The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-06-27
Senator Hamlin's withdrawal from
the Democratic Party.
SPEECH pKLwKaxD IN THE uxrrrD srArrs
SENATE, THURSDAY, yrSr IL.


SENATE, THURSDAY, JrSr IL.
Mn. HAxLN.--Mr. President, rise for 9
purpose purely personal, such ~ I have new
or before risen for in the Senate. desir,
70 explain some matters personal 10 myself
and to my own future course in public life
SEVERAL SESAroRs.-Go on.
Mn. HAxLrS.-I ask the Senate 10 excuse
me from further service as Chairman Of the
committee on Commerce. do % bccaus,
I feel Tat my relations hereafter will be oil
such character as 20 render 10 proper that
should no longer hold that position.
owe this act 20 the dominant majority in the
Senate. When cease TO harmonic with
the majority, or tests are applied BY that
party with which have acted, to which !
cannot submit, l feel that ought no longer
to hold that responsible position. Ipropose
to state briefly the reasons which have
brought me TO that conclusion.
During nine years Of service in the Sem
ate have preferred rather 10 be working
man than talking member, and 50 | have
been almost q silent one. On the subjects
which have 20 much agitated the country,
Senator's know that / have rarely uttered a
word. love my country more than love
my party. l love my country above my
love for any interest that can too deeply az
itate or disturb its harmony. saw, in all
the exciting scenes and debates through
which we have passed, no particular good
that would result from my active intermingl-
ing in them. My heart has often been full,
and the impulses Of that heart has often
been felt upon my lips; but have rcprcss-
cd then there.
Sir, hold that the repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise was gross moral and political
wrong, unequalled in the annals Of the leg
islation Of this country, and hardly equalled
in the annals Of any other free country
Still, Sir, with desire to promote harmony
and concord and brothcrly feeling, was
quiet man under all the exciting debates
which led TO that fatal result. believed il
wrong then; can see that wrong lying
broadcast all around MS now. As wrong,
opposed that measure; not indeed by my
voice, but with consistent and steady, and
uniform votes. 50 resisted in obedience TO
the dictates Of my own Judgment. L did it
also cheerfully, in compliance with the in
structions Of the Legislature OF Maine, that
were passed by an almost unanimous vote.
In the House Of Representatives Of Maine,
consisting ofon hundred and ffty.one men,
ber. only six, l think, dissented; and in
the Senate, consisting Of thirty-one members,
only one non-concurred.
But the Missouri restriction was abrogat- |
cd. The pertentous evils that were predict
cd have followed and are yet following in its
train. Ii was done, sir, in violation OF the
pledges Of that party with which L have al
ways acted, and with which have always
voted. Ii was done in violation Of solemn
pledges OF the President the United States,
made in his inaugural address. Still, sir,
was disposed to suffer the wrong until
should see that no evil results were flowing
from IL. We were told by almost every Sem
ator who addressed US upon that occasion
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 ful6lment Of that
prediction, and | am grieved, sir, to say now
that they have at least been mistaken in
their predictions and promises. They have
all signally failed.
That Senators might have voted for that |
measure under the belief then expressed, |
and the predictions to which have alluded,
l can well understand. But how Senator's
can now defend that measure amid all its |
evils, which are overwhelming the land, IL |
not threatening il with confagration, Is |
what do not comprehend. The whole of
the disturbed state Of the country has Its
rise in and il attributable 10 that act alone |
nothing else. IL lies Mt the foundation of
all our misiortunes and connections. There
would have been no incursions by Missouri
borderers into Kansas, either to establish
slavery or control elections. There would
have been no necessity either for Others 10
have gvne there partially TO aid in keeping
the country in its then condition. Allwould
have been peace there. Had il not been
done, that repose and quiet which prevailed
the public mind then would hold it in tran
guilty to-day. Instead Of startling events,
we should have quiet and peace within our
borders, and that fraternal feeling which
ought TO animate the citizons Of every part
of the Union towards those Of other sec
tions.
Sir, the events which arc taking place
around US are indeed startling. They chal-
lenge the public mind and appeal TO the pub
lie Judgment; they thrill the public nerve
rs electricity imparts tremulous motion to
the telegraphic wire. IL Is q period when
oil good men should unite in applying the
proper remedy to secure peace and harmony
to the country. Is this 10 be done by any
Of US by remaining associated with those
who have been instrumental in producing
these results and who now justify them? /
do not see my duty lying in that direction.
l have, while temporarily acquiescing
stated here and at home, everywhere, uni
formly, that when the tests Of those meas
ures were applied to me as one Of party e.
deity, would sunder them as flax is sun
dered ut the touch Of fire. I do il now.
The occasion involves question Of moral
duty and self respect allows me no other
line Of duty but to follow the dictates Of my
own Judgment and the impulses Of my own
heart. A just man may cheerfully submit
TO many enforced humiliations, but self.
degraded man has ceased to be worthy to be
deemed man at all.
Sir, what has the recent Democratic Con-
yention ut Cincinnati donee IL has endors-
ed the MEASURE 1 hare condemned, and has
sanctioned ITS Destructive and rmaos ELECTS
Ii has done more, vastly more. That prin-
ciple or policy Of territorial sovereignty
which once had, and which 1 suppose now
has, its advocates within these walls, is
stricken down: and there is an absolute de-
NAL Of II in the resolution Of the Conven-
ton, IL ! can draw right conclusions-a de-
NAL equally 10 Congress and eren 10 The peo-
pie Of the Territories, ofhe righto settle The
question Of Siarery thercin. On the contra
~, the Convention has actually incorpont-
ed into the platform Of the Democratic Par
ty that doctrine which, only few years
ago, met nothing but ridicule and contempt,
here and elsewhere, namely, that the flag Of
the Federal Uaion, rader The Constellation 81
the Uaifed &ates, carries 2arery rhererr Il
floats. IL this baleful principle be true, ther
that national ode which inspires US always
- !. A...la GalI ahonld ha ~ ,rriAfar r..