The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-28
speech or senator Crlttenden.

Speech or Senator CrIttenden.
New York, Dec. 22.-The Herald pub
shes the report Of the speech OF Senator
Criltenden at the Conference Of Opposition
sts he Id at Washington on Tuesday night.
He referred to the failure of the House to
,rganize; the protracted delay presents
spectacle that is painful to the county,
He did not pretend TO say where the reproach
rests. The position of the 30 called Amer
lean members has been embarrassing-they
have earnestly sought the line OF duty. 1t
seemed that knowing something of the pur'
poses Of the two leading parties OF the
House, they did wisely to nominate their
own man and adhere to that nomination.
II is question whether they shall continue
to do 30 ii the end of the contest. He felt
that ground that is good 10 stand on will do
to, iall on. He continued, but looking away
from this contest and abroad over the coun.
try, we find much 10 distress every true pa.
triot in the present state OF the public mind.
| confess TINT never before in my lille did
eel such anxiety for the fate OF our govern.
ment. | have never believed it possible
that could bring my mind to the deliberate
purpose of putting down this great fsbrlc.-
| do not think that any of US have reached
that point, and though we should think SO,
um constrained to think that when we come
to the attempt, we should turn in horror
from the work. For think of it-whnt Is
! the deed proposed 1t is one too great, too
rush, for any mind to fully comprehend.
hardly dare think of it. II we could over.
turn the Allegheny Mountuins, it would
shock all this land Us by an earthquake, but
TO Cverturn this iSNgovernment IL would be
mountains upon mountains falling; 1t would
send q shock throughout the civilized world
No calamity that ever fell upon the nations
Of the eerth would spread such horror upon
men os the falling ruins Of this Republic
among them. Deep sensation. l cannot
believe that we are on this earth of such
mighty ca lamity. trust, aye and believe
that Gud in his Providence will watch over
and preserve my country. There is an ear
nest complaint OF aggression, of threats Of
nsurrectlnn on the borders Of some of our
States, and Mr.. Browns deeds at Harpers
Ferry have shown that this is no unreal
grievance, aud whence does it come? We
find certain dDluded people in the northern
States that indulge in meanings over slave
ry, end they intersperse their lamentations
with psalms and prayers and appeals to their
cUnsciences, which are hurt, they say, by our
sins. What folly Do not these people
know that the Lord does not hold them &C
cuuntable for our sins These deluded peo,
pie at the north ore making much mischief.
Why, let us remember there will be mischief
mGkers found in every country. Let us hope
that this evil will find remedy. Let US
hope that this popular deIusion will be TEN
porury, will pass away, and a sound and fra.
ternal spirit return to us. Try to have i,
restored to US; try to make cur northern
brethren love Us again. To this end let Us
be patient and iorbearing. Let us indulge
in no crmuations, no harsh language.
canrot believe that the great heort OF the
pc pie, north or south, has upon it the guilty
stain OF treochery 10 this Union. | canno,
believe thnt the people of the north have nc
regnrd for us, and no love for this govern
ment, for which our fathers and their fathers
ought; and | haiI the recent great meetings
which have been held there as signals OI
that returning love for US. Let US receive
them as such, and with grateful spirit lei
US encour. ge them, und we will yet find that
the earnest and faithful spirit OF our north
ern brothers will be our surest protection;
our defense against all aggression. | dc
not say that il we should be disappointed in
this, the time may no; come when the bonds
OF the Union must Of necessity be broken;
but donbt even that. | cannot ace that
any evils that be9l Us would b. less cut Of
the Union than in it. The burdens that
tnust be borne in the Uuion would be no
heavier out OF it; and even it the worst come
to the very worst, believe would rather
dc little fighting in the Union than out Of
it. Laughter and applause Il we should
60 out Of the UGlon, we certainly would not
att:mpt to take the Stars and Stripes will,
US. We would have to leave them behind;
and am sure | could never feel like sol.
dier under any other flag than that. Ap
plouse II we must fight, therefore, let US
stay III the Union, and charge upon those
tl1t Cypress Us, that ore trying to set aside
the U zion by going out of it. Applause.
10 destroy this Union is the very last thing
we should ever think Of; Tor il we once
break down the government, who shall re.
build il again ? Let US observe Justice, and
thus shall we preserve our Uniun; and my
sentiment j., let us take care of the Union
and the Union will take ere of US. At the
conclusion the speech was greeted with long
continued and hearty applause.