Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-12
M. H.~kIus-If you we're not an Alexander, am

heal all wounds, and produce political millennium.
The effect, If carried out would be to demoraze and
degrade the South he sorry the proposition came
from one Of the noble sons Of Virginia.
The republicans have no idea Of yielding anything
II ridiculous to try to stop the slavery agitation
The only who is authorized 10 speak for Lincoln Is
Senator Trumbul who says that the Interpretation Of
the Presidential election that his administration will be
on the side of frsedom-meaniug thereby opposition to
slavery. He (Mr. Hawkins) might be caleda Catalina,
but he wished to utter few words of warning. He
would tell the North speaking by the book, that hissis
sippi Alabama Florida Georgia, and South Carolina are
certain to secede from the Unon and Arkansas, Lous
ana and Texas are sure to follow.
Mr.. Valandgham proposed to vote for the motion to
excuse Mr. Hawkins IL is he said idle 10 attempt to
gentleman to serve upon this committee, who as
signs such for his refusal the gentleman from
Florida has given and in justice TO him and his State
but above ALL the very purpose of the committee IL
SELF cannot so vote. You may decline to excuse him.
but you cannot compel him to discharge with good will
alacrty the duties you impose upon him. But what
kind of Cancellation and compromise is that which begins
by forcing man to serve on committee raised Tor the
very purpose Of peace?
What prospect, in Gods name-I speak II reverently
is there OF adjustment, when you obliged TO re-
sort TO compuson TO make up your committee on CON-
promise and adjustment. pass by without comment,
the fact that with far proprety and effect this pro-
position might have come from the republican party IN
the House-he party that has just rumphed In the cleo
ton which is the eliminating point Of all controver
sies and of the dangers which surround u.s. And that
with great honor to himself and great and soothing
good it may have been to the country fu Oh alarm ana
excitement.
Now the gentleman who Is the chairman of the CON-
mee mr. Corwin) distinguished for his age, expert
ence eoquence aud moderation to say nothing OF his
position as a leader Of that party, might have assumed
the responsibility Of taking the initiative in that great
work Of reconciliation and reconstruction which alone
can save US now instead Of allowing it to be devoved
upon representative Of that particular spot In Virginia
which abolition madness and wickedness selected the
nearest point Of attack along the entire savehodng bo
ders of this confederacy
pass by also the cumbrous constructions of this COM
mttee with the single remark that council OF war new
or fights and committee of thtythree will agree
upon anythng-at least upon anything not so weak,
so dused diluted to be utterly inadequate to the
solution Of the greatest and grayest and most material
question which has been presented in modern his
tory will not SO much suggest the possibility that
the abors of this committee will all end in nothing, and
in worse than nothing will even remark upon the
peculiar composition Of this committee in havog men
placed upon t who represent nobody, not even them
selves who peculiarly odious TO majority, or
very large minority Of the sections from which they
come and thus are calculated much TO embarrass
and defeat than to advance the avowed purpose for
which the committee was ordered
There is not solitary representative OF the Demo-
cratic party upon the committee from the sixteen FREE
States of this Union East of the Rocky mountains The
sons choice There Is no Republican IRON California
here although Lincoln by the infinite subdivision of his
opponents has managed the electoral vote OF
the State The excellent and intelligent gentleman from
Oregon mr. Stou is indeed upon it, because he is for.
tunate having colleague Although, 10 tell the truth.
should have been Surprised remembering the repre-
sentaton Of Oregon in recent political conventions,
60 have the gentleman supported by Horace Greeley
or possibly the member from Massachusetts, mr. Thaye)
though perhaps that member is little too strongly tine
tured with the doctrine Of popular sovereignty to suit the
times
10 speaking of the power and geographical advantages
of the great West he said We have empire equal in
area 10 the whole OF Russia, and neither TO be
dependency or province Of the East OF the South,
yet inferior or second rate power upon this con-
tnest And il cannot have maritime boundary se-
cured upon o her terms will cleave our way TO the
seacoast With the sword A nation OF warriors may
be- but tribe of shepherds never Aud yet nearly one
half of the people of this vast empire which Is very
soon play so important part in the affairs OF this
continent utterly ignored and excluded from this
committee More than 600 900 voters represented here
by sixteen members upon this floor slenced and dis
franchised 10 its arrangement
What do your propose to do without their votes at
home and votes herey Or, are we both blndly 10
take whatever your committee may chouse graciousy TO
report and be thankful for itg We have one State Ill
nos) with democratic majority upon this floor, and
she at least had right to De represented upon your
committee.
