Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-02-06
1)oluhtal.
SPEECH OF HON. It. F. BOWIE,
N THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
January 1871, 1857.

Whole on the state of the Union, and having
under consideration the tariff bill
Mr. BOWIE said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: | do not propose to
consider the tariff question at this time.
] propose to reserve what | have to say
on that subject to more convenient sea-
son. have not directed my mind to
the consideration of that question at this
time, because / had no idea that it would
be sprung on the House this morning !;
but, with the consent of the House and
Of the Chair, | shall proceed to give my
views upon some Of the topics embraced
in the Presidents message, to which the
attention of the House has been called
by the various members who have adj
dressed the committee. With reference
to the tariff question, therefore, l shall
only say, Go thy way for this time, and
when l have more convenient season,
will call for thee" Laughter shall
proceed with my remarks, availing my
self of the latitude of debate allowed
under the rules of this House l pro-
pose to address myself in reply to Some
of the remarks of my colleague Mr..
DAVIS, who has found SO much fault
with the Presidents message. / shall
not, in the remarks which | propose to
submit. dwell much upon that portion of
the Presidents message which relates to
the organization of the Black Republi-
can party The subject has been soably
handled, so thoroughly sifted, and the
arguments Cd itso thoroughly exhausted,
that shall give them but passing no.
tice-merely to give it blow as it falls.
1t is true that we arc told that we should
not strike down fallen foe; but when
that foe wriggles in death, and in his
struggles gives warning of future at
tack, it is the part of wisdom--it is the
part of prudence, to put him beyond the
reach of harm forever.
Now, sir, the President, in the exer-
else of clear constitutional duty--of an
obligation imposed on him by the Con-
stitution to give information from time
to time to the Congress Of the United
States, of the state of the Union, not
only i'll reference to its foreign, but do
nestle relations, has announced what, in
his judgment is conspiracy to over
turn the Constitution. He has conceived
ia his judgment, that there is a design
on the part of the Black Republican
party--I strike out the word g Black "
for the sake of courtesy, laughter. to
strike down the fundamental principles
of our Government. He conceives that
the organization of party, based upon
the principles announced by Mr.. Speaker
Banks, in his great commercial speech in
New York, that mere numbers should
prevail, attempting to array all that por-
ton of our great country who are not
SHAREHOLDERS against those who are slave
holders, as violation of the spirit Of
the Constitution; aud this being his judg-
mcnt, in which the great Democratic
party concurs, thank him for the bold
fearless, and patriotic manner in which
he has presented to the mind of the
American people the momentous issues
involved in the consideration of such q
question.
The attempts to bring into conflict the
commercial interests Of the North and
South, and to generate in the minds oil
the people of these sections feelings o.
bitter and unrelenting hatred toward,
each other, could only result in the de.
strnction Of our Government. Con.
ceiying this to be the design of thai
party, it was undoubtedly the duty o.
the President, under his oath of office
to inform promptly the people of all tn,
States of the dangers which gathered
around the Union of these States. Under
the Constitution it is his duty to inform
the Houses of Congress, and the people
of threatened dangers, either from do
nestle or foreign enemies. Then, how
could he conscieutiously have withheld
his note of alarm in this matter? If h,
had done so, he would have been derelic
70 every constitutional obligation. Thii
no one will doubt; for is there one here
who does not believe that if this sectiona
organization had succeeded, there would
have been great danger of disunion?
appeal to Fillmore men, and to the Dem
ocratic party, now composed Of couser
yativc Wings and conservative Demo
crats, of the present and Of times gon,
by---I appeal to the great masses of tn,
people for the truth Of this assertion
Even if disunion had not been the i'm
mediate result, there would have beer
anarchy and civil discord There woult
have been those bitter contentious be
tween the North and the South that woult
have resulted, ultimately, in war. /
was fine for the President to warn tn,
people and their representatives and h
has done so calmly, considerably, ami
dispalsionately. A domestic foe is NOR
insidilus and deadly than foreign one
It is tealthy in its approach to the eta
del d our rights. And what would b,
the Character Of the civil war agains
which the President has warned US HI
has sal truly that its history would b.
writtsf in records Of desolated fields
conaagrations Of houses, murder, rapine
and A the horrible and dreadful attend
ants b internecine war. When onc'
begun we know not when and where j
would erminate. Ruin and devastation
would ollow iteverywhere. The Pres
:dentFould have been traitor TO tn
trust cnfded in him. and to the eouutr,
which rave him birth, If, believing tba