The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-18
SPEECH OF HON. RUSSELL SAGE.
OF NEW YORk,


On the Professions and Acts of the President Of
the United States, the Repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise, the Outrages in Kansas, and the
Sectional Influence and Aggressions Of the
Slave Power.
Drred in The Ho'1se Of Rprs.aip,ire, AususfG. $50
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: When took my seat ere in
December, 1883, found n new Administration
in power, having been elected by one OF the
largest popular votes given TO any previous
one. 1t had over wO-thrdS of its friends i'm
the Senate and in this House 1t received this
power by professions and pledges OF adherence To
the compromises Of the past, and opposition To
the agitation of the question Of Slavery in the
future. The country was in an unprecedented
state of prosperity. Our foreign and domestic
affairs were Of the most pacific character: but
IN less than two months a change commenced
ana instead OF peace and quict reigning, as had
been promised the irc-brand of Slavery and sec
tonalism was introduced into the Senate Of the
United States by the Senator from Illinois, MIR.
DoUGLAs and the unfortunate bitter aud sec
Onal results that have followed it, is the subject
which propose to discuss during the time allot-
ted TO me this evening, in the following order.
namely:
IT'S CAUSES.-lrS oBJECrS.-Irs RESULTs.-ITs IN
FLUENCE AND REMEDY.
First, its cause was owing to the departure from
the professions and pledges made prior 10 and
at the commencement of the present Administra-
ton. 1t is historical fact, that during the long
aud exciting session Of the Congress Of 1880
certain Senators and Representatives, then in
Congress, got up Congressional pledge, for the
purpose OF forever stopping the agitation OF the
subject OF Slavery and of saving the Union, and
that the present Administration came into power
on the professions aud pledge OF adherence to
and support of this Congressional pledge and the
reaffze me t4i.1
professions and pledges beg to read this mem
orable document, that the country may Judge of
the difference between professions and acts:
Declaration, q,,d Plsdes
The Undersigned members OF the Thirty drSt CON.
ere>s of the United states believing that renewal %
sectional controversy upon the subject of Slavery would
and seein no mode by which such co,iroy, 80 CO.
avoided, except by strict adherence the settlement
session OF Corgrrss do hereby drrinrl i iU, -
maintain the same settlement inviOlaIc to Iesist al
attempts alter the aforesaid unless by gen
of friends OF the measure and To remedy
suCh evils, II any, aud rAprrcuce may develop
And for The purpose Of making this resolution effective
they further declare that they will support for the ofr,
Of President or Vice President Senator or OF Repre-
sentative IN Congress. member OF a State IcsiSla
ture, any man. Of whatever parry who not known To
be opposed the disturbance the sentiment aforesaid
and To Tie renewal IN amy form, OF agitation upon the
subject OF Slavery hereafter.
Henry Clay Howell Cobb,
G. =. MOrehead, II. = Foot
Roheu L" Rose, William nuer.
William {. Dawson, James kFOok-,
Thoua Iiu-h, a a. stephens.
Jeremiah Clemens, 4 'room6s,
James Cooper, n. l.. Grnlry.
Thomas q. Pratt II W. Iiiliaul
William VI. ttv,n, 4. e.. Mclean
~aaua A Elliot. \ g. Watkins,
David Ou'law. IL A lsuilsrd
&. a. Williams, a. :. Hammond
A L. >chrunc morn, Edmund DO
John Il Thurman, -. Mars, all
- a BOher. Daniel Brock
George X Andrews. Ja.ues ]. Johnson.
w. = Mangun. 4 Y Thompson
Jeremiah Mofloh J. VI. Anderson,
X J. EoNie, John Il Kerr.
r.. G Calell, J. r. Caldwell
AleNaHdcG fsNaus, Allen 4. Owen
Now, sir, remember the distinguished men who
signed 1t, the phraseology used, and the warn
ing made in it That reaecdt Of sectional coatro-
Dery upon lie subject Of Sidcery ,roud be both dan
geroHS 10 the JHon and destructive TO s objects " and
yet, Mr. Chairman, before the short space of four
years has elapsed, some of the very men who
had signed this celebrated pledge were open and
violent in denouncing the North, and urging the
passage of the Kansas and Nebraska bill, repeal
ing the Missouri; Compromise Act
But, sir, before / speak more specifically re-
spccting the repeal Of this time-honored act, |
wish to call attention to the declaration Of the
President OF tho United States As contained in
his first annual message to Congress, in Deem
her, 1853, in which he says:
1t part of my purpose give prominence 10 any
subj which may properly be rrgarlrd a. sci nj resi- by
the dcibe judgment the people ilut yvh. lbs.
bright with promise, aud tho failure fI of de
nand ana nducement for the cNcstISe active iuell-
grnce, the past be iisou, useful lessons of adj
monitOn aud instruction. b Us dangers serve not A.
beacons they will evi.ay ia! fulfil the object OF
design Wtsa me ShnH al trAo
are nor 'asO'"g 70 mat The obligations Of y the Bsar
$50 ggii BE- REQUIRED % period Md aHriou an,
pJsh,HSioH. aoeS.,! had Just terminated p-nr,
brought with n vast augmentation of territory disturb
queSiios bearing upon the siutons
OF FOTuon Of the Comcdercy involving the constt
uonal rights OF the States But Notwithstanding differ
Of opinion and sentiment which then existed I'm
lh-
cence Of distinguished citIzens, whose devotion TO the
Union be doubted has .tyen rrtr,rd vior d,
institutions. and restored srnsr OF repoSe and So
curly to the public NINA throughout the Conied-rsry
cTAL TERN N HAVE POWER a. rusE VINO PIAcsp
ME HERF Nay BE ASStEED. THERE u NO CONDEMNATION
NvHl.lt tIF VOICE or FRrEDoN vrII Nor pso>nr>, ,
IS, slioIID WE PROVE EAsTILSsS IRU>T."
oh sir if these patriotic declarations had been
adhered to- how much of bitter sectionalism
would have been averted how many peaceful
and happy homes would have been saved how
much OF human suffering prevented and, Oh
sir, how many precious lives would have been
saved But, alas truth compels me TO declare.
that it was but deceptive deciaration-a figure
of rhetoric.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, having shown what the
professions of the leading men of the South were
and the present Administration in particular |
proceed to consider the CAUSES which have led
to the present deplorable state of things threugb-
out the length and breadth of the country: and
charge that 1t is owing to the violation of the
declarations aud pledges to which have refer
red in the re-opening of the Slavery agitation in
1881, by the repeal of the time honored comnact
known as the Missouri Compromise Aet.n from
which all OF the present domestic troubles have
arisen, and bas wel-nigh seriously strained the
stability OF the Union.
In January, 1854, a bill was introduced into the
United States Senate by the Senator from Illinois,
MIR. DOUGLAS, providing for the organization of
SEE FOURTH PAGE.l