Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-03-28

we have no quarrel on that account.
You believe that it is profitable /;
reap all its benefits. You believe
that it is just enjoy it. You be-
lieve that you are comforting a great
benefit on the slaves go on in your
work Of humanity-we will never
interfere. All we have to say, all
we ask, all we claim, is, that you
| will leave MS the poor privilege Of
believing, in our cold Northern
homes, that it is not right for US
We ask you that, while we are
members of this Confederacy with
you, bound together by the ties Of a
common Constitution for certain
great purposes, we shall not be made
amenable to the responsibility of
sustaining, extending, and perpetua-
ting, an institution which in our
heart Of hearts we believe to be
wrong. Now, sir, is there auy oc-
casion for quarrel Our fathers did
not quarrel. They entertained these
opinions, but they did not quarrel.
As Mr.. Webster well said, Side
by side and shoulder to shoulder
they went through the Revolution -
and side by side and shoulder to
shoulder are their descendants ready
to stand again. But, sir, ask you,
as matter Of justice, put it to ev-
cry Southen man who hears me, to
try it in the tribunal of his own heart,
/ if it is right, # i, is fair, if it isjust,
to have the charge of Northern ag-
gression continually rung in our
ears
Mr. President, read some re-
marks which were made by the
honorable Senator from South Car
oli1a, Mr.. Butler, when the
Kansas bill was under consideration
/ in the Senate two years ago. am
not able TO give his exact words ;
because | cannot speak so eloquently
as that SenBlor; but remember
that he said, speaking in regard to
the South, that the South wanted
her hea.. relieved more than any
practical burdens taken off. may
not have given his very language,
but that, | think, is the idea | re-
member it, for read it last night in
the Globe. Sir, confess that when
| read that remark, it thrilled my
very heart. An appeal of that sort
made to the North will never be
made in vain; but such has not been
the spirit in which gentlemen en-
terlaining the opinions that do
have been accustomed to be address
ed by gentlemen from the South.
Let me tell you, sir-and | think
can speak in behalf of my State
thet ,vhon an appeal is made to then
from the South, or the West, ol
anywhere else, in that split, they
would coin their very hearts TO buy
peace-they would pour out theil
very hearts blood like water, to
wash out the least and the last Of
fence.
But, sir, | appeal to the truth Of
history appeal to the convictions
Of every man who hears me, if we
have ever been addressed in a way
like that No, sir; far very far in
deed, from it. | shall not endeavor
however to awake those angry pas.
sions which am deprecating, by a
repetition of The course which has
been heretofore pursued towards us.
| ann wllling-and | desire-,hat SC
far as past occasions of offence are
concerned, they should be past
| am willing that the dead past
should bury its dead desire tC
live IN the present, in The language OF
the poet
" Heau wi,hin and God o'efhead p
mindful of all the obligations which
the Constitution, or which our duty
or the demands of justice, make up.
on us. Thus much we are willing
to give We will go far, very far
for peace but let me say, am not
used to the language of menace;
am not used TO the utterance OF
threats but | tell you that on the
subject of human slavery we have
convictions which we cannot sacri-
fice-we have opinions which II
were treason to our moral nature to
refrain from expressing on all suita-
bic occasions. Up to that mark we
must stand. We must say, as those
of old have said, when we reach &
point where duty, conscience, con.
viction, must be surrendered, we
cannot go. We cannot consent tC
surrender our opinions, convictions
or sentiments, What then Mus
this Union be dissolved Sir, | dc
not believe it, | do not believe
gentlemen will pardon me if | say
II, for it is an opinion-I do not be-
lieve that the popular opinion of the
great masses of the people is truly
represented, when gentlemen talk
quite so fippantIy as | have heard
some talk about dissolution OF thi;
Union. | believe to-day that our;
is the strongest Government on the
face of the eartn. believe that ils
foundations are the iirmest, the most
enduring. What are theYi The
popular Judgement the popular
heart. There it is SIR there Is the
solemn, the broad, and the everlast-
ing basis upon which the institu-
tions of this country rest. My own
opinion is that such will be found to