Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1858-08-02
A speech from sen,,or Hammond.


The distinguished gentleman delivered speech on
the OCCASION which is in many respects remarkable,
and which has taken the whole country, North and
Soath, completely by surprise. Instead Of being
thunder and lightning performance, after the usual
fashion OF South Carolina political harangues,it is as
calm and genial as Nay Neutrality-suspicious. in its
tone conservative in its sentiments, soothing IN its
tendency, and cslculsted to inspire the kiudliest
Feelings between the North and the South well
to excite the iveest hopes Of the psrpetuiy OF the
Uaion. Such . speech from South OSsolina States
man, asd statesman Of the ability and reputation
of Senator Hammond, is = new and refreshing indi-
cauon OF the decline OF Southern ultraism, and OF
returning good sense and patriotism among the Sou
til ,ru peopls-yea even among that class Of fiery
HosPurs and restless ssosssoaists who have solong
male the heavens ring with their frantic clamors for
Disunisn.
II is obvious, from the whole tenor OF his speech
that Ssn,tor Hammond no Disunionist but holds
thai agitatng and pestilent sect in the supremest
Contempt. Nothing that has happened in the past,
according to his Judgment would justify the South
In sorting to measures; nor is there any
thing likely to to pass in the future which could
justly resort to Disnnion as . remedy. He admits
that there many grounds for apprehension ut the
South; but there are strong reasons, he contends,
sventuate between the North and the South" says
thu Senator, "thsy could be IA tAs end eOnsistent
toin the right, and security Of this section" He
ra1ds-"USDRR THE PREsESr ASPECT OF ArTAns THE
SourH WOULD HAVE REMAIN TUE UNION. He
would rather the game played out between the
NJrth aud the South than see the Union brought to
end" These utterances OF this distinguished
South Carolina Senator certainly tart rebuke
10 those Southern Democratic hre-eaters, who are
perpetnay agitating the question Of Disunion, and
wlo themselves in favor Of immediate and un.
conditional separation. How Mr. Keitt and Mr.. Bon
In D. and other dsunion Representatives, Congress
frSm the Palmetto State, will relish this portion Of
tbs speech of Mr.. Hammond, remains to be SEEM
Certain it is there be no sympathy between
these gentleme n on this particular point
Mr.. Hammond specifies few contingencies, how
ever, in which he would advocate dissouton-'for
IL the North" he says, "n order to subserve her
purposes of ambition fAnaticism, should attempt
g. re-orgAniEe federal courts Of law the represen-
tsise basis, and thus destroy the conservative
Of that court, and thereby get the Government
into their own hands, then the people OF the South
must dissolve the Union" Wesay in reply to Mr.
Hammond that the people of the North are not going
TO attempt to re-orgHniEe federal courts of Law on
the representative basis; and, therefore, this one
Union, win never happen. Bot the Senator goes on
to say-"We must dissolve tbs Union if they eject
any ~ 81 their aggressive p1rposes-tarf banks,
b; dlt ertpmperipk with slktes- Bat he eifd nor
think to-day fhe North could" The Senator Is sure
~ beside himself when be talks about dissolvinE the
Union on account OF tariffs and banks. Have we
not noo protective tariff Surely-for the tariff
of ls46 recognises the prineipLs Of protection
throughout. Why, then, don't Mr.. Hammond de-
uAnd dissolution of the Union on account thereofP
But this is essentially the CANNON portion of the
Senator's address. 1t would DO . thing unheard Of
not at all characteristic, patriotic, pathetic
for South Carolina politician to make speech, and
not harp on the tariff as the sum and substance of
AiiabominAble iniquities. Mr.. Hammond, therefore,
An obedience to the habit of his constituents for thir
ty years past, was obliged to enumsrAte the tariff
among the causes Of Southern grievance, which
would justify dissolution of the Union. The tariff
part Of his speech then, should be regarded merely
as = little harmless moonshine.
Immediately following the sentences last quoted
from the Senator's speech there is q declaration to
which we desire 20 call the particular attention of
our readers, and especially Of our Democratic con-
temporaries throughout the South. For a similar
declaration, We ourselves have been arraiRned and
shgmatized as submissionist Hear then the
plain, blunt, unmstakeable language Of Senator
Hammond, Of South Caroliua. He says-"Ecen IL
at the merit PresidsnhaI election the North should.
by coordination, elect an AJOlitionist he did not
thai that on that issue the great body Of the South
DOutd 90 out Of the UAionl" Hear that We Dam.
ocrAtic editors and politicians Of the South. who
wee for bursting up the Union in the event of Ere
monts election, and who still proclaim. with stepto
rian lungs, that the South will not submit TO the
election Of Black Republican in 1861 Hear that
neighbor Of the South, you who, short while ago
so Hereby rebuked us for uttering similar deelara
tom Will you now act fairly, and rebuke Senator
Hammond also, for precisely the same offence that
We eonmiitedf You told as that, by announcing
tie opinion that the South would submit to the cleo
ton OF an AbOtiOnist in 1860, We we're giving "sid
and comfort to the ensmy-that we we're sncoura
1g the Black Republicans 10 psrsevere in their ef
forts 10 impose upon the country q sectional anti.
slavery President You, therefore chided us severe-
lyfor our indiscreton and for our alleged indifer
snsl 70 the welfare and honor Of the South. Bot
BInstOr Hammond is discovered 70 DO in the same
pes with ourselves, and what have you 10 say to
senator Hsmmond9 We shall sec
Alter making the declar alton 70 have quoted. the
Senator funniy eDough announces Il a. his opinion
that--"a second election Of the same kind"-tbat Is
che o,ectiOn ofHn hbolitonst in sOi-"would be fol-
lowed by the secession Of the South from the Union
And thatt u appears whether The 6rIt Abolition
President should make any aggression upon Southern
rights or not Truly,ths ssstrsnge posi- Tia for the
Sena,or 70 take To break up the Union merely Jseause
the Abolitonists should elect two Presidents IN soe
essdon Without considering ghethsr the policy q =.
tho FIRST one towards the South should be Of char
ao,er justify dissolution or not We presume the
Sinator only means 10 be understood a. intimstinp
that hi' party would never submit to be divorced
from the spells for two consecutive Presidential
terms Sod We doubt exceedingly whether the De
mooraey would submit 70 50 long Punishment from
the ilosh.pois Of Egypt, no matter who might be
Possidont We have always COMMANDED that they
would dissolve the Union any day, rather than sur
render their hold on the public treasury for eight
years Il s bard, indeed, ior them 10 submit to be
turned out Of Office Cor four ysars-but the thought
Of being banshod from Uncls Sans clover patch for
eight years, IN Absolutely intoEabIs. They would
smash up the Union, and bring on civil var first
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