The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-17


of harm by any such denunciation as this. l
am perfectly willing to take it but, sir, stand
ing here as representative of our native
State-his and mine together will not have
hlm hurl such an imputation as that, unchal-
lenged or unrebuked.
de 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 national sins,
and for 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 with dignity the office of
President of the United States. / deny the is
sue; hurl it back into his face; tell him,
when he undertakes to designate these men as
enemies of the Constitution, he abuses and de-
flames 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 a message as this to me, or
to a body of which am a 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
all know whom he includes in this phrase
are to have another contest with its friends,
there cannot be q better one. Grant it, sir
let us have it. ] tell him that this is the very
place where the fight is to be made. This part
part of his message, stripped of its verbiage,
means this: II, by the illegal violence of the
men who have have gone over into Kan sas and
undertaken to establish Slavery there, they
shall come here and ask for admission into the
Union with slave Constitution, and Kansas
will be rejected the President tells US that is
the most favorable aspect in which that ques-
ton can be presented. That will be the issue !;
and if it be decided against Slavery, we are
threatened with civil war;
Sir, | am not man OF war; but when ! have
heard it threatened so often | have some
times wished that God in his providence would
let it come. If it had no other effect. | think
it would have one. think it would learn those
men who are constantly talking about the disco
luton Of the Union, a lesson which neither they
nor their childrens children would ever forget.
| am not certain that | should not want the war
to come on while we have about ust such
President as We have now; and [ will tell you
why. If the attempt at disunion were made
with such n man a. General Jackson, or Gen
eral Taylor, in the Presidential chair, and it
were repressed promptly, as it would be, people
would say, "Oh, it was his great military
power, his reputation his popularity, which did
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
inherent energy, and from no Fictitious power
which it would acquire from the overshadOwing
popularity of the President.
Sir. when the President undertakes to stig-
Matte, as he has done, those who differ from
him, he steps beyond what he has right to
do; he steps over the mark; he violates the
laws, which, think, should govern the inter
course between the different members of this
Government. When he denounces as enemies
to the Constitution those who differ from him, |
think it proper to meet him in this way, and to
take issue with him. Does the President think
that upon this issue he eaa 60 before the coun-
try? Does he think that he stands in place
where it is safe or prudent for him TO denounce
as inimical to the Constitution views which are
entertained by vast majority of the people of
this country?
If he is SAFE it is his obscurity, and nothing
else, that shields hint is the utter hopeless
of his position. Sir, / heard a very in
structive comment made upon his message by
Southern gentleman within very brief time
"Oh, said he, sit is one of the best messages
that was written, and Pierce is the best
President we have ever had since Washington"
"Wen, said the person to whom he was speak
ing, "you will renominate him, will you not?"
" No." 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 exactly the position in which the matter
stands.
do not wish, sir to go any further into this
matter. Ii the views which have entertained
are received by the Senate and country, as |
suppose they will be, and no controversy be
made, shall have nothing more to say about
1T but If, on the other hand, my views shall be
controverted, | may take the occasion at some
future day to go somewhat at length into the
various topics which the President has suggest
ed But, sir, when he sent such a message as
this, and when the only comments that were
made on 1T were commendatory--not commend
atory of this part, | know, but commendatory
of the nonsense with which it is filled about
Central America, and no man had word of
rebuke not even my excellent and worthy
friend from New York, Mr.. Seward) to utter at
the atrocious sentiments to which have allu-
ded-l felt compelled by a sense of duty. with
great reluctance, to lay before the Senate the
views which have entertained. Having done
so, withdraw the motion.
PENNSYLVANIA SEYAToR.--H drrisJurq Jam
ll.-Ex-Goveraor Bgler, Democrat, was today
elected United States Senator from this State
by the Legislature assembled here in Joint con-
vention. he received 50 votes. The balance
were scattering.
| KANsAs.-The Free State Convention of
Kansas, held at Lawrence on the 22d ultmo
nominated the following State ticket: for Gov
ernor, Charles Robinson; for Lieutenant Gov
ernor, w. Y. Roberts; for Congress, NJ. w. De-
lahay; for Secretary of State, p. C. Schingler;
for Auditor of State, q. A. Cutler; for Treasu-
rer of State, G. A. Wakefield; for Supreme
Judges, S. NJ. Latta, NJ. F. Conway, Morris
| Hunt; for Clerk of the Supreme Court, j. ID.
| Floyd; for Reporter of the Supreme Court
| - Thurston; for State Printer, - Speer
| According to the st. Louis Democrat, the can
didate for Governor is a Republican, and for
| Congress, a National Democrat. OF the others,
four are Democrats, four Republicans, and two
| Wings. Robinson was nominated for Governor
| by vote of 50 to % for Colonel Lane The
election is to take place on the third Tuesday
| Of this month.
SEVEN DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE.
| New York, JAM l3.-The steamer Atlantic
arrived at her wharf ut three o'clock this after
| h., A. I