Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-12-28
SPEECH OF MIR. WADE OF OHIO,
IN THE SENATE, DEC. II 1860.

Mr.. Wade said At a time like TINS, when
there seems to be an unusual excitement,
have very little faith in the efficacy of any
argument. But / must say, when in this
very chamber where we all raised our
hands to heaven and took an oath that we
would sustain the Constitution of the United
States, we hear it said by many Senators that
we are upon the e0e ola dissolution Of this
Union, and that our Constitution IS 20 be
| trampled under foot, silence Under such cir
| cumstances seems 20 bc akin 10 treason it
| self. We have listened to complaints on the
other side Of this chamber patiently, and
with an ardent desire to ascertain what they
were. But confess an unable to under
stand what it is Of which they complain
The party which has lately elected the Pres
ident, and Is prospectively coming into pow
er. have never held Office under this govern
ment, nor any individual of them. Therefore
it Is manifest that that party have as yet
committed no act Of which anybody can COM
plain If any one has fears as to what may
hereafter ensue, they are mere apprehensions
nothing else. \ bare suspiciOn-a fear
rising out Of unwarrantable prejudices. |
wish to ascertain in the outset whether we
are right, for tell gentlemen here if they
can convince me that am holding any pO-
litical principle that Is not warranted by the
Constitution under which we live, or trenches
on their rights, they need not ask me 10 com
promise, for | will redress their rights my
self when | an wrong. No man need ap-
proach me with threat that the govern
m Mt IS to be destroyed, because | hope that
have now, and ever shall, that sense OF JUS
tice, that when any man shows me that |
ain wrong, | shall be ready TO right 1t with
out threat or compromise. Now. what is 1t
OF which gentlemen complain? When left
nv home in the West to come to this place,
all was calm, cheerful, and contented.
heard of no discomfort, and apprehended
there was no cause to interrupt the harmo-
NOUS course of legislation. did not learn
that there had been, since we adjourned, any
new fact intervening that could at all dis
tub the public mind | did not know tnat
there had been any encroachment upon the
rights of any section or any individual
Therefore, came here expecting We should
have harmonious session. 1T Is very true
that the great republican party, which has
been organized ever since you repealed the
Missouri Compromise, which gave You four
years ago full warning that Its strength
would result as it has resulted, and | sup
pose any man might have supposed things
would have resulted in the same way-it is
true, this party has carried the election but
do not suppose anything growing out OF
the election is the cause Of the present ex-
element in the country. Now. who Is 1t
that is complaining? Is it the minority
that they have been subjected to an oppressive
and aggressive government? No such thing
as that, sir We might suppose that eighty
four years ago, when the leaders of that
glorious Revolution met in Philadelphia,
there to draw up bill of Indictment against
weak king and his ministers, they had
been at loss what they would set forth as
the cause of their complaints But they had
nc difficulty in setting them forth and so that
great article of impeachment will go down to
posteritv 10 Justify them for all they did
Let US, then, suppose the old patriots had
been ministers Of the crown, or members
OF the British Parliament of the dominant
party that had ruled Great Britain for thirty
years previous. Instead of dignifying what
they Gid as revolutionary, who would not
have hanged every man OF them as traitors!
They would ask what right have you, who
have had the government in your own hands
who have been ministers doing everything
tat has been done, to set up here that you
have been oppressed and aggrieved by the
have been an act of treason and nothing less.
Now, they who SIT here. the leaders CT TIL
modern revolrtlon-are they II condition
to complain Of the action of this government
for years past Why, they have had moro
than two-thirds Of the Senate for many years.
You that complain, represent but little more
than one quarter OF the free people OF the
limited States; yet, you have prevailed Tor
tsy Years past in tie cabinet OF the President
and in the Supreme Court OF the United
Stotes. and nearly every department Of the
government. Those who voted with you
Rave dictated the policy OF the government.
Is il not strange that those who occupy TINS
n,sition come here complaining that tnelr
TIGHTS have been stricken down But what
;s the cause of this great excitement whlcn
undoubtedly prevails in Portion oi our
oourtrv9 Tor. if the newspapers are TO be
orsdited there is reign OF terror IN the ci-
tics and large towns OF the South 'nat !ooAs
row much like the reign OF terror IN faris
during the French revolution, W 9 near OF
Tnrtbern men being sent back, seourged, and
go, and feathered, and no inquiry made
:-.ro-.rd "a the cause. l do not suppose
he recular government, in times OF excite
-, .nr s3Le thIs. is really responsible tor these
.i..I. ts of nassion. If the States where
thssa outrages prevail were foreign govern
1nese 80 F they were really authorized by
ueu., .I .,cS.;tuted authorities, everybody Knows
f;t we're the strongest government n 'h'
- We wculd declare war IN one day'.
SU, S what has caused this great excitement
! will tell what suppose II L. ~ INV ~