The Yazoo Democrat., 1860-03-03

governed by their own laws the Athenians call
ed an Assembly, and propounding their opinions
among themselves, thought good, after they had
debated the matter, to give them an answer once
for all. And many stood forth and delivered
their minds on either side, some for war, and
some that this act concerning the Megareans
ought not to stand in their way to peace, but co
be abrogated; and Pericles, the son of Xantip-
pus the principal man at that time of all Athens,
and most sufficient both for speech and action,
gave his advice in such manner as followeth."-
Ho5bes's THucydides, page So.
Mr.. T00MBS. This is the narrative of
Thucydes, giving the causes of the Pelopon.
nesian war. The Megareans had given
refuge to the revolted slaves of Athens.
She was in alliance with Sparta. Sparta
sent her ambassadors to Athens, and told
her to withdraw that decree. Athens had
forbidden tradc and commerce with her
until she gave up those slaves. Finally,
the Lacedemonians said, if you will with
draw your decree against the Megareaus in
the matter Of the fugitive slaves, we shall
have peace. The matter was debated
Some then said it was a small matter; we
will give it up Pericles addressed the
people and Twill call your attention to a
few words of his, announcing a principle
which deserves the immortality it has won :
Now, let none of you conceive that we shall
20 to war for o trife by not abrogating the act
concerning Megara, (yet this, by them, is pretend
ed most, and that, for the abrogation Of it, the
var shall stay y nor retain a scruple in your
minds, as if q small matter moved you tC the
war; for even this small matter contained the
trial and constancy of your resolution; wherein,
if you give them away, you shall hereafter be
commanded greater matter, as men that fear
will obey them likewise in that. But by stiff
denial you shall teach them plainly to come to
Won hereafter on terms of more equality. Re-
solve, therefore, from this occasion, either to
Weld them obedience before you receive damages,
or if we must have war, (which, for my part,
think is best, be the preference weighty or light,
not to give way nor keep what we possess in fear.
For great and little claim, imposed by equals
upon their neighbors, before judgment, by way of
command, hath one and the same virtue to make
subject. Ibid, page 10.
The Greeks, too, under their league, had
an arbiter to whom this class of disputes
might be referred. This noble old Greek
saw the Importance of principle some of
his couutrymen thought it too small an af
fair to lead to war; but his sound and elo-
ouent argument was listened to, and afirm>
ed in the assembly of the people, and his
policy was adopted. The Athenians greatly
and wisely determined to vindicate this
principle and 60 to war rather than sur
render it. That war brought unnumbcred
woes on all Greece. Even if | had full
knowledge that the same result would hap
pen to my country, [ would repeat Pericles
advice to my countrymen. If Grecian liber.
ty has slept in the tomb of twenty centuries,
it slept without dishonor; if it persisted,
it did not perish ingloriousIy.
Sir, l will conclude this branch of the
subject by reading an extract from speech
of one of our own great lights, which has
but recently gone out; a man to whom the
high honor Of being the great expounder of
the Constitution was assigned by large
portion of the intellect and patriotism of his
generation; man whose fidelity to the Con
stitution of his country lost him the conf
dence of New England. need not say
mean the late Daniel Webster. In his speech
of the 28th of juno, 1851, at Capou Springs
Virginia, Mr.. Webster said
"I do not hesitate to say and repeat that if
the Northern States refuse wifully and deliber-
ately to carry into effect that part of the Consti.
tuition which respects the restoration Of fugitive
slaves, the South would no longer be bound to
observe the compact. A bargain broken on one
side is broken on all sides"
1 say the bargain is broken-broken by
the States whose policy have reviewed !;
broken by the republican party, who did
the work in their legislatures and else where.
Their hands are soiled with blood of the
compact, they cannot be permitted to ad,
minister at its altars | know not that it
was even necessary to prove this point of the
case. l doubt much whether the members
of that party will deny the fact it is their
fixed policy never to carry out, in good faith,
this part of the bargain. I doubt if there
be five, out of all the members of the repub
licau party on this floor, who will stand up
here to-day and say they are willing, either
by State or federal legislation, or in any,
other manner, to uphold aud comply with
this provision of the Constitution. I do not
believe there are enough to meet Gods final
requisition to save Sodom. No, Sir; they
mock at constitutional obligations, ieer at
oaths They have lost their shame with
their virtue, and no longer feel humiiated
at the commission of these great crimes.
leave this point with demand for the COM
pact. In the name Of the people whom
represent, demand the bond In the name
of every true and honest man in the North,
as well as the South, demand the redemp,
ton of your plighted faith.
/ come now to the second point. These
black-republicans say they are opposed to
the extension Of slavery, and they seem to
wish it mostly an account of their reverence
for the "fathers Of the Republic" These
Hartford convention federalists hypocriti.
cally pretended great reverence for Wash.
ington, Jefferson, and Madison. They stoned
the prophets when they were alive, and
claim salvation through them when dead
This has happened before. It is true, that
many of the leading men in the revolution
from the South were opposed to slavery.
think one of the objections which Luther
Martin, delegate to the constitution, con
vention, from Maryland, urged against the