Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-11-17
SPEECH OF HON. BEDFORD BROWN,

OF NoRTH-CARoLINA,
Dslirered in the Senate Of the United States, Feb
ruarv 4 1888, on tile ReUenue Collection or
Force Bill
The Senate having again proceeded to consider
the bill to provide further for the collection of the
duties on imports
Mr.. Brown, of North Carolina, rose He did not
believe, he said that he should be able to say any
thing to equal the high intellectual entertainment
which the gentleman who preceded him in this dis
cussion had furnished to the Senate. But he would
endeavor to remunerate whatever attention the SEN
ate might give to his plain homey effort, by the
brevity of his remarks If he had consulted the adj
monitions of discretion rather than of duty, he
should have been silent, nor have offered to oppose
his views to those of gentlemen of such distinguish
ed ability. But the bill before the Senate involved
questions of such magnitude that he could not con-
tent himself with silent vote upon it. The sub
iect was of high interest to the State which he had
the honor in part to represent both as a member
of the common Union and in reference to her pecu-
liar position bordering, she does upon the State
out of whose legislation arose this question This
obligation of duty derived additional force from the
resolutions of the State of North Carolina instruct
ing her Senators to exert their influence to obtain
"peaceable adjustment of this controversy" and to
produce restoration of harmony between the Fed
eral Government and the State of South Carolina
While it always afforded him pleasure to comply
with the requests of his constituents in obeying
their injunctions this OCCASION he followed also
the dictates of his own judgment and ardent wishes
It was his earnest hope that this contest which was
now assuming an angry and threatening aspect
should be settled in peaceable manner He need
not say that he dsapproved of the course of South
Carolina, or that his State disapproved of it. Her
course he thought, had been rash and uncalled for
by the exgency Of the times She should have re-
lied as he did, upon constitutional remedy; upon
the returning sense OF justice in the people of the
Northern and Eastern States; and upon the wisdom
and patriotism assembled in the legislative halls of
the country. But the State of South Carolina
Thought differently and took redress into her own
hands. She was responsible to herself for her
course 1t was not his business to sit in Judgment
upon her, but to express, on his part and that
OF his State, disapprobaton of her course.
The bill, though proposing on its face to be gen.
eral in its application manifeStly intended to be
applied to South Carolina alone Though the name
was not written under the picture he who runs may
easily read. What is the proper way of settling
this question? What course is most likely to lead
to peaceable adjustment of it? This is the CUES
ton before u.s. The Committee on the Judiciary
must excuse him, if notwithstanding the high re-
spect he entertained for their talents he should
wholly dissent from the specific remedy which they
propose. lie did not believe that the bill by them
presented to the Senate was calculated to carry out
the glorious, the inestimable principle of our nst
tutions that our Government should he essentially
pacific in its remedies He believed that in its con-
sequences, it would be attended with violence and
perhaps lead to civil war. He objected to the pro-
vision which authorized the repulsion by force of
any attempt to execute the laws of South Carolina
Ill reference to the revenue. To that provision he
mainly objected, but there were some other provis-
ions OF minor Importance which did not meet his as
sent. Ii any one principle was better established
than another in reference to our institutions it was
that the military should be subordinate to the civil
authority. If any one principle was sacred it was
this. 1t was one which no emergency justified us
N departing from; one which constituted .he verv
essence of republican form of government, and
without which free institutions could not exist -
When We establish the doctrine that military an
thority may step in to execute the law before the in
dietary has exerted its powers, then the essence and
spirit Of cur institutions are essentially changed
Il has been our boast that in where other ma
tions resort to war, resort to a peaceful mode
of attaining settlement of the question; and to
the judicial tribunals is committed the administra-
ton of these peaceful measures. He did not at
all object to the due administration and operation Of
the laws of the United States. He wished the laws
to find support in the energy of the constitution
1t was vain to say that coercive measures are ne
cssary in this case; for there is an inherent ener