The time is short-the danger is immin ant-he mala
DIV deep seated and OF long standing Whatever is done
must be done at once, and thoroughly. Every remedy
must 90 right straight the seat OF the disease Let
there he no delays no weak Inventions temporZlng
expedents; otherwise the secession OF es States
only bu. a total disruption of the whole government is
inevitable. We are standing now in the forum Of histo-
ry we are acting in the eyes of poserity.
We have solemn duties the whole country to per-
FORM and If do discharge them instantly aud
Alright mot poppy nor man-dragon nor all the drowsy
syrups Of the world will medicine to that sweet sleep
which yesterday we owned. In the name of the denoc.
racy Of sixteen States OF the Unon protest against tie
arrangement of this committee. Ny motives may be
misinterpreted now Be it sol Time will in short
while vndicate them.
Mr. McClernand said that secession opened troublous
future He did believe government could be dis
solved by the action of oil its constituents parts.-
Bound together are by common language and
sion, and common mountains aud rivers it Is only by
a civil and sectional war, such as the never shone
on that such result can be produced. There il more
strength in government than is extensively believed
and the people will later rally lis maintenance
The gen eman from Florida had alluded to the fact that
the Northwest Democracy has been excluded from tho
committee and he urged this a reason why he should
be excused He thanked Mr. Hawkins from his heart for
the motives which prompted this generous manifestations
nevertheless he hr. McCernand) could not agree that
Mr. Hawkins should be excused from serving on the COM
mittee lie amazed that the entire Democracy from
the North should be excluded from repres ntton the
committee. He could not believe the South would now
desert their friends in the North Would they not con-
suit their own safety by meeting with the North the pro-
scrption of n merciless Republican foe? Let US fight
the battle out under the CONSTITUTIONS let US, while il is
not too late accommodate differences principles
of Justice aud secure TO the people Of the Souh their
constitutional rights, and then settle forever this distract
ing question The people Of the Northwest ine-
ror people, and emently prosperous, waxing stronger
and stronger every day. Shall We consent to have our
selves cut ofg
In the course Of bis remarks he expressed his conf
dence In the patriotism Of the chairman of the commit.
teo
Mr. Sickles proceeded to shox that every instinct,
thought and purpose OF the city OF New York is NATIONAL
patriotic and American In the name Of such people,
with such record he had presented, be ventured to
anueal on all sides of the House for the moderation and
devotion to duty which had always characterized them
One of the greatest dangers Of the day is that the
try does not understand the extent of the peril in which
we are placed The country has been filled with delu
sons which now present themselves one OF which
il that dsunon be prevented by force that It can
by revolution be brought the verge OF destruction and
vet at last the strong Of power stay the work.
On the call for force come whence it may, no man
would pass the frontier Of the city of New York TO
wsge war aganst State which, through its const.
tued authority, should, for its rights, interest and
honor, seek safety IN separate existence. The
Union can be made perpetual by JUSTICE but not by
force and f these truths engraved on the hearts Of
the people Of the Northwest aud East all would be we'll
Until these truths be recognz d there be peace
lie believed and 80 did the city of New York. that the
power TO deal with this question rests alone the Repub
can party who have just achieved, through the recent
election the patronage Of the federal govern
ment aud who control the Legislation of the Northern
States Let those Legislatures speedily be conveaed and
zee in what they are pared to deal with this
question.
The cause of the present evils is dsobedieuce to the