Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-01-17
REMARKS OF MR.. BOYCE.
IN q. s. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IA
uApyd 1S56

honorable Sentlemau Irom New ioih \Hai'
Simmons) made an allusion to opinions ex.
pressed by me, with reference to the continu.
ance the Union. Ibid notthink itproper at
that time to interrupt the House with any re-
marks of my own, for I did not desire to pre-
sent even the apparent semblance of wishing
to influence the House in their choice for
Speaker, under the resolution then before the
House. That state of things being entirely
removed, feel at liberty now, very briefly,
to express my position upon the point refer
red to by the gentleman from New York.
1t is true, Mr.. Clerk, that ! have had, and
I still have, the most melancholy foreboding
as to the future of our country. Ihave thought
and I still think, and I have expressed the
opinion, and still express the opinion, that
there are circumstances at work which are
hurrying US almost irresistibly to disruption.
Why do think this? Because, in my opin-
ion-and I speak not as party man [ speak
from the honest convictions of my heart, with
entire candor, and not with the purpose of
influencing any measure or any party-because
I think that there is spirit at the North, a
public opinion growing up, hostile to the inst-
tutions of the South, that is inconsistent with
the continuance of the Union. The Constitu-
ton, if understand it correctly, was the re-
suit of compromise between the North and the
South upon the subject of slavery it was the
result. of spirit of Cancellation and fraternal
concord. The great men of the North at that
day-your Hamiltons, your Jays, your Living
stons, and your Franklips-were willing to
sink sentiment in obtaining great good
That great good they considered the formation
of the Federal Union; and to obtain that,
they placed in allegiance their sentiment of
hostility to the institution Of slavery.
I consider, first, that at the time of the adop-
ton of the Constitution, there was no objec-
ton to the admission of slave States. Why?
Because nearly all of the States of the Confed-
eracy were slave States, and no man at the
North then objected to the admission of slave
States into the Union. Further: the Consti-
tuition adopted by the great men Of the North
in concert with the great men of the South OF
that day, in various particulars recognizes and
acknowledges slavery. 1t does this in that
clause which provides for the apportionment of
representation to the House of Representatives;
it recognizes slavery in that clause which pro-
vides for the apportionment of direct taxation;
it recognizes slavery in that clause which pro-
vides that the Federal Government shall pre-
serve every State from domestic violence; that
clause which provides for the extradtion of
fugitive slaves also recognizes slavery, and rc-
cognizes it pro hac vice in free State. And
further that clause of the Constitution which
provides that the African slave trade shall
continue open for twenty years, recognizes
slavery in its most striking form.
I say then, that the Federal Constitution
was the result of spirit of compromise be-
tween the men of the North and the men of
the South on the subject of slavery. With
out that spirit of compromise and concession
and concord and harmony, the Constitution
would never have been formed and the Union
would never have existed. Well, it strikes
me as illogical conclusion, that the Union can
only be preserved by the continuance Of that
same spirit of concord and harmony and COM
promise and fraternal concession on the part of
the North 1t has, therefore, been with the
most profound regret as a lover ofmy country,
that have seen at the North the formation of
great party, based upon the single idea Of
hostility to the institutions Of the South. The
only question with me, then, as to the con-
tinuance of the Union is, whether that party
will take possession of the North. If they do,
in my opinion the Union is at an end. Well,
will that party take possession of the North ?
say, and say it with the profoundest regret,
that think it will-not to-day, perhaps, nor
tomorrow, nor the next day; but that the ted
dency of things is such that it will ultimately
take possession of the North, I entertain but
little doubt. Well, what is that party pledged
to? The great leading idea of that party is,
that freedom is national, and that slavery is
sectional That party, then, are obliged, if
they come into power, as is recommended in
the resolutions of the State of Maine, present
ed to the Senate yesterday, to abolish slavery
in the District of Columbia, and to prohibit it
in all the Territories, arsenals, and dock-yards
in the United States. Well, then, it seems to
me that if that party comes into power pledg-
ed to those measures, we shall be in the midst
of chaos sand anarchy and revolution. But do |
desire this No, God forbid that should. lwish
to sec my country peaceful and happy. wishto
see my country going forward in its great his
torical career, making its mark upon the pages
l..