Washington sentinel., 1854-02-26

eyade the question. II is solemn responsi
bility, calling for calm, thorough deliberatior
upon the part of all upon this floor, from the
north as wen as the south. We are called up
on to legislate practically in reference to the
| Territories of Nebraska and Kansas, not to en-
gage in work of supererogation, as the men
of 1920 did. We are called upon in the simple,
straightforward path of our duty as Legislators
to establish territorial government for that
Territory; and in doing SO we must proceed
upon, and establish correct principles.
| Let it not be said that the south threaten. I
do not wish so to be understood myself, and
hope our northern friends may not understand
the southern people as uttering threats. The
minority threaten the majority. They do not
They merely utter a manly and dgniied asser-
ton of their own rights, and their determine
ton, in selfdefence, to maintain those rights,
and maintain them peaceably and constitution
ally as long as may be, and, hope, forever.
Perhaps it may be, in some future time of dis
aster to this republic, that they may be called
upon to defend those rights outside of.the Con-
stitu ion. But do not contemplate so melan-
choly contingency with any satisfaction. !
have never cast myself with the extremists of
the south. While ! may have my own opinions
about slavery in the abstract, and also as a.
practical question: yet / never ask northern
men to assume my opinions. If have urged
them improperly today beg pardon most re-
spectfully, and confess, in advance, my error
in pressing them upon you. Butt ask no man
to adopt my opinions upon the subject of sla-
very. have ever advocated, in my own feeble
mode, and within the sphere of my humble in
fuence, an adherence to the Union, an adhe-
renee to the free States, an adherence to our
northern brethren-long may we be able to
II A.
even to wrong, as we have often done, rather
than sever the ties which bind us together.
would say most sincerely, and with no pro-
fame levity, that, as / looked over the journals
of the time, devoutly thanked the Almighty
that, at the time of the establishment of this
compromise line, the south was not animated
with the feeling which has since grown up un-
der long succession of wrongs, or verify be-
lieye that the bonds which bound this Union
together would have been but as whip-cord, to
be snapped upon the wrists of giant. just
think Of It'll This House had actually passed
resolution going into the limits of the State
of Missouri and aboishing slavery against her
will! This outrage was only averted by the
action of the Senate, who proposed to establish
instead this Missouri line, to which half Of the
southern representatives reluctantly came, hop
ing, as these gentleman doubtless did, and as
some OF them have lett upon record, that, In
better time, when calmer counsels should pre-
vail, and sense of justice might return to the
from the north, the wrong might
be undone. hope that time has come; sim
cerely and earnestly hope that it has, and no
man in this House will rejoice over it with
fuller heart than ], not as a southern triumph
over the north, but as the triumph of right over
wrong, of truth over error and because wish
to see at last the legislation and policy of our
great and common country fixed, and fixed, !
hope, forever, upon foundations which may be
unshaken and unchangeable.