The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-12-23
f course, have no desire to do him in.


time of the House with reading other ex
tracts of the same kind, will state that
my object in adverting to them is to show
that, as we all know, we have in this
Union extremists at the North and ex.
tremlsts OF the South. Icould multiply
extracts. There was time in the his.
tory OF this land when the Hartford con.
vention stunk in the nostrils of the
American people; when the man who
cried out disuion, or secession was re-
garded at least as a moral traitor to his
country. Those halcyon days have pas
sed away, and now what ouce struck the
public mind with horror, what once was
regarded as worthy almost of death, is q
sentiment which seems to meet with a
response in the North and with an utter
ance in the South. I, for one, M, Clerk,
am opposed to this feeling of disunion. no
matter whence it comes. Prolonged ap-
plause in the gallaries and upon the
floor. l, for one, am opposed to that
slavery agitation, no matter whether it
comes from the South or from the North.
Renewed applause.
1t seems to me that there is very little
FOR us to contend about. | come from a
slave State, and, although am not a man
OF wealth, own few slaves, and am not
ashamed to say it here. say, sir, that
| am opposed to this sentiment, 10 mat.
ter whence it comes or by whom it is
given utterance. / do think that we, oil
rather the two great parties in the land.
are fighting battle altogether in ad.
vance Of the time. To borrow the idea,
though ! cannot quote the language OF
that eminent and distinguished man, Mr.
Webster, the question of slavery has
been practically settled in regard to much
the greater portion of this Union. 1t
has been settled as he in substance said,
by the laws of nature and by the laws OF
climate. By the action of the people il
has been settled since in regard to Kansas
and Nebraska. 1t cannot reasonably be
expected to exist in Utah. The people
of California have settled it for them.
selves. Where, then, are we to leave this
contest in regard to slavery? Why this
agitation? If there is any portion OF
this wide land in regard to which the
question Of slavery can be appropriate,
it must be Arizona: And | take it fol
granted that it will be some years before
Arizona will apply for admission into
the American Union. Why this agita.
ton, then? Why this unnatural excite
ment? Why, before we have fairly seat.
ed ourselves in the Hall OF the House OF
Representatives, bring frebrand into
our deliberations Why engage in
elimination and recrmination WHY
this asperity of feeling? Why shall we
not enter upon an organization of the
House, and come up to the expressions
Of the sentiment, which, / trust, is com
mon to us all, that this slavery agitation
| is protitless and uselcss--common to u.
all, ! mean, except it may be the ultra
men of the North and the ultra men oi
the South.
And, Mr.. Clerk, there is one remarlta.
bic thing which should lave stated {
moment ago. | will say it now. There
fis one remarkable thifg OF rilcse- e-ttI,
unionists, North and South. What is it
state it for the purpose of respectfully
submitting that there is something wron.
on both sides. What is it? Why that
whilst they disagree on the subject o
slavery and various other subjects, the,
unite in agreeing upon dissolution o
the Union as common remedy for an
tagonistic evils. state this as the clear
est and most conclusive proof that thi
slavery agitation should cease. Unless
| diii liAoIill'lliltN, liIt4t arc Il' liIutt'
where this question can arise. except il
| Arizona or in the admission of the State,
which at some future period may be
carved out of Texas. In reference 10 the
| latter, the question was settled by the
| Texas annexation resolutions, and W,
must cast ourselves upon the integrity
and forbearance and moderation Of til,
| North not to repeal those resolutions, 70
! ,. IL
| that the compromise measures OF iS2l
and 1850 We're repealed, | say this with
out intending personally 10 reflect upol
any gentleman. ! know that many pa
triotic men of the Nortn and South votet
under q mistake for the Kansas ebrask
bill of 1851; but, so far as the peace an'
prosperity and safety Of this Union ar
concerned / regard it as the most un
fortunate thing that ever happened il
our history. The repeal of the great com
| promise which had stood for more thai
thirty years, had the effect to increas
the forces against southern interests il
the North. Tie repeal Of that compro
mise and the passage of tho kansas-Ne
braska bill had the effect, as gentlcmel
have in substance stated, to sweep tn
Democratic party from power in til
North. 1t it an unfortunate thing in on
history, and is to be deeply deplored, tina
these measures of peace and harmony
the compromise measures of 1920 an
lS50-were repealed; and, when it is II
marked that the Republican party ha
grown into the most powerful party i
this Union, might say to some of til
gentlemen of the South that they cannc
reply
Thou can'st not say did it,"
1t is owing to the course pursued by til
great Democratic party i'll times past thi
this Republican party Of the North hG
swellcd in proportions, and has now &C
to be the most powerful party in til
Union.
do not mean, Mr.. Clerk, at this stag
of our proceedings, to enter further int
this subject than to say that the DEM
cratic platforms of 1880, lS44, 1913, an
1852, every one of them, on the subje,
of slavery, was a Delphic oracle, holdin
one language to the North and anoth,
to the South. We all know who kno
; anythingabout the history of the countr
that the leaders OF modern Democrat
were unwilling in their platforms fro
1910 to 1856, to say one word upon ii
subject of slavery i'll the Territories, an
that those platforms are silent as deat
in regard to it.
And. sir, without intending to ent,
into the history of the proceedings in OF
, country, | make one further remar
here before proceed We who were
the whig party of that day succeeded
eleoting that gallant old soldier, Gener
Taylor, as President of the United State
J and he was succeeded by Mr.. Fillmor
and never since the days of George Was
: ington has there been President wi
: demeaned himself more faithfully al
) more honorably in his high Office thu
, Millard Fillmore; enthusiastic applau
: in the gallery a man, who, though
/. northern man, doubtless entertainil
0 northern prejudices against slavery, 81
f;t m stand nm to his oath and his dui