The Empire County argus., 1856-02-16
From the State Tribune.

Senator Weller.
On the reception of the Presidents Message in
the U. S. Senate, Col Weller made it the subject
OF speech, in which he enunciated some very ex-
celent Knownothing doctrines 1t is true, that he
seems disposed to regard his own particular party
the Democracy-as the one upon which the du-
ty legtimately falls of preserving the American
Union; but he does not speak of its conservative
capablllty with much assurance, On that portion
of the Message which treats of the mutually dis
cordant feelings animating the northern and
southern sections of the Confederacy, and which,
if not allayed or crushed, must lead to dissolution,
Col Weller thus comments:
"No one can shut his eyes to the fact that there
are now sectional questions growing out of differ
ence of local institutions and local laws in the re-
spective States, which threaten the perpetuity of
the Union. The true history of that sectional con-
test the inevitable effect of refusing to our southern
friends the security for their property, and Just
and equal participation in the blessings of our
Federal Constitution, are forcibly and eloquently
portrayed They will challenge the admiration of
every friend of constitutional liberty In my iudg-
ment the question of slavery is there placed upon
its basis; and if the political party with whom
am associated can not maintain their ascendancy
upon these principles, should not regret their ex-
pusion from power. desire, then, to see the
American Democracy plant themselves on that
| constitutional platform, and come veal or come
woe steadily and firmly maintain it. If we can
not put down the spirit of wild fanaticsm that
now pervades section of this country; if geo
graphical lines are to be drawn; if sectional par
ties are to be organized; and if we have not the
power to strike down the of the traitor that is
now raised to apply the torch to the temple of lib
erty, SHALL at least, have the proud consolation
OF knowing that we have fallen in an effort to
maintain the Constitution of our fathers unm-
paired-in an effort to give every section of the
oio tha f,11 md -,
constitutional rights
COL Weller must have already perceived that
the political party with which he is associoted can
not control the storm of sectionalism which he so
much deprecates. The six weeks spent by the
House of Representatives in the vain effort to elect
Speaker, must have proved to his entire convic-
ton that the Democratic party has been shorn of
its strength, and longer be trusted as q
Union-saver. The Union must be saved by I'm
ion party-a party devoted to that one great pur-
pose--made up of true Americans, without regard
to local distinctions. That Union party is now in
the feld--under the quaint name of knownothngs
and is destined to absorb into itself all the Un-
ion-oving elements of all the old parties and fac
tions.
Black Republicanisrn at the North and Secession
ism at the South have made sad havoc with the
once vaunted Democracy, and left it but the mere
ghost of its former self Col. Weller and some Of
his associate politicians may not now see matters
exactly in this light but their mental vision will
become more acute the Presidential election
comes nearer. The Colonels pledges, in regard to
the position which California may assume, should
tbs Northern and Southern strife be carried to the
point of disintegratng the Union, have pungen-
cy and significance about them which we rather
like Here they are:
My constituents have no disposition to separate
from the Union. We will stand by you as long as
this government is administered upon just and con-
stiutional principles. But if the time should come
when domestic questions render it impossible for
you on this side of the continent to live peaceably
and quietly together, we of the Pacific will en-
deavor to form Republic of our own which shall
secure to us and our descendants the blessings Of
liberty"
Most devoutly do we hope that the contingency
contemplated by Col. Weller--a contingency in
our national affairs which may render it expedient
for the Pacific Coast to establish an independency
for itself-may never occur. There is something
so profoundly sacred in the mere idea of the Amer
lean Union, that, to u.s. it sounds like blasphemy
to speculate on its dissolution And yet, time
may arrive when the insane passions of our breth-
rem of the Atlantic Coast may compel us, of the
Pacific, to seek social salvation in an Independ
ent Western Republic But--De1s hGc tortaSse be-
nign0 Telucet IN Sedcm rice.