The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-15
SENATOR JOSEPH LANES SPEECH.


Senate December s. $780, the then pending question
to print extra numbers Of the Presidents message
rn srYnrH.
Mr. President, Il In not my intention 10 consume the
time Of the senate at any length but merely TO say afew
words In relation 70 tho unhappy condition Of our coun
try We all aware, Mr.. President that there IL great
dissatisfaction in this country and very near approach,
unless something can be done very speedily 10 dssou
of the Union II is not very strange as look at H.
that this condition Of things should EXIT II has been
truly said that the election any the Presidency
would be good for dissolution Of the Onion
prepared TO say that the simple election Of any man
to that once in my Judgment, would not be cause for
dissolution Nor is that the cause Of complaint In the
eountry hut Ia the principles upon which the late cleo
has taken place that have given rise 10 the trouble
been fully put, 50 directly made as in the late
The question everywhere shall the equality Of the
states be nan,aincdshall the pcsplc OF every state
have right into the common territory with their
property And the verdct Of the people has been that
equality in this country shall not prevail II V TO the
effect that fifteen States Of this Union shall be deprived
OF equality that they sha not 20 INTO the common terri
tory with their property that they interiors, and
must submit TO inequality and degradation Then sir
with such state OF facis before Is II strange that
there should he dissatisfaction and troubled The plat
form upon which the opposition have succeeded In elect
with the constitu,ion II v directly In conflict with
the equality Of the States; and though II In said that
this election Is In accordance with the constitution
must say, in my honest opinion, that In In violation
q s spirit never was contemplated by thoec
who made the constitution that . sectional party,
without electoral ticket in nearly half the States
Of the rnitn upon platform conflicting with the const
tuition and with the rights of the states in one half Of our
country, should elect PRESIDENT Though may not be
in conflict with the letter Of the constitution yet,
look at u, is in conflict with its spirit My opinion
to-day h II fathers in forming that instrument had
couId be tesedbeiore the supreme Court you please
they would this decide In equity that the election
q Mr.. Lincoln conflicts with the constitution Of the
United states, and Is consequently void.
Mr.. Unr-No doubt Of ~
Mr.. L.sr--And, sir, while know there is no such
redress am nevertheless notwithstanding the smiles
cha NJ rms he ito cod
the correctness Of my position, that II never
contemplated, and cannot be consistent with the
constitution, that section Of this country, without
rerard TO the rights Of nearly one half the states should
have the power TO elect President platform In
conflict with the constitution aud In conflict with the equal
y Of the states Of half u. country dcprivng them
Of equality and deprvng them &C the principle which
tho Union formed without the maintenance Of that
principle the snss nsvsr s could have have been
ed sur, that equality must be maintained or this
Jnon and ought not TO last To say that the pco-
pie Of fifteen states Of this Union shall be interiors that
they shall be unequals that they shall have rights
equal with the other portion &c the country degrade
tion that proud honorable and Just people cannot sub
NIT 10 and u they should, would not entertain for
them that respect that do to-day. II s not consistent
with common sense not consistent with right " is
country sha exclude the other half Of from the com
territory acquired equally by the blood and
OF every rorton Of H. and appropriate the whole exclu
snyJartcpation therein have witnessed the prccees
IL acquiring territory. know how " done I wit
nsssed u upcn the battle Geld when saw The brave Mis-
Kentucky regime nj, too behaving calamity The
battle infringing their blood with the god soldiers OF
the Northern States by the Victories schevcd IN that
wsr.we acquired territory; and gentlemen on the
other side say that shall b. appropriated their exclu
sive and that Of their section can no justice in
such dsclaraors can zee no good patriotism,
fraternity equality, good faith In such decisra
tion q principles. tIon what principle Of right can
tow ACQUIRED Al ~, sscria q southern as well as
Northern bccdY Can such unjust prctsrsons be allowed