The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-12-26

i here. For one, | am prepared TO separate
myself as far as possible from past prejudi
ces and party allegiance, and consider the
condition OF the country in spirit of de-
voion TO IFS interest. | most heartily com
mend the noble position of the Senator
from Connecticut, [Mr. Dixon.1 Without
understanding the desires OF the men of his
own r arty, as he has told us, regardless oil
his connection with them of his party pre-
JudIces-ior believe he is friend of The
President 'elect-he has come boldly for
ward and taken his position for the Cons,i-
tuition, for the Unien as made by the Con.
stlution. for the equality of the States, and
for justice among the citizens of the States.
Sir, extend 10 him the hand of fellowship,
and meet him in the same spirit, and un-
der the same circumstances, for | have no
idea how my views will be received on this
side of the Chamber. In the spirit of the
Senator from Illinois on this side, Mr.
Douglass go with men of any party, and
men otevery party wko will devote them
selves TO the great work of rescuing the
country from the impending danger
| Mr.. President, for veal or woe, am for
the Union as made by our fathers | am
Tor the constitutional Union as It is, and, in
The spirit OF the remark of the Senator from
California yesterday, expect TO be of and
Tor The Union as it is 20 De. Whatever an
! humble individual like myself can do, or
suffer, or sacrifice, in the cause of the Uni
on, shall be freely offered up.
But, sir, what can be done | think the
motion of the Senator from Kentucky; to
refer so much of the President'ss message
as refers 10 this subject 10 a select commit
tee, is a movement in the right direction
thank the Senator for it, and shall cheer
fully vote for lis adonno,- .----------= s-'Srr
ed Senator from Virginia, CMr. Mason. i
That honorable Senator said he would vote /
for the resolution as mere matter of Par |
liamentary courtesy, because the message
should be referred to a committee. He said /
that much, lest his vote might be misun- |
derstood by his constituents, hat they should !
be under the impression that he had con-
ciuded that a remedy for the present diff |
culties which beset the country could be I
grsss could do nothing on that subject
That honorable Senator must know that, in /
some way or other, any adjustment that I
may be made on this subjec; must TO some
extent, be connected with Congress Con-
gress must necessarily be connected with it /
unless it be the question OF secession, which !
belongs to the States only. If ii be posi-
bic 10 agree upon an adj usment in the
shape of law, then Congress aud the Ex
eculive will perform the whole work. If
the committees should find that it required
an amendment 10 the Constitution, then
Congress must either adopt that amendment
and submit it for the approval of the States,
or else, when two thirds of the States petit
tion Congress, provision must be made for
a convention of the States so that, in any
event, Congressional action will be necssa-
ry. That is a reason why there should be
no hesitation whatever in considering the
question here, and inquiring calmly, sober
ly and earnestly Of each other what can be
done to rescue The country.
Sir, have a word or two 10 say specially
| mean those from the far off south those
with whom have 30 long and cordially
co-opersted here for whose rights | zeal
ously conlended long before met them on
this floor; whose cause, TO some extent. in
the late contest for President, fifteen hun
dred thousand Northern men embraced
II scarcely becomes me TO undertake TO
Judge of their case confess. | am, per
haps, incapable OF appreciating their pre-
else position and feelings. acknowledge
that there has been kept up war of ag
gression upon their feelings, well calcula.
Ted TO ALLEVIATE them from the people of the
North that in some instances their clear
constituio nal rights have been vexaiiously
embarrassed, and al times defeated and
furthermore, that The party about 10 assume
the reins of Government, in the late contest
avowed doctrines which, in my judgement
are Inconsistent with the equality of the
States for so regard the doctrine of the
exclusion OF the owner of slave from the
common Territories unless he leaves his
property behind him. Bnt, Mr. President,
is dissolution a remedyl Is that the best
and wisest of all the alternatives left! Has
the time come to embrace that remedyl
think not. said before, that it was not for
me TO speak of what concerned Them and
their interests; but | say no more fatal step
can be taken for the interests of the great
State which | represent here, and, as
verify believe, for every other State in this
Coniedefacy.
l know, sir, it may be said-it was said
yesterday by the Senator from Mississippi,
mir. Brown 1--,hai war, and even death,
are to be preferred to dishonor, and that
State remaining in the Union less than an
equal, denied of It's constitutional rights, is