The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-03
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
IE srsArE, December %, 1856.


In SENATE, December 22 1856.
The Senate having under consideration the motion Of
Mr. RUsK SO much of the Presidents message as
relates to foreign affairs to the Committee on Foreign Re
tions--
Mr. BROWN said: Mr. President when the Presidents
message into the Senate and read by the Secre
tary the first proceeding that followed the rising OF
the senator from New Hampshire Mr.. HALE to make a
violent attack the President and the OF ms
message He based that attack chiefly the ground that
the President had ntmated purpose in certain quarters
to attack slavery in the States This speech OF the senator
from ew Hampshire was quickly followed by speeches OF
similar character from the senator from New York Mr..
SEWARD and others that side of the chamber who sym
pthze with them These assaults have fallen here they
will fall elsewhereharmess shafts They have inflicted
injury the President and they will infct none on
the great cause which he SO manfully defended.
While assailng the President in coarse and unsoenly
phrase these gentlemen have not failed TO their
positions In all they have said from the hour that the
message read to this the most casual observer viii not
have failed to perceive that on some account their tactics
have been changed The bold and defiant air Of the
qerng hero has given place to the subdued manner OF
eted soldiers. Senators read Us long speeches. In
dignanty denying what had supposed to within the
last few days. admitted proposition everywhere to
witt that when the proper time slavery was to be as
saued in the States There seems however, to have been
falling back from this position why, certainly do not
know but have strong suspicion that gentlemen have
found themselves the North in advance of public
sentiment and it has been found prudent at least to fall
back more tenable ground
While have witnessed this exhibition in the Senate
elsewhere exhibition not less remarkable has been go
ing Politicians who certainly express open SYM
pahy with these gentlemen to have been advancing
from position which they occupied heretofore and Ia
king one in closer proximity to the gentlemen on the
other side of the chamber Ny reading these counter
movements the falling back of the one party and the ad
vancng of the other this that they mean for the time
being to camp in sight of each other and during the next
four years to make orays joint account against the
national democracy and when the contest OF
1860 on they will 60 into battle under the
leader and fight under banners nearly alike that SOL
dier belonging under one being found fighting under the
other will subject himself to no charge Of deseron
not prepared at first for the indignant denals
which have heard from the other side of the chamber
that there purpose to assa slavery in the States.
not because at first did not understand this change
of tactics had supposed that gentlemen more than
half inclined to have it known that such attack in
contemplation and that the proper time their purposes
would be made manifest knew very well 1t had been
quite the custom all times when these purposes d
recty charged gentlemen for them to throw them aside
with a sort Of g Oh mono we dont-no such thing
But the burning indignation which has been lately mani
tested in the beginning of this debate venured to quote
from memory certain passages from the speeches OF gen.
tIemen maniesting then thought and still think pur
poses altogether different from those avowed in this debate
spoke from memory aone but since then have given
critical attention the recorded speeches of gentle
men, and speak with more accuracy, and with
greater confidence do not to that senators de-
iberately disavow their real sentmentshat would vo
late the decorum Of this bodybut will say that they
have contemplated attack slavery in the States
they have been sngulary unfortunate in the of lam
guage intend to-day to call particular attention to
tain expressions heretofore used by them in the discussion
of this question. g. a..... .
But before do so let me set not only myself right but
let me set those right for whom speak very
briefly speech delivered by myself the Both of jan
uary 1850 and shall read two three short sentences
from that speech. The party with whom acted at that
day. like the party with whom act had been accused
of direct and deliberate purpose to bring about such
state of public affairs must necessarily result in disso
luton of the Union Denying that charge speaking for
myself speaking for those who acted with speaking
then believed and now believe for the great Of
the southern people, / used this languagel #
repeat we deprecate disunon Devoted to the consti
misunderstanding the Union-holdng in sacred
branoe Names the Deeds and the gores Of
would not than dissolve the political association
Of these States there was point short OF absolute
these aggressive would certainly stop, would
say at once, go to that point and give us peace"
So say to-day SIR Speaking for myself and for those
in whose authorized to speak, declare before
the Senate and the world that this Union has nowhere
devoted ends than they and l. And when have spoken
for those for whom am authorized by election to speak,
feel that may safely go further and say that nineteen
tweneths of the whole people of the southern States agree
with Point out any spot short of absolute ruin to
selves and desoaon to section of the country, and
give the guarantee that when you have gone to that
point these aggressive and perpexng measures legislative
and Others shall certainly cease and we will to at
once go that point But sir went that OCCASION
as do now, step further. saidi
Does any man desire to know at what time and for
what cause, would dissolve the Union will tell him.
At the first moment after you consummate your first act of
aggression slave property would declare the Union
dissolved and for this such act perpetraed a
nterpose your authority In the management of
bur domestic affairs thus degrading from rghtl po
stion equals TO state OF dependence and subordnaton
Do not mistake do not say that such an act would
the Territories would alone justify it do not say that the
destruction Of the slave trade among the States would ps
fy it. II may be that not ONE nor two nor all of heseco
bned, would justify sunion. These but the initiative
steps they lead you to the mastery over u.s. and you
shall not take these steps," #
meant then Mr.. President to say what say now that
no in the South has taken the ground that the
solve the Union, If that could be the end of agitation No
southern has taken the ground and one takes
II now, that the abolition of slavery in this District might
not be submitted to, tha to be the end But we have
looked and are looking for the day and have right
consequences of the declarations constantly emanang from
feeesoi phaanx will be turned loose in mighty assault
upon slavery in the States. have taught my people
would teach them to-day prepare for this assault Defend
the outposs Yield not inch of ground 1t sbeer die
defending the door-s than admit the enemy and then
see the hearth-stone bathed in blood. @aM
On the occasion to which have referred drew a pic
ture of what be condition il these schemes OF
emancipation should be carried out Then as now
gentlemen denied that there any intention to interfere
with slavery in the States; then, now had
Of faterna eelingson the part Of northern
brothers replied then as do now:
You tell u.s. sir there intention Of pushing us to
extremes like these do not doubt the sincerity Of gen
tlemen who make this avown. II there fxedness in
their positions, would believe hemI would them
to the planetary SYSTEM would take their solemn and
hope sincere declar aons and be satisfied should
cure But few days. brief space and you will pass away
and your places will be led by hostile than you