Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-18

very cheerfully comply with your request
The grave aspect of political affairs is well cal
cuated to excite the earnest solictude Of every
citizen who loves his country, and it is peculiarly
the duty of those who have been elevated by the
State to position which affords more than COM
mon facilities for forming correct appreciation
of the condition of national affairs, to make full
and free communications of their opinions and OF
the principles which govern their public con
duet.
The great political question of the day. vastly
overshadowng all Others in its influence on your
interests, your happiness, your very existence is
that which has reference TO your constitutional
right for the protection of your property. In the
debate which occurred in the Senate Of the Uni
ted States, on the Nebraska bill, the notifying
conviction was forced on my mind that the Wing
Nati0nai party was no more. That great PARTY,
to which il had always been my pride to belong,
which, under the lead Of Clay and Webster, had
long struggled with varying fortunes for the
power of conducting public affairs on principles
which | honestly believe to be best calculated to
promote the welfare of the people, had persisted
with its chieftians. | found not one Northern
Wing untainted by the communicating influence
of Freesolism. Not one Northern Whir raised
his voice gave his vote in either House in de-
Tense ofthose institutions of the South which are
expressly recognized by the Constitution, and the
protection of which was formally and solemply
guaranteed to our foretathers when they consent
ed TO merge, for all national purposes, the indie
pendent sovereignty Of the Southern States into
one Confederated Union. Again and again did
Northern Wings, the floor of the Senate, de-
clare that they abjured all further union with
Southern Wings, on national principles; and |
repeatedly heard the declaration made that the
defeat of the Wing party was to be attributed to
the dead weight which it carried at the North, by
the recognition in the national platform Of the
constitutional rights of the South.
Al tho In n Of a
repeal the Fugitive Slave law commanded eleven
votes in the Senate The recent elections of
Northern Senators have displaced many of the
hrmest and most consistent supporters of public
law. Shields OF Illinois, Dodge of Iowa, Petit of
Indiana, Morris of New Hampshire, all able, elo-
quent and independent statesmen, who fearless
ly struggled for the right, have been succeeded
by avowed Freesoilers; and in the present state
of public opinion at the North, | entertain no
doubt that proposition to repeal the Fugitive
Slave law would find twenty advocates in the
Senate, in that Senate to which we have been ac-
customed to look the last refuge of the Consti-
tuton as forming for its defense an Rpis so inn
penetrable, that even the lightning of Infatuated
fanaticism might play nnocuous about it..
How stands the case in the other branch of the
National Congressi Infinitely worse.
A malority of the next House Of Representa-
tives will be Freesoilers. Prominent members of
the last House, leaders of that factious majority
WHICH SOUGHT, Dy an ABUSE OF rules.
TO defeat the ascertained will of the majority
were heard to threaten that they would return TO
the next Congress prepared to repeal the Nebras-
ka law and the Fugitive Slave law, or break up
the Government in the attempt. Most of these
men have been reelected, after pledging them-
selves TO the people of their districts TO carry out
their reasonable designs by means of amendments
to be offered to the appropriation bills at the next
session of Congress Thus, the very existence Of
this Government will be put at issue within the
next twelve months.
Permit me, for the purpose of making myself
more clearly understood, TO develope the effects
Of such course of conduct is threatened by
these traitors.
The general appropriation BILL as its name i'm
ports, is that which provides for the payment of
nearly all the current civil expenses of the Gov
eminent. The salaries of ali public officers, of
the Judges Of the courts, of those who collect
keep and disburse the public revenues, are pro-
vided for in this BILL fit fail TO pass your pub
lie offices would be closed courts of ustice shut
up, your revenue officers arrested in the discharge
Of their duties, and the whole Government
brought to a stand still
The bill, of course, requires the assent of both
branches Of Congress- and the scheme is to add a
clause to il repeating the Fugitive Slave Law and
the Nebraska law, so TO force the Senate to as-
sent TO these unconstitutional measures or TO as
sumo the responsibility Of stopping the wheels Of
Government by rejecting the whole bill.
state my deliberate conviction that the at
tempt will be made in the House Of Representa-
tlves. state my most serious apprehension that
it will succeed in that body, and my entire conf
dence that the Senate will resist the Infamous
PROJECT 10 the end. Ii these apprehensiuns DO
realized, the next session will be closed without
providing the supplies necessary to administer
the Government, and the Representatives will
go home to their constituencies TO render an &c
of he xptn h,
compelled TO call an extra session of Congress in
order to provide means TO carry the Govern
ment; and the only hope left to save the country
will be the returning sense of justice in the
masses OF the North, when brought in view Of
the appalling danger that will then have become
so manifest and so impending TO force mme-
dlate and decided action. Ii they shall fail to
choose the wise course of obedience TO the Con-
stitution; II they shall supinely acquescein the
mad and reasonable warfare waged against the
South, the Constitution and common humanity,
the days of this Republic will have been mum
bered; and have neither heart nor courage to
seek further to penetrate the veil that darkly
hides the future.
Strange, unprecedented in history, il the fact
that in Government framed by common CON
sent for the protection OF all the interests
of the governed, one half Of the people should
carry on malignant and relentless warfare
against the dearest rights of the other half with
out the slightest interest in the subject matter
without protesting even TO perceive any advan-
tage that could be derived by themselves in the
event OF success, and with blind and savaqe
disregard of the calamities that must ensue il
that success were possible. Suppose a body of
insane fanatics in this section of the confederacy
should avow their belief in the sinfnness of sub
iectng the animal creation to the domination and
service of man, and should, under the dictates of
this "higher law, act on their conviction of the
duty OF stealing from the Northern farmers the
ilocks and herds which form so large portion Of
their wealth. Suppose that, to effect this, they
should organize bands Of robbers and incendia-
ries, who should make the night lurid with the
flames Of their barns and granaries, and even
threaten with the torch the roofs that protect
their families. Suppose that in this course Of
conduct they were not only excused, but encour-
aged and applauded by the South, and that
Southern Legislatures took pride in passing laws
for their protection and assistance--how long,