Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-06-09
aPuECH OF SENATOR LATHAM.

Other subjects have heretofore pressed upon our
attention to the exclusion Of proper notice Of the
speech delivered by Hon. Milton 8. Latham, in the
Senate Of the United States, on the 18th Of April
last. Want Of space prevents the insertion Of the
speech and II is u matter Of regret that we cannot
lay 1t before the readers Of the DENocRAr in the
completeness Of its argument 1t is almost impos'
Sible To do justice to any speech Of the length of Mr.
Lathams, by briefly extracting from it, but speci-
mems Of its composition may furnish some idea OF
the Style aud NATTER and induce to procure and
peruse il, who might otherwise pass it by.
Mr.. Latham commences his remarks with review
Of the rise and progress Of the American people,
and cites the topics which have from time to time
disturbed the public mind. On this point he says:
"For nearly q century has the legislative mind Of
this country spent its energies almost exclusively in
the consideration Of United States Bank, the Tar
iG, and last, though not least, in the alabsorbnR
aDd most miscbievOus topic Of negro sldrery Eve
~ other idea seems to have been swallowed up and
annibilAtcd by these three" OF these three, he as
serts the Bank IL be obsolete consideration, but
AYERS the continued existence of the tariff and sa
very agitation, declaring both questions to have
assumed ga purely sectional aspect" After dwell
with and growing out Of the slavery aud tariff ques
Iions be proceeds to combat the positions taken by
Senator Seward in bis speech in the Senate, on the
29th Of February This portion Of the effort Of Mr..
Latham is marked By great force OF reasoning, and
biting sarcasm. He holds up to scornfu condem-
nation that sophlstry Of the Black Republican lead
er, which was sought to be made a taking watch
word Of party by the tcrseness Of it's TERMS viz -:
That delusive declaration That the Confectionery was
10 be properly divided into labor States" and
= capital States" Mr.. Latham demonstrated that
such designation was inapplcabc To any modern
State, declaring that any such is both capital State
and IL labor State, at the same time. On this head.
he quoted from Adam Smith, and went on to prove
by conclusive facts and augmentation, the iallncy
of Senator Stewards views. lie eloQuently invoked
the attention Of the Senate to effects
Of Black Republican interference with the rights Of
the slave holder TO the relative interests
Of the two sections OF the Union, and proved the in
jury which Would be inflicted upon the pecuniary
welfare of the North, in the event of dissolution
Of the Union. He traced the origin Of negro sla
very exhibiting the antiquity of the institution ant
its apparently inseparabe association with the nd
vance Of civilization, in every age Of the world
He argued that the negro is incApnblcOf great men
tai improv ement, and Adduced the testimony Of his
tory to sustain his doctrine, showing indispuabl!
that the negro, Notwithstanding the enjoyment .
the advantages of education centuries in advanc,
IF European civilization, continued 10 ihis day il
the same or u lower rank in the scale Of humanity
But We muAt forbcar further comments. Tn
speech will well repay perussl, and stamps its au
| Eod ko l.
representative Of the Democracy Of California il
the councils Of The nation. The concluding para
graphs are rcpIetc with fervent nvowals of devotion
to the Union. We give the pcrorntiona MS fair typ
of the literary merit Of the entire speech
but if all the efforts to preserve the Union shout
prove unavaing II tho fury Of party should triumph
over the devotion Of the patriot II mutual hatred
contempt among the States should take the place Of M
and mutual fOrbrarancc If tins glorious Cnon
and in different directions, should at last be
Asunder and destroyed forever then, like the
mariner Who AMIDST his sense of woe at the loss Of hi
noble ship follows the instinct of self
California would try TO herse though her exist
Snee Afterwards would be one Of mournfil solitude.
cannot, Mr.. President, think that the Union will be-o
the contrary, believe that II cannot bc-diSsolved eN
cept BY the complete and hopeless Inauguration Of lie
publican principles in every department Of the Fedora
Government And for this reason, do not believe tina
thiO magnificent country Of ours is destined, S to
oiten prophcsed in this Chamber to be torn asundrr
nterneclne strife that her virgin soil will drink fra
ternal blood and her pristine forests will eecho tn
battle-cry OF hostile factions.
Buff am wrong, and We must do battle upon III
slavery Issue, MIR. President as Your illusirous k
(Rev. Robert J. Breckenridge, Of kentucky advised
let US do battle within, Wikim the tnIon WRier tn
Constitution and laws Of country. In sur
an iSsue animated by loyal sentiments to country
the intelligence and virtue Of free rcope aiding in tn
hour Of trial, the right whatever It may be, fail
all the threats and prophecies Of faint hearted
the contrary Notwithstanding FOR, sir this Union
too firmly established In the hearts Of the America
people to be severed by fLnaticsm onr national pros
peTity 10 too great and too generally dscd to be aban
doned for the dark and gloomy future Of isoated
divided existence.
The God Of nations has show cred too many bc.s ng
upon US, TO Withhold from uH, IN such crisis. involving
country's fate his saving grace. This Unon kiT
will prove as nNnnrrahlc steel and adamant, and
will stand like rock amid the raging storms unAha
ken, unchanged, unpolluted by the of contcndin
elements and so will the cancellations the cml,odir
Weldon Of forcftheTS the cherished legacy Of
minded who have not entrusted the palladium
their freedom and the tasnnn Of their success to
unworthy, degenerate posterity.