Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-01-11


man knows it better than he, or at least no
man ought to know it better; aud when he
goes on to characterize as enemies Of the Con-
stitution those who differ from him, he knows
> he so chafacterizes certainly one half of the
popular branch of Congress, aud quite num-
Der Of the members of the Sennte-no matter
for them, however; as they do not belong to-
"healtny organizations, let them take care Of
them selves. l will,not speak for them, but l
speak for myself and / say the President can
do me no sort Of ha m by any such denuncia
ton as this. am perfectly willing to take it;
but, Sir, standing here as representative Of
our nntiye State-hs and mine together
VIII not have him hurl such an imputaton as
that unchallenged OF unrebuked.
lie has no right to designate any men who
are here under the same oath to support the
Constitution, which he has taken, as enemies
of the Constitution and when he does it, he
comes down from the high place, which God,
in his wrath for the punishment of our ma
tional sins, md tor the humiliation of our
national pride, has permitted him to occupy
say he comes down from that high place into
the arena of vulgar demagogue, and strips
himself of everything which, should clothe
the dignity the office Of President of the Uni
ted States. deny the issue hurl it back
in his face; tell him when he undertakes to
stigInatise these men enemies OF the Con.
stitution, he abuses and defamcs men whose
shoe latchets he is unworthy to unite.
Sir, these are plain words, but the time de-
mands them. When the President of the
United States sends such message as this to
me, or to body of which l am member
shall be restrained by no consideration from
speaking what believe to be the truth. The
| President says, that if the enemies of the
| Constitution-we all know-who he includes
| in this phrase-are to have another contest
! with its friends, there cannot he a better one
| Grant it. sir, let us have it. tell him that
this is the very place where the fights 10 be
he made. This part of his message, stripped
Of its verbiage, means this IF, BY the illegal
violence OF the men who have gone over into
Kanzas. and undertaken to establish slavery
there, they shall come here aad ask for adms-
sion into the Union with a.slaye constitution,
and Kanzas will be rejected. The President
tells us that is the most favorable aspect,in
which that question can be presented That
will be the issue, and, if it he decided
against slavery, we are threatened with civil
war
Sir, l am not man of war, but when l
have heard it threatened SO often, l have
sometimes wished that God in his providence
would let it come. If it had no other eifect,I
think it would have one. | think 1t We uld
learn those men who are constantly talking
about the Union lesson which neither they,
nor their children children, would ever for
get. l am not certain that l should not want
the war TO come on while we have about lust
such President as we have now, and l will
tell you why. If the attempt at disunion
were made with such man as General Jack.
son, General Taylor in the Presidential
chair, and it were repressed promptly, as it
ho tSnv u 7
great military power, his reputation, his pop.
ularity, which did it," God knows they
could not say it of the present President
Laughter In the galleries. If the President
succeeded, and if the Union were sustained,
as it would be, it would be by its own Iher-
ent energy, and from no. Fictitious power
which it would acquire from the overshadow-
ing popularity OF the President.
Sir, when the President undertakes to stig
Matte, as he has done, those who differ from
him, be steps beyond what he has right to
do; he steps over the mark he violates the
lays which, think, should govern the inter-
cource between the different members of this
Government. When he denounces as enc.
mics to the Constitution those w % differ from
him, l think it proper to meet him in this
way, and to take issue with him. Does the
President think that upon this issue he can
go before the country? Does lie think that
he stands in a place where it is safe or
prudent for him to denounee as inlmical 10
the Constitution views which are entertained
by vast ejority of tho people of this coun-
try?
II he is safe, it is obscurity, and nothing
else, that shields hint is the utter helpless
ness of bis position. Sir, heard very in
structive comment made upon his Message by
Southern gentleman within o very brief
!, IL
Messages.that was ever written, and Pierce 10
the best President we have ever had since
Washington" "FWell," said the person to
whom he was speaking, "you will re -noni.
nate him, will you mol % mo" said he,
that is another thing his message is little
too strong to get Northern votes with; we
shall not use HIM any more" That is exact
ly the position in which the matter stands.
LIDO not wish, sir, TO go any further into this
natter If the views which l have enter
tanned are received by the Senate and country.
as l suppose they will be, and no controversy
be made, shall have nothing more to saw
nbout it; but If, on the other hand my views
shall be controyerted, may take the OCCASION
at some future day, to go somewhat atlength
INTO the various topies which the President
has suggested. But, sir. when lie sent such
message as this, and when the only com
ments that were made on it were commenda.
tory-not commendaiory of this part | know.
but commendalory of the nonsense with
which it is filled about Central America. and
no man had word of rebuke (not even nv
excellent and worthy friend from New York.
MI. Seward) to utter at the atrocious sent-
ments to which have alluded-I felt com
PEELED, by sense of duty, with great reluc
lance, to lay before the Senate the biews
which have entertained. Having done so,