The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-10
The Pacific Railroad.
SPEECH OF HENRY WILSON,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,
IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JANUARY ii, 1859.

1t is not surprising, Mr.. President that we
should divide upon this question but in all our
discussions heretofore, whatever may have been
the policy of different gentlemen, we have been
accustomed to regard the construction of rail-
way to the Pacific as a work that would not only
develop the power and the strength Of the coun-
try, but also bind the people of the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts together in bonds of union. The
distinguished Senator from New York, + Mr.. SEW
ARD, in particular, based his support of the pro-
ject on the fact that the construction of such a
road would insure the permanence of the Re-
public.
But the other day, the Senator from Georgia
Mr.. IyERSoN came here with carefully pre-
pared and elaborate speech, committed to writing,
in which he opposed the construction of rail-
way across the central region of the country, be-
cause it would not be within Southern Confed-
eracy when the Union should be dissolved. The
Senator pictured to us the triumphs of the Repub-
lican party in the Northern States. He told us
that those triumphs had been triumphs over the
national Democracy, over the rights OF the South,
and that they were not relieved even by the vic
tory of d" Free Soil Democracy over abolition
lied Whiggery," in the State Of Illinois The
Senator told us that he thought the time had come
when the South must give up the Union or give
up Slavery; and he said, that if the Senator from
New York, Mr.. SEWARD, or any of his compeers
in this Chamber or in the other House or in the
country, who concur with his political opinions,
should be elected President in 1860 the time
would have come for the dissolution of the Union;
that it would be a sufficient cause for the South
to secede.
This seemed to me to be very strange language
to be used in this Hall. Why, sir, only two days
before our hearts beat with patriotic pride, as we
listened TO the words that came gushing from the
generous and patriotic Senator from Kentucky,
Mr.. CRlTTENDEN,] as we were bidding farewell
to the old Hail. when he told us that the Union
was the source of our present power and past
glory, and would be the source of our future
greatness. We listened also, to the words with
which the Vice President closed the eloquent and
chaste address in which he expressed the hope that
our latest pOsterity would look upon the DELHI
erations of representatives of independent, free,
and UNITED States. We came into this Chamber,
and we listened to the man of God as he conse-
Grated the Hall, and invoked the blessing of
Heaven upon us, and upon the Union of these
States, and expressed the hope that the banner
of our country would wave over a free and united
people forever Two days after this, the Senator
from Georgia came into the Chamber to oppose
the construction of great national central rail-
way, because it wouldlie outside Southern Con-
federacy. In speech deliberately prepared be-
forehand, and on the ground that if a majority
of the people of the United States elect Pres-
dent in 1860 representing their political sent-
ments as they have a constitutional right to do,
he announced that the slaveholding South in
tended to dissolve the Union
Mr.. IVERSON. Will the Senator from Massa-
chusetts allow me TO interrupt him for moment ?
Mr.. WILSON. Certainly
Mr.. lVERSON. The Senator does not state
my argument fairly. have not said on this floor.
or anywhere else, that the South will dissolve
the Union because of the election of a Northern
man to the Presidency. Sir, the South will do
no such thing. am one of the last men who
would advocate or promote such q proposition
Sir, the South did not talk about dssolyng the
! Union when Mr.. Adams was elected President
nor when General Harrison was elected Presi-
! dent, nor when Mr. Van Buren, was elected Pres
ident, nor any other Northern man. 1t is not be-
! cause man halls from the North that we object
| to his election to the Presidency of the United
| States it is not because man halls from the
North, if he be elected upon principles which are
| general to the whole country; but it is because
| you elect man from the North on a declaration
of war against the institution of Slavery that
say the South will dissolve, and ought to dis.
solve, the Union, whenever such an event occurs
said, that whenever the North, sectional ma.
Jorlty of this country elects President upon the
principles announced by the Senator from New
l ork in his Rochester speech, then the South
ought to dissolve and | believe would dissolve
the Union. Now, sir, let the Senator state me
fairly, and have no objection to his replying tc
my argument; but shall hold him TO the text
and he must not depart from it.
Mr. WILSON. Mr.. President, if the Senator
had heard me through, he would have found tina
| did not intend to misrepresent him, and did no
misrepresent him. | meant simply to saw. and
did say, that his threat of the dissolution of tn,
Union was, that if the people elected to the Pres
idency, as they had constitutional right to do
a man who held opinions against Slavery exten
sion, the South would dissolve the Union.
they elect Northern man with Southern princi
Piles, or a Northern man who would do what tn
slave propagandists required him to do, did no
suppose these gentlemen would threaten to se
cede. So long as they can use that class of men
they will stay in the Union and govern the coun
try. But the Senator did say that
"The election of Northern President upon
sectional and Anti-Slsvery issue, will be consid
cred cause enough to justify secession. Let tn
Senator from New York, Mr.. SEWARD, or an
other man avowing the sentiments and polio
enunciated By him in his Rochester speech, o
elected President of the United States, and, i
{ my opinion, there are more than one of tn
Southern States that would take immediate step
towards SEPARATION
He said, further, that his advice would be give
for such separation. Well, now, sir the Sen
ator from Georgia, and every other Senator herr