Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-12-26

nearly nine hundred thousand votes, and
in his election the people of the United
States have not passed judgment against
the claims of the South to equality and
justice.
Mr.. Pre- ident, want TO call the atten-
tion of those Senator'S and of their friends
at home to particular point in this case.
do not care to inquire into the question
of the right of secession Whether it be
a right, or whether, when q State with.
draws. IT is revolution, the consequence to
the seeding State and to tho remaining
States will be essentially the same, and
the remedy, if remedy there be, will be
the same. But the point | wish to make
is this even if it be a right, is it just to
the other States to resort to that remedy
until redress has been sought and denied
at the very fountain Of political power and
authority, and through the precise chan>
nels in which this Confederacy was forms
ed? think not Such precipitate ac.
ton is not just to their friends. Let the
southern States ask of this Confederacy,
seperate and aside from ordinary political
considerations, to consider and adjust this
question. Let them ask redress for thei'
grievances at the hands Of those who have
the power to grant it, and in the form
prescribed in the compact under which we
live. lfredress be denied, if two thirds of
the States refuse to call convention, or,
calling convention, if three fourths Of
the States decline to approve such amend.
ments to the Constitution as they deem
essential to the protection of their rights
and to the maintenance OF their equality
in the Union, then the time will have ar
rived for considering this question of dis
solution. But until all other means have
been exhausted, it should not, cannot be
seriously entertained.
Mr.. President, am one of those who
, believe that the remedy for the present
t distr: cted condition Of the country, after
5 all, must, sooner or later, come from the
people, il il is to come at all and be per.
, mancnt. do not say that amendments
, should not be submitted here. l am by
, no means intending to indicate that the
cifor: should not be made; but | do say
! that little hope that measures Of adjust
/ ment can pass Congress that will meet
this case. 1t is hardly to be expected
f thai the politicians or partisans of the
country brought into position in the
! midst of party struggles, committed to
one side or other Of the controverted
points, are prepared for this delicate
work II must go into other hands. Let
the people select representatives on this
single subject alone, and to remedy the
defects which experience has shown, and
if needs he give new guarantees, to the
aggrieved States Then, sir, you will have
a singleness Of purpose, and our southern
friends will ascertain the real sentiment
of the northern people in reference to
their rights and position in the Union :;
and while confess that all the evidence
seems to be on the other side, have a be-
lief that in such test the conservative
element of the North would prevail-that
the South would be met in a spirit OF JUS
tice, fraternity, aad even generosity.
But it may he asked, as it has been al,
ready what is to become of the country
ia the meantime? What measures shall
be adopted to arrest the progress Of disso.
luton? | confess, Mr.. President, | am
not pref ared to answer that question: -
That is more especially for our friends
from those States which are moving for
, secession. II they know no means of ar
resting the progress of separation, then,
sir, we are truly ina hopeless condition.
But am not so despondent. have still
hope that if there were such indications
> from the North of disposition to deal
kindly on the subject TO hear their south
ern brethren fairly and fully, and answer
, if possible, iayorabiy their demands, there
, would be feeling of reaction in the
, South that men would Use above the
5 madness of the hour, ard stay the fatal
step, at least for a brief season, and an.
[ other effort would be made to save the
? Government, and to satisfy the southern
= States that they can maintain their rights
t within the Union.
Sir am not Of those who view this dis.
0 ease lightly. | am sensible thatit is deep
: seated, and TO sonro extent malignant,
/ but not mcurable. 1t is not my purpose
y to talk of distinctive propositions now /;
but do say that the best possible reme-
dy that could be applied, to silence forev-
j, er the war of elimination in the North,
/, would be TO separate this question of slas
It very, as far as possible, from the popular
n elaotions in the non >slaveh oldinp States