Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-08-16
senator Benjamin or the Present sec
tfcnal Struggle.

De Bows Review for August, contains
a paper with tins caption. The language
Of Mr.. Benjamin as used in the Senate. is
remarkable, and exposes truly the nature
| Of the impending crisis. We make the
following extract from his speech.
The object is to attain such power as
shall put these parties in possession Of
sufficient representation, in both branthe5
OF Congress, TO charge the Federal Consti-
tuition, and 10 deprive the South OF ffisi
representation which is already inadequate
| to protect her rights. When that shall
have been done-when she is reduced 10
feeble minority. utterly incompetent to
move hand or foot, and bound subseryient-
" 10 the will of the North-then will the
last act Of the drama be played; and then
will the abo lition sentiments which they
hide now, but which they entertain in
their heart Of hearts, be developed to the
country, and ruin and desolation spread
over fifteen Of the States Of this Uhion.-
That is the object-dissuised, concealed,
but transparent through the flimsy veil
by which they attempt to conceal their ne.
:arious purposes.
Now, Mr.. President. this being the sole
motive for which ,he Moth is struggling
the acquisition ofpower-will the Sem
ate permit me to be SO far wanting in re
spect for its intelligence as TO say few
words in comparison OF the Interests
which the South holds in this stake p
Property, safety, honor-existence Itself
depend ON the decision OF the questions
which are now pending in this Congress !:
property. for $4,000. 00V.00 campo, pur-
chase, at a low average pIiee, the slav les
which now belong to the people Of the
South, whilst no human calculation can
reach the estimate Of the destruction of
other property, which would necessarily
be involved in any measure which should
deprive us Of gu: slaves; safety, because
cur population. now kept in proper sub.
jecaon, peaceful and laborious, would be
converted irto..an idle, reckless, criminal
population. eager for rapine murder, led
Gu to their foul pun poses BY nhamed pas
sions-passioDs iuAamed by fans,ia emisa-
ries tram another portion Of common
country, who formed a common govern
ment to cherish brotherly feelings; honor,
because we should be degraded from Our
position Of free, sovereign, self ependent
States. into d servile subverviency TO Nor.
them will: ezistence--sy, existence itsei
because the history OF Hayti is written
in characters so black, SO dark. so promi-
iIent, that we canaot be ignorant OF the
fate that awaits us, il measures similar to
those which have produced that result
There are also to be rnaugtrated IN our
Southern States.
Now, Mr.. President, when ws see these
two interests con,rssted--the North stIug-
CLING fer the possession of power to
which she has no legitimate claim under
the Constitution, :or the sqle purpose OF
abusing that Power-the South struggling
Tor property, .hcnoI, safety-sll that is dear
to raar--tel mt II tire history Of the world
exhibits an example Of a people occupying
more ennoblng attitude than the people
of the So,uh 70 vi.uperation thes op.
pose calm reason. 70 menaces and threats
Of violence. aid insulting assumptions Of
superiority, they dlsdain reply. To d.
rect attacks OH their rights or their honor,
they appeal to the guarantees of the Con-
stitu,ion, and when those guarantees shall
! Tail, and not TIL then. will the injured,
outraged South throw her sword into the
scale Of her rights and appeal to the God
OF battles to do her justice. Isay her sword
because | am not one Of those who believe
in the possibility Of a peaceful disruption
of the Union. II cannot come until every
possible means of conciliation have been
exhausted; it cannot come until every an
gry passion shall have been reused. it can-
not come until brotherly feeling shall
have been converted into deadly bate; and
then. sir. with feelings embittered by The
consciousness Of injustice, or passions
hlgL-wrousht and inf1awed, dreadful will
I be the internecine war that must ensue.
| Mr.. President amongst what l consider