Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-07-04
THIRTY FOURTH CoNGREss-Firs
Session,
IN SENATE.
THURSDAY, Juue l2, 1856.

| THURSDAY, Jute II, 1886.
Prayer by Rev. HENRY c. DEAN
The Journal of yesterday was read and
approved.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore ap-
pointed MIR FOSTER member of the
Committee on Public Lands in place of
Mr.. CLAYTON, who was on Monday ex-
cuscd from service on that committee.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Mr.. HAMLIN. Mr.. President. rise
for purpose purely personal, such as |
have never before risen for in the Senate.
desire to explain some matters personal
to myself and to my own future course
in public life
Several SENATORS. Go on.
Mr.. HAMLIN. | ask the Senate to
excus, me from further service as chair
man of the Committee. | do so because
| feel that my relations hereafter will be
of such a character as to render it proper
that should no longer hold that position.
| owe this act to the dominant majority
in the Senate. When | cease to harmo-
nizc with the majority. or tests are ap-
piled by that party withwhich l have ae-
ted to which cannot submit, feel that
| ought no longer to hold that respccta-
Die position. propose to state briefly
the reasons which have brought me to
that conclusion.
Duling nine years of service in the
Senate | have preferred rather to be a
working than & talking member, and so |
have been almost silent one. On the
subjects which have 50 much agitated the
country, Senators know that have rare
ly uttered word. Hove my country,
more than / love my patty. l love my
country above my love for any interest
that can too deeply agitatc 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 informing
ling in them. Ny heart has often been
full. and the impulses Of that heart have
often been felt upon my lips, but | have
rcprcssed them there.
Sir, hold that the repeal of the Mis-
souri, compromise was gross moral and
| political wrong, uncqualed III the annals
of the legislation of this country, and
hardly cqualcd in the annals of any 9th
er free country. Still, sir, with 4 desire
to promote harmony and concord and
brothcrly feeling, was quiet man un-
. der all the exciting debates which led to
that fatal result. believed it wrong
then; can see that wrong lying broad
cast all around us now. As a wrong |
opposed that measurc-not indeed by
my voice. but with consistent and steady
and uniform votes. so resisted it in
obedience to the dictates of my own
Judgment. Ibid it also chcertully. in
compliance with the instructions Of the
; Legislature of Maine, which were passed
by vote almost unanimous. In the
House of Representatives OF Maine, con-
sisting of one hundred and tiity-onc
members. only six, think, dissented E;
and in the Senate, consisting of thirty
one members, only one member non-oe-
Cured.
But the Missouri restriction was abro-
gated. The portcntous evils that were
prcdictcd have followed, and are yet fol-
lowing, along in its train. 1t was done,
sir. in violation of the pledges of that
partv with which | have always acted,
and with which have always voted. It
= was done in violation of solemn pledges
of the President of the United States,
made in his inaugural address,. Still, sir
| was disposed to suffer the wrong, un-
til | should see that no evil results were
= Aowin. from it. We were told by al
t most every Senator who addressed us up
on that occasion that no evil results
would follow that no practical differ
encc in the settlement of the country
e and the character of the future State
would take place, whether the act were
, done or not. have waited calmly ant
patiently to see the fulfilment of tina
prediction, and | am grieved, sir, to say
now, that they have at least been mlstak
e en- in their predictions and promises
4 They all have signally failed.
That Senators might have voted to
that measure under the belief then ex
nressed and the predictions to which
i have alluded, | can well understand. Blu
: how Senators can now defend that meas
: ure amid all its evils, which are over
whclming the land, if not threatening i
with a conhagration, is what l do no
comprehend. The whole Of the disturb
It ed state of the country has its rise in, ant
: is attributable to, that act alone-noth