Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-11-13
poll 1rgoAa.
SPEECH OF HON. ]. H. HAMMOND,
Delivered at Barnwelr G. II. Oct. 30, 1853.

and ccrdial reception. TO stand here and
speak to the people of Barnwell reminds
Inc of times long gone by. have doneit,
believe, but once in more than twenty
years. But thosy &c stirring times, when,
aquarter ola century ago, so often spoke
to you here of the ConsEtusoa ,-an4 n4SShe
Union -of your rights andg songs in this
confedcracy. No, not to you, but to your
fathers. / am, indeed, happy to recognize
in tins assemblage many who wero actors
in those scenes; but many, many more
have been summoned hence, while YOU have
grown up to supply their places. The gal
Iaut spirits who then surrounded me here,
and whose kindling eyes and hcaving bo-
SONS animated and responded to my speech,
have for the most part passed away; but
the theme is still the samc-and it is
my part to-day, adhcring with unchanged
conviction and " bated zeal to every prin-
ciple then main,v ned, to discourse upon
the same great topics. Our battle then was
for the Constitution and our Rights, in the
Union, if possible-out of it, if need be-
And this is our battle now.
The lapse of thirty years has brought
much experience 20 the survivors of those
who enlisted for this great cause in South
Carolina. The veil of what was then the
futures future covered with angry clouds
and doabt and darkness--has been reIuov-
cd, and looking back, VIC now see the events
of long years which were unknown to us.
The hard fcwght fields; our chcqucrcd for
tunes; oar victories; our defeats the
dead, the living, ali then deep buried in the
womb of time, arc all now clear and palpa-
BILE. Nd to those of us who have been
spared % make this retrospect, it is proud
satisfaction TO know that time and events
have proved that our principles we're true
aud our cause just; to recognize the un-
iiinching courage aud overpowering ability
with which they have been so long main
tsined, and to feel renewed assurance that
they must finally and fully triumph.
Your fathers confdcd i'll me from the
hrst moment that We met upon this spot.
They took me in their arms and lifted mo
into all the high places that were within
their reach; and lhave had many proofs
that they taught you to confde in me as
they had done For this great and gen
erous and abiding confidence ard trust, l
never knew but one reason and that was,
that 1 always told them the truth according
to my best knowledge and belief. And as
dealt with them, shall do with YOU 4,
The last Legislature of the State confer
red on nc the high honor of a scat in the
Senate of the United States, and during
the late stormy session Of Congress, | in
part represented you there. You will ex-
pect me TO give you some account of the
proceedings there, and most especially of
those which occupied four-Gfths of the time
OF the session, and produced such great ex-
citement throughout the country. alludo
to the Kansas question. And as no ex-
ception has been taken, SO far as know,
to any actof mine, save MY courgc ON that,
viii take this occasion to give my views
in full upon it.
W hen, four years ago, the Kansas and
Nebraska act was passed, giving govern
mcnts to those territories, j was like most
of you, private citizen j was earnestly
engaged in renoyating old lands, and cfcsi.y
ing new cut of morasses hitherto impene-
trable, and had us little desire or expec-
tation of ever again taking "a part in public
attaiisJ as the least ambitious OF you here
present. Imado upmy mind then that
this billwasfNught with dclusion and trou-
bic 70 the south, and so-expresscd myself
oaall suitable occasions
The bill had two leading features i'm it,
ltenacted that every territory, in forming
its constitution for the purpose of APPLYING
for admission into the Union, should have
the riglstto establish it's own organic or
constitutional laws, and come in with its
own institutions,wi Ethe single condition
that they should be republican. Why, un-
less our constitution is mere waste paper,
hlhonr institutions shams, and our theory
OF self government fallacy, this principle
and privilege is their essence; lies at the
bottom OF the whole, aud constitutes the
corner stone. IL is the very right for
which our fathers fougk:: and made a reyo-
lution, mightnot have rcfuned to re-af-
firm it---but it was supcrerogatory itmight
well weakcn the whole structure to dig UP,
for the purpose of notification, its foUnda.
tion.
The othcr feature of the bill was the re-
peal OF the Missouri Compromise line
That was already repealed. lie had lopo
fulElled ltslnission it had Gained the
troubled waters for time. 1t was obso.
lete until the annexation of Toxas. when
we acceded TO che demand 10 extond It
through the aortheln deserts Of that State.
hut when California came a California that
should have been, aud may vet be--ea slave
State4SEd nc demanded TO extend that
line 70 the Pacific, and thus secure for the
South portion Of tbs magnificent territol.
~ purchased inpart by her blood and treas
ise, i WIS refused Then that line was
blotted out everywhere and forever. TO