The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-14

td States, ~ the Inrafnonnt poitha good or the PIT
mary object of patriotic desive could not stem the
Of seconaIisn, 1t passed = shadow fed away
a vision Of the night There left but great
political association, wsoc professions and policy looked
TO the interests whole country-the last hope Of
the patriot To its ranks were gathered the conservative
of all sections Wlgg and Americans, who sympatized
with us in the conflict with sectonalsm, To this national
standard rallied. The battle fought
the victory Hope revived for peaceful aud glorious
future to our country Confidence in the strength of
the government and the perpetuity of republican
institutions was partially restored How long TO last
Ere the temporary fruits Of victory gathered,
cloud comes over ,1; the shadows of death settle
upon the paths the steps Of the destroyer heard
within borders, and the spirit of dissension has faust
ened upon vitas Shall the national democracy fall
prey to sectional jealousy Shall the glorious old party
OF the constitution, Who in peace and la war, have up
held the honor OF the country and maintained the prn
ciples of republican liberty, so down In the shock Of
battle Let this disaster ovcrtake lct this evil day
come and 1t will be followed by long night of dircful
| caamtes. There win be left doubt not in every
northern State, patriotic men, devoted and true to the
constitution who would willingly lay down their
lives for ths constitutional rights Of the south, be-
lieve. But, overshalio~ed aud borne down by
tiona majority In every State, they would bc powcess
for good. 'sFrT al8 Fs sasT
Now, sir under this state of facts with tho causes
which have brought 1T 10 pass lot ask what security
will the minority States have against oppression II
party Cords however stubborn and strong the cohesiye
iron bands of common interest the ties of kindred
blood and personal friendship the scored and holy links
the glorious past If these, il all these cannot Withstand
the dssoving fires of sectional hate. repeat the ques
ton, what security there against oppression Do you
point to the checks balances and limitations of
ederatve system to tho constitutional declaration of
rights sdentons ana prohibitions Of power These, sir,
would snap asundcr like the green whes wherein Sam
was bound ''as thread of tow s broken when il
touchoth the fire.. The power of construction could easily
all these wholesome obstacles which fence the path
of tyranny They would bend to the desires of the
jorty the tall oaks to the sweep Of the tempest. The
history of mankind the world over proves it, Coli
sions only be avoided by ciectua limitations TO pow
en- There must be potent voice say thus far shalt
thou 20, and no further = else .'thc will roll
not back Hitherto system of government has fur
nse that check and constitution spoken that voice.
Hitherto obedience followed the command and the
proud stad" Did the spirit of the old
Union live, liberty would live State rights and private
rights would be sacred shielded against the steaty
and insdious power Of construction. But, sir let
all the departments of the government pass into the
hands Of combined majority section and whether the
united powers woull be used aggcssvey not, the
sttution would Immediately lose its vitality the distnc
tive conservative feature of system be destroyed and
the minority would become dependent upon the capri
cious will of the majority States. lt
But suppose the majority, thus armed with power
disclam all designs to njuresuppose them, for the
time being to be actuacd by love of justicedoes this
alter in the least the subject condition Of the minority
To test the supposton, lot say believe your pro
fcssi0ns sincere you intend harm; you have the
power but will refrain from its exercise to our In
jury what objection have you then, in the absence Of
evil designs to submit to wholesome restraints upon that
power If you intend to exercise il oppressvcy,
give US the evidence by laying portion of It down. II
you refuse, however sincere may be your professions,
warned by the history Of tho past be on guard
Equality between States, essential to liberty, cannot
long be maintained under iacqaly between sections
or combinations Of Sae unless the stronger be crcum
scribed in their powers The dangerous state Of affairs
in which find ourselves clearly not contemplated
by the fathers of the republic else, with their intense
opposition to centralized power they would have guarded
against it. The fears of predecessors after this
government went into operation, aroused to this
danger and heculean caorts have been made to prevent
disaster to the system by preserving cqaity between
sections The struggle has been fierce With this
view, for long period States have been admitted in
pars--a savcholding and -slaveholdng together
The equilibrium has thus been maintained up to very
recent period. The admission of California, in 1850
turned the scale against the South Up to the time
that compromise safely guarded against encoac
ments The Senate stood like mountain in the path of
the aggresor. By the admission Of California lost
the balance both the great legislative departments pass
! ed into the hands Of the free States
Sir holding this department of power, could not
If would, invade the rights of the other section but
could prevent encroachments upon rights. That
important negative power helpless to inure, mighty to
protect, has been lost We stand relying for safety
national parties and the lore justice which may
main in the bosoms of the majority. In ordinary times
these subordinate securities may prove beneficial but
know they nothing in the path of avaricc, amb
ton, and anaticsn Parties but the creatures Of
day. the accidents Of the hour. They liable to change
from constant occurring combinations, interests
arise, whims to be gratifed The lor0s Of
juxce have been too often driven by the wicked multi
tude to mountains and deserts TO the dens and
| of the earth have been doomed TO wander about in
sheep skins and goat skins, destitute afflicted torment
edfor TO rely solely upon this principle for protcc
ton Something than the love of justice in
governments, however civilized, B found necessary to
prevent wrong. In framing the organic law the people
must be imbued with the wisdom and of right suf
GENTLY great to part with portion of their powers and
thereby extract the teeth and cgcs Of the lion Of authority
| or else the the weaker will later, become
prey to the stronger Whatever be the form of the gov
crnment this evil tendency in man to usurp and WELD
power must be provided against to escape tyranny
Ii necessity then be laid upon people whose inter-
ests IDENTICAL to bride power to preserve Freedom
how much more urgent the for restraints upon
government whose authority extends largo terri
tories holding dissimar and often antagonstic inter
| csts tt
In thus contendng, Mr.. Chairman, for better safe
guards to liberty than political parties furnish, do
not mean to spaagc the worth Of the demcCraticparty
In all the sectional conflicts of the past that party has
given to the councils of the country good and true
who have faithfully stood by the constitution Ny own
section demanding only her just and equal rights under
that instrument have found i'm that noble party tsty
and faithful ally. Hitherto it has deserved In maintain
ing It's integrity the confidence bestowed by se South
It ia to lamcnted that many have fallen in the bat
te; some havo deserted the standard distinguished
| leaders have wandered of, and united their for
tunes with the enemy but the party still lives and
am proud to believe, holds in the North host of patri-
OTIS with hearts still true to the right Unwilling de-
spair Of the republic must hope that the little band
though weakened by dcscrtons and depressed by the
dimnnton Of confidence will, with the daring courage
of noble hearts, bravcy face the storm. In time they
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