Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-12-21

cy, and if you were as willing to do Justice to
others as to exact it from them, you would
never rise to ask for compromise. Many of
you stand in an attitude hostile to this govern.
ment when you threaten unless we do so, you
will go out OF this Union and destroy the gov
eminent. | say, in my private capacity I new
er yield TO anything by way Of threats. In
my public capacity | have no right to yield
Therefore l would not entertain a proposition
for compromise. This long, chronic contro.
versy must be met upon the principles of the
constitution l hope it may be adjusted, but
know OF no way except that laid down by the
constitution of the United States. When we
go aStray from that, we plunge ourselves into
difficulties. There are different ways of con-
STRUNG II, but, in my Judgment, It'll the wisest
constitution ever yet organized and | am will
ling to stand by it. l ask for nothing more
There is another subject about which l
ought to say something. 1t is claimed you
have right to secede at your pleasure. |
cannot find any warrant for doctrine like that
in the constitution In nay judgment, it
would be subversive of constitutions obliga-
tons If that is so, we have no government.
1t would reduce the Union to a mere conglom.
Grafton of states, to be held together at the
will OF any captious member of it. The state
of South Carolina is small state but proba.
bly,, if she was sunk by an earthquake, we
shouldg hardly find it out, except by the un-
wonted harmony that would prevail in this
chamber. l say this from no ill will l
think she is unwiSe. | would be willing to
let her go out if we could do so without an ex.
ample fatal to all government. But standing
here, my wishes must be controlled by consti-
tutional duty. | don't see how any man can
pretend that a state can go out OF the govern.
ment at pleasure. The question was review
ed thirty years ago, and received verdict
which it was supposed had set it at rest torev-
er. BY Gen. jackson, and the men who sur
rounded him, it was pronounced a delusiOn,
and utterly disruptive of all governments.
Yet, here it is to day, blooming and fresh.
Mr.. Calhoun, even, held to the doctrine that
we have power to make war on a state. You
will find this doctrine in his long letter to Gov.
Hamilton. | acknowledge TO the fullest ex-
tent the right Of revolution if you so call it
right to destroy the government and erect
another on its ruins more in accordance with
your wishes But when you undertake it you
undertake it with the provision If you are
successful, all is right. You are heroes. But
if you are defeated, you are rebels. That is
the character of all the revolutions ifsuccess-
tul all well if unsuccesst ii the government
treats them as traitors.
lie did not see any cause to apprehend that
any party intended to make war on the seced-
ing states he only asserted the right to do so
if they saw fit. He would not however, coun-
sci or advise any party to do it. He would be-
very tender with the rights OF the people who
are about to break up the government under
which they had deliberately come 10 the con
clusion they could not live but he apprehend.
ed that the position of the republicans would
compel them 10 take austere ground. Although
a state secede they cannot recognize her right
TO go out OF the Union until she gains the con
sent of the Union The duty OF the chief
ma is tn pypputa tho law in avprv r,nrt
of the government He cannot be released
from this obligation. Nothing in the constitu-
ton of the United States will warrant his
saying that single star has fallen lie is
sworn not to know that a state has seeded,
and to pay no respect to resolutions that de-
clare she has done so. LII doing ills il does
not follow that he must make war upon her,
but he should exercise every federal right over
her, the most important Of which is the cOllec-
ton OF the revenue. There are many rights
for the benefit of the people of the stale
which might be dispensed with. If they
do not want the mails carried the
president could abolish the post offices.
They might not perhaps elect officers to send
here, but they could do as they liked about
that. They have right to be perfectly rep
resented here; but If they choose to torego
that privilege, it is not incumbent upon the
president to force them to send representatives
the revenue precisely the same as in every
other state No stale can be released from
that obligation, Tor the constitution demands
it. What follows If the seeding state
shuts up her ports of entry, SO that ships can
not discharge their CargOes, then ships viii |
cease to go there; or if the government block |
ade her ports to collect revenue, then she will
not have gained her independence by seces-
sion. Ii she will feel contened TO live under |
Il 1 Al, all L..
but she cannot do So What will she do
She must take the initiative, and declare war
upon the United States. Then force must be |
met by torce-and she must hew out her in |
dependence by violence and war. There was |
no way under the constitution that he knew |
of for a state to secede and declare war. He |
did not suppose that there was Il lawyer on the |
floor but what will say that the act of evying |
war is treason against the United States. |
That is the result, and we may well look |
the matter in the face.
The senator from Texas says that the south |
will force an ignominious treaty from us in |
Faneu Hall
To this he would answer Well, you may |
we know your powers-we know your brave
ry-we do not want to fight with you; but, |
nevertheless if you drive us to the nece ssity, |
we will use all our powers to maintain the
government intact in all its integrity
If we are overthrown, the government will
be subverted, as thousands of other govern
ments have been. If you are the weakest
then you must go the wall. That is all
there is about it. That is the condition
in which we stand. l can see no power
in the constitution that will release the
senator from this position. He did not
take the oath to sustain the constitution UNI
less one state seeded. There was no such
immunity for him. There was no way, then,
for state to go out of the Union. She
could demand equal justice under the con
stitution, and indicate her grievances while the
flag of the nation waved over her There |
was no way for state to go out, except by
making war and vindicating by arms her |
right to independence, and if she did this, he
had prophecy in his mind. No man could
regret more than himself the disruption OF any
portion of the Uuited States, where the people |
think themselves aggrieved if there was any |
honorable release from it. But all this trouble |
is matter of ejudice, superinduced by lis
tening to the enemies of the republican party. |
We are looked upon in the light of enemies
we are branded as traitors we are styled John
Brown men; but if the South will secede we |
will preserve the Union and await the glorious
future. Mexico owes England eight millions
of dollars, and asks Of us protection, and she
has all the elements to build up a glorious re-
publican empire. The republican party will
do anything for the Union.
The senator from Texas and his colleague
had said, that the black republicans were go
ing for a reign of equality, and would build up |
n black government. He (Wade) thought it
would be one of the most blessed things 1t in |
ducements could be made to every black man |
among us to find home in Central America
or Lower Mexico. Then adopt here the home.
stead policy and we will have such power