The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-13

personal or political, of any sort, and he knows
it. We yielding, and he knows it. We have
yielded. We have seen the power Of this Gov
ernment for the last fifty years, exerted with an
almost single aim and purpose, to extend, foster,
perpetuate, strengthen and render eternal, the
institution of Human Slavery. We il in the
annexation of Texas-avowedly so by the Secre-
tary of State. For what else was the Missouri
Compromise stricken down? And yet the Sena-
tor speaks of Northern aggression, if we had
been making war.
Sir, the doctrine which has been proclaimed
by the men about whom l know anything, en-
gagged in the Anti-Slavery enterprise of the
North, has always been, that they disclaimed
and denied utterly the purpose. the DESIRE or the
power, to interfere with Slavery in any State
where it exists. They never proclaimed any
such thing, and it cannot be found. The most
ultra of them, in the first national meeting they
ever held a Convention, utterly disclaimed it.
The gentleman speaks of some times past, and
of some gone by. | do not know that the
era has gone by when the North is to be driven.
| do not know whether the honorable Senator
thinks that Senators on this floor, representing
the views of their constituents, to be silenced
by such personal assaults as have been made on
the Senator from Massachusetts, Mr.. WILSON.
| can tell the Senator from Massachusetts not to
be alarmed. have experienced it ALL and more.
His colleague, my honorable friend, Mr.. SUN
man whose character conferred more honor on
the Senate than the Senate on him, by taking his
seat in the body. He did not escape it. No man
has come TO the atmosphere of Washington
and who has brought with him anything of 6del-
ity to his Northern constituency, who has not
found all such influences as these brought to
bear to crush and break him down. Well, sir,
this attempt may succeed and it may not. / can
pardon great deal to gentlemen thinking il may
succeed, because | know that in the history of
the past it has succeeded and therefore they
may be encouraged to make these demonstra-
tons.
| Now, sir, confess that have not bee.n favor
| ably impressed by this inauguration Of the new
eloquential era in the Senate for the Senator
from Tennessee closed his speech with the illus
| trious figure of the bowie-knife: and he threat
ems that we shall have war to the knife. and the
knife to the hilt. Sir, Puritan blood has not al
ways shrank from even those encounters. and
| when the war has been proclaimed with the
knife, and the knife 70 the hilt the steel has
sometimes glstened in their hands; and. when
| the battle was over. theJ were not ALWAYS found
second best. | confess / am sorry to see such
| things introduced here. ! had hoped after such
peaceful Inauguration of this speech, after sucb
pious procamations Of the elevated tone with
which this discussion to be carried ON. il
| would not end with a war to the hilI of the
bowie-knife but, sir, | am mistaken - tastes
| differ
Now let me state, ell that we ask, all that we
desire, all that We claim is this: If YOU like Sla
very, keep it nobody finds any fault with Won
Tor doing so. We disclam any purpose, any
wish, to interfere with it in the States; and what
ever the Senator may say defy him defy any
man with whom have ever come in intercourse
In the Senate, or in the other House. or in social
lite-to say that have allowed myself IN use
an opprobTious or insulting epithet nav. more
an eplthet calculated, CT designed or intended To-
wound, or injure, OF hurt any mans feelings.
God knows have had too bitter experience in
my own history of such attempts to return them.
even to the humblest of my species. No. sir /
have done nothing of that sort. What do we de-
sire We desire, as | understand Southern gen
temen to profess, hands off" They saw the
General Government has no Jurisdiction over
Slavery. Agreed that is all we wan. When
you passed your Kansas BILL you claimed that II
was to be LETT to the unbiased voice of the free
settlers. We were willing 10 have il so but tls
complaint Is, that we have not had that And
the Senator adIAits, if / understand him. that
wrong he1 been done there but it is justified as
measure OF retaliation on the Emigrant Aid So
eletes The Senator says this is the i.rst time
ne ever heard OF those sOcIeIIes. Well sir il ia
not the hrst timo ever heard of them. If have
reao history Alright, there were Emigrant Aid So.
caetos got up in England, 10 colombo VIRGINIA
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee. | said In the United
States.
Mr. HALE. Well SIR, Virginia is in the United
states. Laughter. Virginia was settled by En-
lgrant AID Societies, and so were most of these
Colonies. This Emigrant Aid Society, if under
stand 1t, was got up before the passage of the
Nausea BILL Again The Senator asked Why
'nIs alarm about the border ruffians2 Sir, the
alarm is because we believe the power of the
feaeral Government has been arrayed on their
SIDE. think the order of the Secretary of Wa
TO which the Senator from Massachusetts alluded
was justly obnoxious 10 Ihe very censure with
whlch ne visited 1t and that is that while il in
structed the csscer commanding the troops of the
United states to put down aay insurreetion IL
Gid not say word about repelling invasion
The Senator eRdeavOrs 10 get around this point
by saying that was in the proclamation bur.
while 1t was IN the instructions of the officer 10
put down instruction, there was a silence ;nous
invasion; and therefore | say the document il
Justly obnoxious to all the censuso which the,
honorable Senator from Nassachaaetts put ON il !,
and n great deal more, whicb please God. | will
endeavor to administer when the occasion comes
The Free State men Of Kansas Territory appealed
to the president, and asked for protection and
what does ne tell them in response He tells
them that he sends officers there to put them
down If they are guilty of Instruction. That is
it.
am not disposed to 90 into this matter now.
nave not time to go into it Mt present. / have
said thus much, simply because there was per
sonai appeal made TO me by the honorable Sena-
Tor AT suitable time-and in regard to that
snail be governed very much by the opinions of
the Senate propose to address myself to this
SUBJECT and | viii endeavOr TO meet, if in my
power IS well as can, some OF the assumptions
that have been made. believe il is a great
issue and rejoice To agree entirely and totally
with the assertion with which the honorable Sem
ator from Tennessee started, that we had thinps
at home which We should attend to before going
TO look after England and Central America Sir
we had better look to the centre of the United
States than to the centre of Europe, or of spv
other country on Gods earth. In that sentiment
OF the Senator entirely agree but as the usuaI
hour for the adjournment Of the Sonata has o.
rived, and as am not prepared to 20 on now.
move to postpone the further consideration oe
this subject until Thursday next
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY IS ls5G-
Mr.. HALE. Mr. PRESIDE. 7 shall or,.. -
the discussion of this subject-wbicb beI;oU 1Pon
be an important one-not so much for the 49,. ~
oil replying to the honorable Senator from T.
nessee, Mr. JONES, as TO meet a CHALLENGE which
mas been thrown down from another onsr,er
may say few words in reference 10 one or two
OF the positions of the Senator from Tennessee
In the course of the remarks which shall spb'
mt 10 the Senate but in regard TO all that
wnich was personal, nights reflection has salts
ned me mat had better not reply TO il. / have
no uouot 'ne senator feels more grieved at Il than
10 nut will not say word about IL
not even ask leave Of the Senate to print prin-
.narks upon that point | only ask leave us OF
II understood that, if ! chose to reply to hem
those remarks, might very well do so, if NJ.