The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-20
CON CIR ESSI0N AL
SPEECH OF non. A. L. MAXWELL,

n The House being IN Committee or the Nhoe on tht
state Of the unlon,
NJ MAXWELL said: Mr. Chairman rising first after the
extraordinary proceedings of our late sittngs and follow
ng a. do next in succession to the gentleman IRON Mas
sacbusets [Mr UpnAM, who SO ably and eoquentiy ad-
Sssed the committee on Wednesday last find the EN-
Iassment which would naturally attend an effort 10
Sage attention upon subject which has undergone ex-
s9sng discussion much increased Perhaps u were bet
~ and more prudent that of little experience IN the
~ Controversies OF the day myself should say nothing
mon the exciting question which has been connected with
, bin TO organize governments for Nebraska ana Kan
sas Perhaps the will Of my State can be as forcbly ex-
ssd by nv simple vote as by any words may utter in
ber hehof Perhaps the sense Of injury which fee-oi
injury begun continued and persisted in from unmstaka-
be hostility to southern slave poy-aha Weh eeiing Is
Intensified by reflection from the bosom of my constituent
yay prompt me to say things, though tar from my de-
sire or intention which win provoke rather thn coheii
late onT antagonists. ,., :.
These suggestions confess have tended strongly 70
keen me ro articipatingi in this debate But sir at the
hazard of speaking nnadvisedy cannot remain altogether
silent Every impulse Of my nature every ahecuoh OF my
heart every sentiment Of devotion to my native South and
f pride hi her character her equal rights and her lofty in
dependence and every link which binds me TO the cons-
tuition and the Union of my country appeals TO me to give
what active aid feeble though be- in rescuing our
government from paths Of error and danger.
Before taking up the main question: however, the as
founding character OF recent proceedings would seem
10 require remark. 1t is due to the friends OF this
b and to the country that il should be known they
not responsible for that waste Of public time and that OBJ
ruction Of public business apparent upon Journal
which already bringing to US the Indignation of in
eensed people Theirs plain duty Feeling that q
discussion which had gone for than three months
was sufficient for full exposition Of the whole subject and
finding that the orders of the House would arrest the
progress Of the bill if the discussion continued they
proposed that should be closed at early day. is not
Gt that the effort ste debate From the first they
GToEed willingness to have the debate prolonged to any
reascnabo time if could be done without interfering with
previous orders and without leaving the bill undisposed Of
But how were they met By peremptory rejection OF
the offer from some OF the opponents of the bill As often
as repeated il received the naughty courtesy
until even one of those Who acting with them
constrained to declare that unreasonable would
render the obector liable to the charge of being faction
s and others Of them deemed il due to themselves
disclaim any factious motives or purposes . #
Sir to the fact whether there faction or not in
the adopted to defeat the will Of the majority,
willing to leave the country determine upon the record
But whatever its decision this point am very il
would have little difficulty in coming to the conclusion
that gentlemen who unable to decide how to vote
motion to adjourn 10 have call Of the House, and
therefore asked he excused would be ready
the Nebraska BILL though discussion should las
i'll their constituents summoned them home.
The friends OF the bill take this consolation from the
aordlnary course pursued by its opponents They ind ~
taGt admission that all the history the logic and the
oquence which have been hurled against il from the Senate
chamber and from this hall and all the protests and right
usndgnaon Of thousands Of clergymen leave the people
vet unconvinced that the is monster Of inquity
More must be said, done The people must be piled
With still other inducements to wake from their lethargy
MAY express te beer that labor Is in r0in
that what he said done will he
uHsiui than that already said and done.
The bill in its relation the question Of slavery seek
declare the Missouri restriction Of 1920 imperative and
void What there in this to the strong and Indignant
protest Of gentlemen this floor? The proposition is
simple 1t has startling extravagant features
does aim TO interfere with any mans rights or priv
ss II makes distinction by which citizen Is ad
Etted 10 advantages superior those Of another Ii i'm
poses limitation upon the liberty Of any human being
does not claim the force Of positive legislation II
Whole purpor and design is to wipe from the statutebool
A enactment which passed without authority,
which while ii put the han Of exclusion upon section
Of the oonederacy placed in the hands Of the other
d nvidous power. Think Of this a moment
Thirteen sovereign States independent Of each other
ofthe world agreed to unite themselves under common
government They had al the pride Of separate politca
communities they had ealouse they had clashng inter
s and each had ambitious views peculiar TO itself Eve
h fiery furnace of the revolution through which they ha
Just passed did not TO fuse them into singe-mnde
and homogeneous nation But in their suffering they ha
earned sympathy and forbearance and in peril prudence
Prom the short but crowded pages Of their eyentu hiso
bey had learned temperance and wisdom. Mutual con
son for the general good became the law Of their
ton What each desired could not be attained and they
no safety but in the endurance Of supposed evils whic
tWndled naught compared with the greater evil OF
failure TO accomplish the high and noble end.to whic
their efforts were directed All partial and local griey
Enoes merged in the common grievance and ther
came forth the pure ssuary vigorous and patriotic spiri
Eeh gave being and substance to the union they formed
That spirit pervades and WHITES the constitution unde
which We assemble and act and teaches what shoul,
40 IN our day bidding bear and forbear respect
revere alike the privileges of all and condemn not wher
We have no right to Judge
ltgave to America that complicated but admirabl
system Of government by which the powers al
were made 10 harmonize with those reserved 70 each Tn
chi conflicting ideas which had 10 be reconcled were
ouoldation the hand and the sovereignty Of th
States on the othera general jurisdiction with independ
t local jurisdictions And, sir, these reoonced
Looking 70 the formation Of consistent Union th
paramount consideration above all other ambition,
sinking 10 veriest insgnicanoe all minor differences III
Prio Of those times had the manhood to lay their par
aaacs and prejudioes and all their diverse views
schemes upon altar and the fortune thence
eaIch the sacred incense which, it infused thruug
lher bosOms minging with aspirations for liberty re
frehed and reuvgoracd them or their great work The
was me day o victory for rpublicanism then the day
maternal joy Whittier has gone the spirit Of that day
no' extinct trust; bat sadly paied Many strong gust
'e blown upon IL and "a has sometimes burned FL
nly as 10 shake the hopes of the most sanguine an
rouse from thcr hstess indifference the most surine Bn
81 am wandering off from the idea wished to present
Those thirteen States melted BY the overrung desire
Ee indicated and moved BY purposes generous an
noble esgued themselves together upon the terms pr,
sbed in the constitution Not to mention other partcr
% ask attention to the fact that these terms give secu
~ aud protection 10 southern with their property
hes as well az 70 northern with whatever propert
aey may hold Under that constitution they starte
Iresh upon the career which to determine the desn
our race in the New World Each State was TO Cover
y Internal affairs in its way establish such relation
wsoueT as il might deem conducive 10 the welfa
as people, and adopt and enforce rules for the control
ens and property suited 10 its condition andchoc
p 80 Tar as they held territory in common not embrace
unn the boundaries Of any State, they forbore the in
ooh Of any terms defining the government which shou
E,M or regulating the relations Of persons and the
ne q property therein and only provided for the mai
4tnt OF that territory like other property Of the Unite
80 and that Il could be admitted new State;
uleh tine taking an equal place with the other membe
We ooniederacy, Il would stand forth panoped with h
PoNe of sovereignty like themselves and cnrd do an