Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-10
SPEECH OF
Hon, Benjamin F. Wade.
IN THE u. 5, SENATE.

thy Of notice, as they seemed TO embOdy the
views of the Democratic party, and they were
entirely opposite to the principles for which he
should contend. The public mind is greatly
agitated In the consideration of the principles
contained in these resolutions and other similar
ones. 1t is a little remarkable that the loudest
complaints came from those who have had the
power and administration of the Government
for many years, and have nodded its policy and
been in possession of the vast revenues. The
party to which ! belong have been for many
years without any power to control IN any way
the policy Of the Government. Ii is a singular
fact that those who have the army, the navy,
and the Treasury under their control now stand
complaining; and they come forward to tell as
thai NAL. administration is SUCH or their princi-
Piles are such that it will be better TO tear down
the pillars Of the Government and involve us
all in one common ruin. The question might
well arise-HoW hspPensit that you, who have
been in possession of the power of the Gov
ernment for the last seven years, should have
90 conducted it that you are now apprehensive
of ruin! l can deduce no other conclusion
than that those who have been in possession of
this power have shown themselves incapable of
administering the Government on such princi>
pies as it should be administered upon. l do
not believe any Senator here from the Southern
States can look me in the face and say that he
has not, and his section has not had their full
share of political power from the organization
of the Government until now. No, sir. 1t is
perfectly obvious that your power in this Gov
ernment has been altogether in dispToportion to
your numbers. l DO not blame anybody, be-
cause know it is the nature of US all to make
use of all the powers we have TO the advan>
tage of our own principles, our own interests,
and our own views. Undoubtedly, Sir, would
do the same thing. And you, Sir, complain of
the administration of this Government, and
say that it is a total failure to such degree
that you are meditsting its utter and entire de-
struciion. Who is to blame for all this except
those who had the power and have controlled
all the policies of the government to suit them
selves! This is the most manifest from the
confession of those who complain. 1t is but
the shadow Of the great principle which l
contend for, thrown across the political horizon
| that distuTbs the equanimity Of our Southern
brethren. The Senator from Georgia (Mr
Toombs) told us that they were in the posses
sion, and he was proud of it-and well he
might be-of $4,000 square miles of the most
beautiful country God ever bestowed upon
man; and he informed US, Sir, that it was capa-
bic Of sustaining population greater than that
| of Europe and l believe he spoke within
bounds when he said so. He told US there were
but twelve millions of people inhabitiDg that
country. And we all know that the Slave
holding States in point of area are One-third
greater than that Of the Free States, while they
contain now not more than one-half the pOpu-
lation. He showed thei; prosperity; and that,
too, is so. Is not, then, anomalous, these
winnings and complaints about the aggression
and oppression of the North, who are entirely
out of power, and when we know that the
property claimed by these gentlemen was
never go prosperous as today Slaves are
higher than they have ever been before, and
their employment is more profitable to the
owner than it has ever been. In one moment,
it is the glory and boast of Southern gentle>
men, and, in the very next breath, all is ruin
and dependency. How is it, Sirl II the
North have conducted themselves so shameless
ly toward Southern institutions, if their UNDER
ground railroads have so sapped the foundations
| of your peculiar institution, how is it that
your property has risen in the market, and now
stands higher, by your own boasting and show
ing, than at any former periodi These things
cannot be. One other thing would notice
The Senator from Georgia (Mr. Toombs) rose
in his place, and with a kind of despair on his
eountenance said we on this side of the CHAINS
Der were the enemies of the country. He felt
them to be the enemies of his country, and
power would be unsafely lodged in our hands
Why unsafe, Sir, if we have not endangered
the Government so fart He complained that
we were faithess in the execution Of his lugi~
tive bill, and yet he told US that such was the
loyalty of the servants of the people of Georgia
that, since the days of the Revolutionary War
to the present day, not one hundred for any
cause whatever had escaped Sir, had not that
Senator small reason to complain of anybody!
Scarcely negro a year had escaped from the
great State Of Georgia, yet she comes here and
is ready in her rage to make war ON the Union,
to tear its pillars down, and involve US all in
one common ruin. And why, Sir! Because
they have lost one poor niger year! He
does not tell us whether they lost them by
AbOhtionists or not. But when the gentleman
comes here to maintain that kind Of argument,
it is perfectly evident that there is something
else than the consciousness of any real losses
by the unfaithfulness of those whom they
abuse. Well, Sir, as the Senator from Georgia
seemed to be the Attorney General to bring in
bill Of indictment against this side Of the
l Senate, l propose, for brief period, to review
some of the arguments, some of the decla-
rations, and some of the vituperation contain
ed in that speech, for I acknowledge him to
be among the ablest and most experienced
Senators of this body, and if any case could be
/
duty, he was able to make it manifest. He
had the ability, and certainly he did not lack
the zeal, andif be failed with another noted
character, he failed where Satan could not
stand. He set fforth, Sir, with the charge Of
treason, of perjury, nay of cowardice, which l
confess grated more harshly than all the other
accusations made use of. We were told that
we, with the untold millions we represent had
so lost our sense of honor that we could not
resent an injury. Did he believe we were ar
rant towards on this side? If he did, and
have no doubt he did-if he believes this side
Of the chamber are all non-combltants, l will
not believe he intended to earn a cheap repu.
taton for yalor against those whom he supposed
would never meet the challenge. 1t is known
to everybody that the people of the Free States
have utterly repudiated this old and they con-
tend, barbarous mode of settling difficulties
with a duel Every intelligent man knows full
well that the man who indorsed the practice
in the North has so fallen under the ban of
public opinion that he could afterward receive
no Office of trust or honor in any of those
States. He is treated as an outcast; and if, by
any accident, he should happen to be trium-
phRnt, he would be deemed criminal, and held
as such in society. | know full well, and a
regret it, that this state Of things, although
undoubtedly just in itself, has placed us at l
disadvantage here. 1 feel that this sentiment,
prevailing at the North, although righteously'
has frequently placed US as it were, at the
mercy Of those who constTue our forbearance
as want of courage. It is not strange that
this state of things should exist among the
Northern people. We have had no reason to
distrust the courage of the people there. Why,
Sir, physical courage with our Northern peo-
pie is a sentiment so general that is cheapened
by its universally. Who ever has seen the
Northern man fail on the field of combat? =
Was it not known that braver men never step.
ped on the quarter deck, nor entered the per-
ious breach? Who ever heard ofs coward at the
North when duty called? But if l understand
the Senator, we on this side, and the untold
millions we represent, have not the courage to