Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-11-21
SPEECH OF HON. BEDFORD BROWN,
OF NoRTH-CAROLINA,

- OF NoRTHCARoLINA,
Delircred in the Senate Of tile United States Feb
ruary 4, 1888, on the Rerenue 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 Caroline, rose. He did not
beeye, 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, homely effort by the
brevity Of his remarks. If he had consulted the ad
monitions Of discretion rather than of duty he
should have been SILENT 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
ject Of high interest to the State which he had
the honor, in part, to represent both as 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 obevino
their injunctions on this occasion, he followed also
the dictates Of his own judgment and ardent wishes
1t was his earnest hope that this contest which was
now assuming an angry and threatening aspect,
should be settled in peaceable manner. lie need
not say that he disapproved of the course of South
Carolina, or that his State dsapproved of it. Her
COURSE, he thought had been rash and uncal,ed for
hv Of fha L
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 own part and that
OF his State, disapprobation of her course.
The bill, though proposing on its face to be gen.
era in its application was manifestly intended to be
applied to South Carolina alone. Though the name
was mot written under the picture he who runs NAV
easily read. What is the proper way of settling
this question? What course is most likely to leae
to a.peaceable adjustment of it? This is the ones
ton. before US. The Committee on the ,Judiciar,
must excuse him, if notwithstanding the high re-
spect he entertained for their talents. he s6oult
wholly dissent from the specific remedy which the,
propose. lie old nOC DelleVe that the bill by then
presented to the Senate was calculated to carry IN
the glorious, the inestimabe principle of our inst
tutions, that our Government should he essential,
pacific in its remedies. He believed that, in its con
sequsnces, twould be attended with violence an,
perhaps lead to civil war. He objected to the nrc
vision which authorized the repulsion by force q
any attempt to execute the laws of South. Carolin
IN reference to the revenue. To that provision h
mainly objected, but there were some other provi,
ions Of minor Importance which did not meet his a,
sent If any one principle was better establishe
than another in reference to our institutions it wa
that the military should be subordinate to the civ
authority. II any one principle was sacred, it wa
this. 1t was one which no emergency justified U
IN departing from; one which constituted the yer
essence Of republican form of government an
without which free institutions could not exist
when we establish the doctrine that military a,
monty may step in to execute the law, before the
dietary has exerted its powers then the essence ar
spirit OF our institutions are essentially changed
IT. has been our boast that in cases where other n
uons resort to war; we resort to q peaceful mo
OF attaining settlement of the question. and
tne ludicial tribunals is committed the adm;n;et,
uSn .of these peaceful measures. He did not
~ object to the due administration and onerat;on
sas Avs Of the United States. He wished the Ia,
ennd support in the energy Of the constitution
NINss yam to say that coercive measures ara ,
IN this case; for there is an Inherent en-