The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-02-17

: SPEECH
HON. EDMUND q. FAIRFIELp.
OF HlLLSDALE

| Representatives m
Delivered January cath, 1857. = Z
Mr.. President:-
There are many topics of interest to bt
presented to our consideration during the rem
nant Of this brief session of forty days; but
among them all, there is none in which on,
constituents, or the nation, or we ourselves
have occasion to feel deeper and intense in.
terest, than in that which is suggested in
these resolutions.
We are citizens of Michigan, but we arc
also citizens Of that wider country, which we
call the Union. We feel a special interest in
that which pertains to our own state, but it
is none the less part Of our concern, as far
as n ns 81 lies TtS heo that the Renhi" 20
These resolutions bring before us the great
theme which stirs tho American heart as
none other ever stirs it. There is no other
word which falls upon the American ear with
such thrill as that word, LIBERTY.
And if, rs nation, We have a mission to
fulfill, that mission is to guard with sleep
less vigilance Liberty's sacred altar-that the
fires may never grow dim, nor the holy in
cense ever cease to rise Such vigilance is
liberty's cost, and whoever would enjoy the
boon, must pay the price.
For Libertys sake was this nation bon.-
For Liberty's sake We drew the sword against
fearful odds, and gave our banner to the
breeze with the self-evdent truths Of the i'm
mortal Declaration inscribed upon it. For
Liberty's sake, and the Nations, the God of
Heaven fought our battles for us, giving
neither the race to the swift, nor the battle
to the strong.
But many man, sir, has bravcd the dan
gers of the battle field. and come forth from
them unscathed and crowned with laurels
only to die by some insidious disease that
was creeping stealthily upon him, and Of
whose deadly approach he had but little pre-
monition. And many a nation has secured
its independence in contest with foreign
foe, only to fall under the power Of a lurking
foe within. The war for Liberty with us has
not yet ended; nor will it, while slavery lives
TO devise its internal Vaccinations, and to
seek for wider and still wider conquests.
Mr.. President, as part of this great peo-
pie, what is it our luty to do in the momen-
tous issue which is urged upon us? Some
would counsel "masterly inactivity But
of that we have surely had enough. And
by what means are we to check the encroach-
ments of slavery, and effec,ually curtail its
power! is the question which returns upon
us. TINS Is THE GREAT AMERICAN QUESTION.
And in reference to it we remember the
words Of Washington, written long time
ago, in letter to Robert Moris-"I can on
ly say, that there is not man living, who
wishes more sincerely than / do, to SEQ
plan adopted for the abolition of it, (slavery;)
bnt there is only one proper and effectual
mode by which it can be done, and that is
BY THE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY; and this,
SO far as my suffrage will go, shall not be
wanting"
And if legislative authority is the only
proper and effcctual mode Of abolishing it,
where it already exists, We believe with equal
assurance that it is the only effeetual mode
of preventing its extension.
Two years since, the Legislature of Michi-
gan passed certain resolutions Of instruction
to our Senators in Congress, bearing upon
this subject. I will not detain the Senate
to read them. Suffice to it say, the instruc-
tions therein contained have never been obey
ed, nor have the Senators who thus disregard
the wishes of their constituents, proffered
their resignation. To vindicate themselves
in refusing to carry out the instructions, they
maintained that it was neither the right nor |
the duty Of Congress to prohibit slavery in
the Territories, and, of course, that it was
not Their duty thus to vote; and to justify |
themselves in still retaining their seats, they |
maintained that they were simply the Repre-
sentatives of the Democratic party of Mich-
gan; and when that party gave them such
instructions, they would either obey or re-
sign.
This is surely new theory of representa-
tive government. And which of the two
this, or the doctrine of squatter sovereignty,
shall contribute most to secure an immortali-
ty to the author of the Nicholson letter, it is
for the historian in the future to decide.
Not the Representative of Michigan, but
Of the Democratic party of Michigan! That
was an honest confession! Thank the honor.
able Senator for that! 1t relieves the vast
majority Of the people Of this Staet from the
odium Of endorsing the crude theory Of squat
Ter sovereignty.
But, sir, here is another that overtops even
'quatter sovereignty ITSELF And that is,
that in Republican Governments, the holder
of Office represents, not ihe people, but the
party that have contributed to his elevation
trust, sir, that the honorable gentleman
whom we have elected TO succeed one of the
present incumbents, will better understand
he theory of Republican Governments.
Have the members of this body pondered
he significance of this new doctrine? Do
Senators on this floor understand, that they
Ire not here to represent the people of their
everal districts, but simply the party that
lavc sent lis hercl
But, perhaps, what our Senators in Con-
.ress meant, was, simply, to suggest that tho
ypression of two years ago was merely the
Itterance Of faction that had chanced TO
'et temporary possession Of the State Gov
it was momentary cfferes-
ence that would speedily subside, and that, ,
ghcn tho people Of Michigan wero restored
o the possession Of calm and deliberate judg-
mont, the decision would be reversed It
nay have been, sir, that they simply propos-