The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-06-06
NEBRASKA AND KANSAS.
SPEECH OF HON. G. w. UPIIAM.

OF Massachusetts in the House of Representatives
May 10, 1854. The House being in the Committee
Of the Whole on the State of the Union
Mr.. UPHAM sa;d:.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: In taking tho floor at this
time, after the body has been in session nine
hours anc q half, l can assure the committee
that it is exceedingly dsagreeable to me 10
make continued demand upon their already
exhausted attention. Having understood, In
tho earlier stages of tho discussion, from tho
friends of the bill, that an opportunity would
We given to all to speak upon tho question, !
have not allowed myself TO be in the way of
gentlemen who werc impatient TO express their
sentiments, and shorld not now engage in tho
debate, were not under an impression that
some points, vital to the argument, have not
rs yet beep adequately developed. The ques-
tion ought to be brought to final voto without
full compensation of its real merits. of all It's
elements Of its origin, history, bearings, and
effects The pre.cminently distinguished
member from Missouri fMr. Berton] has touch
cd briefly upon tho limo of argumen. which ]
propose, at somc length, TO spread out and en-
force. The learned gcntlcman from Virginia,
who first addressed the committee to-day Mr..
Dayly,l also adduced some important facts in
support of the views which propose to ex-
hibit.
will ifit becomes law, constitute radical
and vital change in the policy which the I'm
ion of these States was originally formed, aud
by which its affairs have been administered
throughout its entire history. 1t will be an n
abandonment of the course that has been pur-
sued from the first. Tho country will swing
from her moorings, and we shall embark, with
all tho precious interest. all the glorious rec
objections, and oil the magnificent prospects of
this vast republican empire, upon an untrav-
crsed, unknown, and, it may well be feared,
stormy, if not fatal sea.
In order to justify and illustrate this view Of
tho proposed attempt to repeal the Missouri
Compromise. | shall cnmpress into the mar
rowest possible compass. as tho short hour al
lowed compells, an historical statement of the
policy upon which tho American Union was
founded. to which il has adhered through eve.
ry period Of its existence, which the fathers So-
leved, and found TO be, absolutely necessary,
and which their sons have faithfully maintained
and solemnly reiterated in each successive gen
Grafton.
The idea of Fedora. Union, that is, Of n
confederation of political communities each
still preserving its distinct existence, was first
developed on limited sphere, and in very
imperfect way. by the Now England Colonies,
at an early stage of their existence. It was
recommended by William Penn in 100, par
tcuarly deineated by Daniel Coke, an emf
nent colonial politician of Now Jersey, in 1922,
in his very curious book, entitled "a descrip-
tion of Carolana, by the Spanish called Flori
6a, by the French La Louisiana, with n map Of
Carolana. and tho river Meschacerbe." and
first reduced to practice. on a large scale. by
Benjamin franklin. lie urged it in pubica-
tions in the Philadelphia Gazette. enforced in
his lstv nf Dra ,v;sIou, o,J ci
ty, and illustrated by wood cut rcpresers;;ae
snake separated into several parts, With this
motto. "Join or die lie succeeded in get
ding Congress convened at Albany, at which
delegates from seven Colonies were present,
that is, Now Hampshire. Massachusetts. Con
necticut. Rhode Island, New York, Pcnnsylva-
mia. and Maryland.
Tho first attempt Of general North Amcri-
can Union occurred in l754-jnst one hundred
wears ago. Nothing of Importance immediate
ly resulted from tho meeting. except the idea
which it suggested TO the general sense of the
country, that sueh union was practicable.
As the revolutionary war camo on, the Colo
mics, rising to tho great encounter, at once
rcsortcd TO Confederation. While tho war
continued the external pressure kept them to-
gether; but the moment that pressure was re-
moved. it became evident that it would bo diff
ficult, if not impossible to hold them together.
The historical fact that the institution of sla-
very was, at that time, the great obstacle in
the way Of union, is what desire, as the first
point in my argument, TO impress upon the
committee.
We sometimes hear the sentiment express
cd, tha. tho excitement and disturbance pro-
duced by tho slavery question is of recent ol
modern growth. This is an error, and it is ar
error vital to the question before US. As much
agitation and as much difficulty were occasion.
cd BY IL, at tho time to which am referring
to say tho least, as in our day. Resistance a
gainst foreign oppression naturally led to tho
consideration Of oppression at home, and o
movement resulting in its abolition, wherever
it could easily bo done, was quickly brought tc
head, and broad limo of distinction was
soon drawn between tho States that retained
and those which had abolished, the institution
At the period Of the formation Of tho Constitu
ton this distinction threatened to present al
insurmountabe obstacle TO tho establishment
of o permanent union.
In his notes of the debates Of the Fedora
Convention 1881 Robert Yates. a delegate
in that body from tho State Of Now York
quotes Mr. Madison as having used this Ian
guage:
"T'he great danger TO our General Government i
the great southern and northern interests of the
tinent being opposed TO each other. Look at th,
votes in Congress, and most of them stand divided by
the geography Of the country, not -cordng to thu
size of the States"
The conflict between the two sections o
The country has never reached a greater heigh
than in that very convention. believe th
nearest approach TO an absolute rupture, il
our day. was few years ago. when Delegate
in these Halls from the South threatened, in
certain event. to withdraw from their seats, ro
turn to their several States, and set up 70
themselves.
Mr.. Madison informs us that tho folowio,
passage took place in tho convention of 1881
on the 18th of July, 1897 on tho question o
the basis or representation Of tho SO, thorn o
slavehoding States in tho popular branch o
Congress:
"Mr. Davic, a delegate from North Carolina sal
1T was high time now to speak out. lie that
was meant by some gentlemen TO deprive the south
thern ST tes Of any share Of representation for hci
blacks. He sure that North Carolina woul
never confederate on any terms that did not rat
thcm at least rs three -ffths. Ifthe eastern State
meant, therefore, 10 exclude them altogether, tn
business mt nm end.'
''Gouverneur Morris, delegate from Pennsyva
nia and. in reply, that he came here to form com
pnct for the good OF America. lie was ready 10 do
with all the States. lie hopcd and belle ed TINT nj