither fac'ious
nor SECTIONAL but 10 founded apon the belief that II unne
csssay dsurbs the and quiet of the country and
opens the Aoodgate Of distraction and dlsaecon which
we're closed by the legislation of 1880
The condition of the country the hearburniDgs and ngi
ion which, previously the adoption Of those measures,
pryadcd every section of IL recent to be yet for
GOTTEN Whatever may have been said or thought by the
opponents Of these the contrary many good,
wise and frm-minded believed that the
Of commissions which threatened the integrity of the Union
and that il owing to their healing influence that dis
ssters pcrs averted And nong those entertain
ng this opinion are many Of tho supporters the bill
under consideration Why the former opinions and pre-
sent action Of these gepemsn are much variance,
do not pretend to understand But this know, that by
lending their assistance psss this bill they reopen
ing the fountain from which food of bitter waters
flow. That ts passage will revive dstrust and keep
alive feelings which il should be the aim of every friend
Of peace TO exsingush, can hardly be doubted by any
one. ~ aES 5, {g..g.iz. !.
Nor is the agitation and discord which adoption of
this viii certainly produce the worst only cons
sequence be apprchsnded from BY the passage Of hl
bill the seed from which harvest of future distrus
will certainly grow up do not spprehend that its adop
will be followed by any Immediate and violent outburst
Of popular Indignation. Thig is not whit anticipate
fear the present temp Of the people Of The free States
There would perhaps be less TO fear for the future peace
concord and we-being of the county the feeling which
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise 70 producing at The
North excited and violent Violent, unrehected
generally subsidies But this is not the
character Of the feeling which pervades the minds of the
northern people Their resentment 10 deep and serious,
founded the conviction that they have been treated with
bad faith They feel that the wrong about to be done
them is gratuous, committed wanonness without
any sufficient motive to justify it.
Nor is the class which feels most deeply the wrong about
be done the which has medtated interference
with the domestic institutions of the South Those who
view this with the cordial d,sapprovaI. and
protest most loudly against what the whole Norm regards
papable breach of faith well useless revival of a
dangerous controversy the who have been hereto
fore approached at home csemes OF freedom and allies Of
Institution repugnsnt 10 humanity and the spirit of en-
hghiened civilization Yes, is those who have been
dsnominaied dough and denounced traitors to
ecause Of human freedom throughout the world, because
they remembered the ancient ties which bound North and
South together in the revolution, and which sl speak 10
their hearts brotherhood and the duty of forbeaance that
feel keenly the wrong of the contemplated measure
HERETOFORE these rcproaches of criminal indifference to the
wrong Of slavery and concession to what has been denom
mated the aggressive spirit Of the South easily turned
aside by showing that she acted in good faith and asked
for nothing which the constitution and laws did secure
TO her. ~
But this shield which the friends of the Union able
nerpose for their justification and that of the South
no longer available for the purpose The compromises
which they used to appeal in behalf OF their brethren OF
the South have been violated and set al by the South
herself and the effect Of ,s settlement Of 1880 abrogstcd
and broken up, along with others older and consecraed by
longer observance IL may he said, Mr. President, and
know declared by the bill which pending,
that does not violate the spirit 81 the legislation OF 1850;
nay that the contrary, conformity with the spirit
that legislation that proposes 10 repeal the Missouri
Compromise This not and who took part IN
The passage of the compromise will venture TO
cert il.
And here Mr. President allow me to refer to statement
which hive in the newspapers this subject BY
them am made say that the Missouri Compromise was
frequently The subject Of among the members
Of the committee Of thirteen charged with reporting to the
SENATE the pro of settlement, and that II was conceded
" all Of them that the Missouri Compromise in way
affected by their action This statement ~ not correct In
the various discussions which took place the eomm,ee
do not remember that the Mssour Compounds
adyerted 10 but On that occasion, Messrs. Clay
mangum, and, think, Mr.. Bright add mys.f pres
ent In discussing clause Of Of the bis, or
may have been, of the report suggested TO Mr.. Clay
that might possibly be regarded conflict with the
Missouri Compromise. Raising both hands, many hese
VIII remember he was IN the habit of doing when about
express himself with emphasis he replied: "My dear sir
inc proposed phi lor " may be sand, bls) recognises that
compromise This distinctly remember; and think it
probable the gentlemen to whom have referred will do
so hkcwse for emphatic declarations made by Mr.. Clay
are apt TO abide IN the memory Of those who heard them
but et u return 10 the subject Of the sy Of this
legislation What there in the existing condition Of
hngs at The time this measure introduced, to make
necessary TO disturb the quiet which fast settling down
upon the country in regard the subject OF slavery The
agitation which had long pcryaded the public mind had
suoslded, or was fast subsIdng. The mutual distrust
which had grown up between the North and the Sou was
giving way to feeling of confidence, and the old spirit Of
fraternity which animated fathers, and carried them
through the revolution shoulder shoulder seemed to be
IeVyng the hearts Of their children. The supporters OF
me Csmpromise OF 1850 everywhere congratuatng
themselves that the pcs which cnyoncd the Union and
threatened It's peace, had disappeared North and South
evuyyhere feeling Of security for the future prevailed
han M, 4 hsrht ,,n