Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-06-19
THURSDAY, June ID, 1856.
IN SENATE

Mr.. HAMLIN. Nr. President, | rise for a
purpose purely personal. such as have never
before risen for in the Senate. | desire to
explain some matters personal TO myself al
to my own future course in public life.
Several SENATORS. Go on.
Mr.. HAMLIN. | ask the Senate to excuse
me from further service as chairman of the
Committee On Commerce. do so because
feel that my relations hereafter will be Of
such character as to render it proper that
! should no longer hold tht position. ]
owe this act to the dominant majority in the
Senate. When l cease to harmonize with
the majority, or tests are applied by that
party with which | have acted to which
cannot submit, feel that ought no longer
to hold that responsible position | propose
to state briefly the reasons which have
brought me to that conclusion.
During nine years of service in the Sen
ate have preferred rather to be a working
than talking member, and so have been
am ost silent one. On the subjects which
have so much agita:ed the country Senator $
know that have rarely uttered word
love my country more than love nv party
| love my country abuve my love for any
interest that can too deeply agitate or dis
turb its harmony. saw in all the exc ting
scenes and debates through which we ha We
passed no particular good that would result
from my active intermingling in them. NV
heart has often been full and the impulses
of that heart have often been felt upon my
liPS but have repressed them there.
Sir, | hold that the repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise was gross moral and political
wrong, uncqualled in the annals oil the legis-
lation of this country, and hardly equalled
in the cannas of any other free country -
Still, sir, with desire TO promote harmony
and concord and brotherly feeling, was
quiet man under all the exciting debates
which led to that fatal result. believed it
wrong then: can see that wrong lying
broadcast all around US now. AS a wrong
| opposed that measure; not indeed by my
voice, but with consistent and ste lGy and
uniform votes. | SO resisted it in obedience
to the dictates of my own judgment ! did
i: also cheerfnlly, in compliance with the
instructions of the Legislature of Maine
which were passed by vote almost unan-
nous. In the House of Representatives o
Maine, consisting of one hundred and fiftv-
enc members, only six, think, dissented; !;
and IN the Senate, consisting Of thirty one
members, anly one member non -concurred.
But the Missouri restriction was abroeat-
ed. The portentous evils that were predict
ed have followed and are ye: following along
in its train. 1t was done, sir, in violation
OF the pledges Of that party with which I
have always acted and with which | have
always voted. 1t was done in violation of
solemn pledges of the President of the U.
States, made in his inaugural address. Still
sir, was disposed to suffer the wrong until
| should see that no evil results were flow
ing from it. We were told by almost every
Senator 7 no addressed us upon that occa-
sion that no evil results would follow; that
no practical difference in the settlement of
the country and the character of the future
State would take place, whether the act
were done or not. have waited calmly
and patiently to see the fulflment of that
prediction; and am grievcd, sir, to say now
that they have at least been mistaken in
their predictions and promises. They have
all sgnally failed.
That Senators might have voted for that
measure under the belief then expressed,
and the predictions to which have alluded,
can well understand. But how Senators
can now defend that measure amid all it's