The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-09-09
CONGRESSIONAL
SPEECH or non, SAMUEL ) MARSHALL,
on ILLlN0Is,


On the insanity Of tho times aud the present cohditon Of
political parties delivered In the House OF Represents
tives August 6, 1856
The House beng il the Committee Of the Whole on the
state of the Union- ..a.....s ..r .l.. ..v..s.
Mr.. MARSHALL of Illinois, said ...'.r q .tLnl
Mr. CHAIaAAE II is with much reluctance that engage
in discussions here not pertaining TO the bnsaess mmed
ately before the House Without that position reppta
ton which would command the ear Of the House or the
country, shrink with natural tmidy FROM comparison
with the older and aber champions OF popular rights on
this floor As mere individual should feel it my duty
TO remain SILENT but represenpg as do people every
pusaton Of whose hearts beats with love and venerauon
for this Union and for the constitution OF our connty
feel that IN this momentous crisis they have right 70 be
heard through their Representatives Speaking then as
do not for but for more than one hundred
free citizens Of this great republic SHALL with some conf
dence claim The Indulgence cf The House Tor very snort
time ,, II, + T.,
Mr. Chairman strange and unaccountable madness has
seized upon the public mind TO cay that country Is
now in Imminent peril sony to give Ltterance TO the pain
f feeling which tervades every heart Msrue has graft
ed her empire in our very midst and anarchy is ihhaing
the vital elements Of her existehce ,t yi,,,l,l, i
We have indeed fallen upon strange times The scenes
daily around usportend thai We
wards the abyss Of anarchy disunon and civil war with
all their dreadful evils It is surely time for sto awaken
To the dangers that surround u.s. time for every c
zen who has spart Of patriotism left 70 pause In this
mad struggle for party and sacrificing all bis preadces on
the altar Of his country take his stand by and boldly
make battle for, the constitution and lhe UnioE.
~ ~
rnst too bindy in the strength Of the bond that binds
us together II has been hawked at and fed With long
enough When We remember that Grsece with gil hsr
and free Institutions lives only in the page of history
and that Romes proud eagles have long since been hum
bled in the dust should not trust with too much con
dence in the strength and perpetuy Of our own match
Lees republic .,..., t,,.. j., mai, ,-n
am one of those sir who believe that there is super
Intending Providence that guides and directs the destnies
of nations. No one who has rad the history Of our
revolutionary struggle doubt that the Almighty raised
up the great Of that day for the special purpose OF
giving independence and freedom TO this great continent
We have indeed been the peculiar fayores of Heaven
and have had dayrby day. unnumbered blessings show
cred upon u.s. u Is equally certain that there ere tunes ~
becomes weary of mans constant procyiy TO wickedness
and folly and, Withdrawing His protecting care leaves
that inevitable destruction which must follow the
dictates Of our passions and the prsmppgs q our
own unguided reason. ,,.. ., ,..,. .....- ,,B'
The history of Gods own chosen people who, migrate
full stubborn and rebeiou finally abandoned to the
desoation and destruction resulting from their mad
and folly the Wild fanatcism OF the Iusades 10 the
prosecution Of which death and desoation in all their hor
FORMS swept the uord and the plains of Europe
and Asia whtsned with the bones Of millions OF hu
beings the horrors OF the French revolution when
indeiy took possession of the pulpit irrSon enhroned
itself the domestic altar all that venerable and
sacred in the past uprooed and destroyed and by
awful farce the Bible itself publicly condemned and
burnt God dehroncd and the goddess Of reason subs-
tnted obe of their devoon until AT last the
demons of the Internal regions seemed to be turned loose
misery and wretchedness spread their dark wings
out the land murder unrebuked shook his CORY locks
through all the streets and highways and human bntchey
became the daily Of the rulers and the pastme
of the people; all these familiar but not singular iius
traons Of the truth that man. gut Loose from the guidance
OF Providence and the venerable and sacred teachings OF
the past and relying upon his own unaded reason ever
rusbes With fearful precipitation to madness and ruin
These pefectisus oil Chairman should by means be
considered inappos look tbe eoadi of eoun
ty and the present state fhs ppbe mind the whole
history Of the human race no parallel can be found to the
present material prosperity OF the American people and
/ intoxicated with abundafce al
mos the Of putting the knete each others troats
We claim 10 be the fst people esrthaauh yet we are
sckenipg the hearts Of the friends Of freedom throughout
the world by our npnatura and suicidal aparrelsy We
believe ourselves 10 be the most intelligent and enlightened
people that the sun shines and within the past few
years theres no eAy 50 greatDo theory In elgou NOR
ais politics wild and visionary that IL will NOT hnd
numerous and jealous advobates among people g9m9
Emiook arouhdyou, sir and sec the new aud exraoff
nary foes thai rife in the land. Fulpiis de-
voted to the sui vaon of immortal souls and preaching
peaeer earth and good viii men, have beeoni
srseps fur the boilsctona of tho bloody OF
dealhf and forums from which by noenhary bafanga
treason and reelhoh are urged sacred duty upon ex
cited and misguided citiR ProfessSa ministers from
the court OF Heaven have by thousands abandoned tho d
ties Of their sacred calling and bringing sad Disgrace
uponho church. dragging their robes in the dirty pool
OF political strife and now, with kind OF solemn mock
cry by scores with tbri biabk and white
2a filing seats occupied by patriots and statesmen
oln aoquntry where 1t was fondly hoped that the ada
rous eoupexion of Church and nte with its dread train
Of e1s had been severed oreve arrogant and boaed
priesthood has boldly attempted usurp the reins of gov
ernhent and assuming 10 speak by authority from Heaven
spd in the ofAlmighty GodP 10 dictate tho action
| Of an American Congress- Thousands who are living In
the daily enjoyment Of the blessings Of mHtchless gov
sruneDt because IL gives sanction TO their wild and
crazy theories Inadly the constitution and the
Union "a with death and agreement with
hell,r and that they will longer TO "a
Union with shareholders With nagnity that can
eeive it's inspiration only from the father Of evil they
duce the patriots of the revolution and with their nito
rots feet rualy anpe the graves Of Washington ana
his cpmparo And because the Bible neither denouces
sigporcs the ustutons OF fifteen States 81 tins Union
these modern Solorons have discovered higher law than
the constitution the word of God and uady url their
horrible anaihemss in tho very of Heaven The ga
cred institution of MARRIAGE without which home would
be deprived AL its endearu.ns and society return
barbnrism Is boldly and publicly denounced and free
love- reormers have become the allies and fit companions
oi abolition soeties and spirit-rapping conventices
In this once free and happy country before the last lin
Reg spirit Of 76 in gathered TO the home Of his fathers
and almost before the warning voice Of Washington has
died npon the fundamental principles of
stuonthe very principles which have heretofore been
our moudest boast-the right OF sefgovernrneht-t
right Of every 70 worship God according 70 the die
ates Of his oonsceuco without olesation or hin
drnnee from his fellow man-and the solemn declaration OF
dons tuop that mo religious teat shall ever be re-
q1ited qualification any Office public trust under
the United Statos boast that Is the homo Of the
exile and the asylum Of the oppressed these have been
with to the bgotry the selashness the madness
and folly Of the darkest page of the history of the world
Here where every the right and IL ought to be
his ptide TO walk forth in the light Of day and boldly
speak his sentiments freeman hundreds of thousands
/ Of all fave