Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-12-26


ed the weakness OF com promises. Now,
only speak for myself. that in view Of the
manner in which comproni have beer
members of the Democratic party could
look each other in the face aud say CON-
promises" without a smile. A compro-
mise TO be brought about after the expert
ence we have hail, is absolutely ridiculous
What are we to compromise / am one o.
those who went with zeal to maintain the
principles Of the Republican party. In 9
constitutional way we met and nominated
our candidates. You did the same. The
Issue was made and we went to the people
with il, and. although usually in the mi
nority, usually beaten, the justice o. ouI
principles and the bad administration ol
the Government convinced the people that
a change ought to be brought about, and
after trying your utmost, and We our ut
most, we beat you. We beat you on the
plainest and most palpable issue ever pre-
sented to the American people, and one
they understood the best-and now, when
we come to the capital. we tell you that our
candidates must be inaugurated and ad-
minister the Government precisely as their
predecessors have done II would behumi.
isting and dishonorabie to US If we listen
ed to compromise by which We should
lay aside the verdict Of the people. When
at comes to that, you have no Government
but anarchy intervenes aud civil war may
follow, and all the evils that human ina.
gination can raise may be consequent up
on such course as that. The American
would lose the sheet.anchor OF Liberty.
whenever il is denied on this floor that a
majority fairly given shall rule | know
not what others may do, but tell you that
with that verdict of the people in my pock.
e,. and standing on the platform on which
these candidates we're elected, I would suf
fer anything before | would compromise in
aRy way. I deem il no case where. we
have a right to extend courtesy or gensr-
osity The absolute right, the uost sa-
cred that free people can bestow upon
any man. is their verdict that gives him a
full title To the Office he holds. If we
cannot sand there, We cannot stand any.
where; and, my friends, any other verdict
would be as fatal to you as to US. You say
he came from one session of the country
What of thatf MIR. Wade appealed 20
gentlemen on the other side 10 say il they
believed il the result OF the contest had
been the other way the Republicans would
have threatened disunIon He claimed
that If Mr.. Lincoln was an honest man, he
would administer the Constitution faith.
fully. Therefore say to you. as far as
am concerned. will yield to no compro-
mise. do not come here begging one
1t would be an indignity TO the people
represent il was to stand bsre recreent
to rights OF rny party. We have won our
right to the Chief Magistrscy, and il you
we're as willing to do justice to others "a to
exact it from them, you would never rise to
ask for compromise. Many of you stand
in an attitude hostile to this Government
when you threaten, unless we do SO and
so, you will go out OF this Union, and de-
stroy the Government. | say, in my pri.
vste capacity never yield to anything by
way Of threats. In my public capacity
have no right to yield. Therefore. would
not entertsia a proposition for com promise
This long, chronic controversy must be
met upon the principles Of the Constitution.
hops 1t may be adjusted, but l know of
no way except that laid down by the Con-
stitu,ion Of the United States When We
60 astray from that. we plunge ourselves
into di n culties. There are different ways
of constituting it. but, in my judgment, it is
the wi.est Constitution ever vet organized,
snd ana willing 10 stand by il. ask for
nothing more.
There is another subject about which
ought to say something 1t is claimed that
you have right TO secede at your pleas
ure. cannot ind any warrant for doc
trine like that in :be Constitution. In my
judgment, it would be subyersive Of COZ
stitutioual obligations If that is so, we
have no Government 1t would reduce thi.
Union to mere eouglomeratiea OF States,
TO be held together al the will % any cap
tious member or il. The State OF South
Carolina is small State; but, probably. il
she was sunk by an earthquake, we should
hardly 6nd it out, except by the uuwonted
harmony that would prevail in this Cham
ber say this frem no i'll will. think
she is unwise. | would be willing to le
her go out il we could do so without al
example fatal to all government. But
standing here, my wishes must be control
led by constitutional duty. | don't Sc,
how any man can contend that State ear
90 out Of the Government at pleasure. Th
question was reviewed thirty years ago
aud received a verdict which il was suppo
sed had set it at rest forever. By Genera
Jackson, and the men who surrounded
him, il was pronounced a delusinu, and ut
terly disruptive of all Governments. Yet
here it is to day, blooming and fresh. NJ
/ Calhoun, even, held TO the doctrine ths
We have power To make wsr on State
/ You will find this doctrine in his long le;
/ ter 10 Gov Hamilton. | acknowledge I
/ the fullest extent the right OF revolution
J il you so call it-a right to destroy the gov
ernment and erect another on It's ruin
moro in accordance with your wishes. Bu
when you undertake it you undertake
with this provision: II you are successful
all is right. You are heroes. But II vo
are defeated you are rebels.
That is the character OF revolutions;
successful sll we'll, il unsuccessful Ii
Government treats them "a traitors. =
did not see a cause TO apprehend that an
party intended to make war on the sec
ding States; he only asserted the right {
do so il they saw fit. He would not, hov
ever, counsel or advise any party to 10 i
He would be very tender with the rights
the people who were obout to break up ii
Government under which they had DELFT
erately come to the conclusion they cou|
not liye-but he apprehended that the pr
sition Of tke Republicans would comp
them to take austere ground. Although
State secedes, they cannot recognize h
right 10 20 out tof the Union until she gai
J the consent OF the Union. he duty of /!
Chief Magistrate is to execute the law
every part of the Government. He cam
be released from this obligation. NothIl
! in the Constitution of the United Stat
will warrant his saying that a single 5,
!, has fallen. He is sworn not to know th
= a State has seeded. aud to pay co respt
: To resolutions that declare she has done
I 10 doing this il does not follow that
/, mu.t make war upon her. bat he shOu
y exercise every Federal right over her, t
: most important Of which il the collecti
;. Of the revenue There arc many rights
J. the benefit Of the people OF State viii
: IN zht be dispensed with. Ii they do l
II want the mails carried the President co,
it abolish the post Offices. They might I
9 perhaps elect officers to send herr, but tt
u could do as they liked about that. Tt
q have right to be perfectly represen
IS here, but il they chooss to forego that P
y vilege it is not incumbent upon the Pre-
: dent 10 force them to send representa-,
lie here. But the chief magistrate must coll
G, the revenue precisely the same as in ev
- other State. No State can be released Fl
as that obligation for the Constitu ion
ur mands ii, What follows? Ii the seced
Mt State shuts up her ports OF entry. 80 |
IL ships cannot discharge their cargoes, Il
Ill ships will cease to go there; or, il the 8
OF ernnent blockades her ports TO collect r
ou a.,a she will not have gained her in