The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-12-23

done. l have presumed to show it. The it
stands. If you value the Union, as you say
you do, it is for you TO preserveit. The South
cannot preserve the Union. It does not
behoove her in her down -trodden and feeble
condition but she cannot if she would.
1t is for you, it becomes YOUR interests
your CO ncerp, your power in the future.
1t the Union be so dear to you, it is for
you to preserve it, and not for the South.
You have the power; she has not. She
stands still and endeayors to defend her
SELF
The honorable Senator who last spoke
asked what means these recent ebullitions
Sir, they mean this: They mean that the
heart Of the Southern people has been STIR
red to the bottom they have seen impen-
ding danger and destruction they have
borne it as long as it is virtue to bear, and
they mean that they will not forfeit the
character Of freemen. I tell the honorable
Senator that be may mistake that feeling.
Do you suppose it is possible that nearly
half the States Of the Union, your co.states
associated with you, shall be compelled
to bear all the burdens of a foreign
condition that while we are linked to-
getber as if fraternaIly, We must keep STAN
ding armies on our borders, be continually
harrasscd, irritated, disturbed, stirred to
madness, and that we shall continue to bear
all these burdens Of foreign attitude, and
take none of the compensating good.
The thing must stap. The Constitution
was wisely conceived, ski;fully, admirably
constructed, adequate to all the purposes
for which it was intended, but our present
condition of affairs throw wide open all the
portals for our invasion and destruction. It
is for you to shut them, or with the help of
heaven we must shut them ourselves. Call
it treason, gentlemen, and make the best
OF it; but I tell you that, unless these
things cease, much as we have adored the
Union, much as we have sacr ificed for it's
maintenance, much as we are willing yet to
contribute TO uphold it that it may scatter
its blessings to unborn mi1lio ns, it becomes
our honor and our existence to maintain
ourselves. We cannot permit the Union
be mere badge Of servitude. We cannot
permit it eterua!y to be upon us as an
incubus, crushing out our very life and
breath. Regard it, Gentlemen, as it is,
your minds cannot come 10 Iii fferent con-
cIusion. have too much respect for the
courage OF the North to suppose that they
would tolerate snch condition of things
if it were reversed. They woul.l not and
yet you presume to denouncc it as treason,
because we say that in condition ofthings
which we cannot tolerate, we will sunder
the Union, pull it to pieces, column, base
and tower, before We will submit TO be
crushed by Government which is our own
as we'll as yours; to which we con.
tribute as we'll as you and which we
will defend with our. life blood as we'll rs
you, as long as it shsll;be Government
securing to us, as to you, equality, life and
liberty.
Mr.. President, I did notdssignto 60 SO
far but 4 6sit that some OF these remaaks
were due to the inquiries n hiShwere made
by the honorable Senator from Wisccnsiif.
What I have said, believe. NY purpose
was to ask the Senator from Illinois wheth-
er bis amendment was not mere matter
Of party tactics, and whether he would not
withdraw it, SO that we might be permitted
to come fairly and squareIy, without EN-.
barrassment, without bunting The edge of
this inquiry, to consideration Of the true
question which is before ia.
Mr.. King.-Mr. PresiGent,I I rise With
some reluctance; but, in the absence of
my colleague, I desire to ask the Senator
from; South Carolina e he designs to
impute-and ] will say frankly that did
not understand him to impute-any pur-
pose ,oD the part Of my colleague, who is
present, to employ force or violence to pro-
Mote any principles or measures which he
sustainsi -
Mr.. Chesnut-lhave already stated. Mr..
President, that I should indulge in no lam
guage which would be even unpleasant to
the Senator, becausehe WAS absent, and
would confne myself mostly TO ths record.
l stated, when .Ireadthe extract from the
speech ofgthe distinguished. Senator from
New York, that he argued as if for moral
purpose: tast 70 attended, BY his speech,
the operation ofmind upon the COUNTY,
that It bore that Interpretation, and had that
drift; butf said, further, athat totbe rude
andnnlet.sredain dainteIlse Of ftha, county, the
language employed was sueh, in my opin-
ion, as would have and had its sffeetir,