The Yazoo Democrat., 1860-03-03

are virtually in civil war, and these are the
causes of it, 1t is known and felt on this
floor l feel and know that large body ofI
these senators are enemies of my country. II
know they and their associates have used the
power which has been placed in their hands
by many of the States to assail and destroy
the institutions of these confederate States
know that under color Of liberty of speech, |
even in these. halls, day by day, and year
after year, they have thundered their denun-
Citations against slavery and shareholders
against confederates and their institutions,
and thus seek to apply the torch TO our home-
steads, and to desolate our land with servile
.and internecinc war. Sir, the present state
of things is no longer compatible with our
security nor our honor We demand peace
or war. We prefer peace; We have sought it
through peaceful channels; but though the
road to it shall lead through war, we intend
to have it.
We do not charge these wrongs against
the Federal Government There has been
no time, since its establishment, when it has
been truer to Its obligations, more faithful TO
the Constitution, than within the last seven
Iycals Its executive and judicial depart.
mcnts have firmly maintained the fundamen-
tai law in relation to these great questions;
and the legislative department has approx.
mated the same standard nearer than at any
other period of our history within the last
forty years. Aud it is because of this fidelity
to its duty that it is habitually denounced
by coalition in this country, which is seek.
ing to control it, with intent to make it
subservient to their treacherous purposes
1t is the duty of all patriotic citizens to up.
hold it, and protect it against such prostitu.
ton. | speak to no man as a partisan. |
feel but small concern about mere party sue.
cess. These questions rise far above so
ignoble standard. would that all good
men, of every party, would unite and rally
around the Constitution, aud defend this last
bulwark of national safety against these
public enemies rm r
These public enemies are abolitionists who
have formed coalition with all the waits
and strays-deserters of all former political
parties-and the better to conceal their real
purposes have assumed the name of the re-
publican party. This coalition has but one
living animating principle or bond of union,
aud that is hatred of the people anil institu-
tious of the slavcholding States Of this Union.
This coalition has evinced by its acts, its
declarations, a fixed and determined purpose,
in spite of the Constitution, in spite Of their
own solemn engagements to obey and main
tain it, and III spite of all the obligations
which rest on every member of every civilized
State to limit, to restrain, and finally to sub,
vert, the institutions of fifteen States of the
Union. ~.
Sir, know these are strong charges
have not named them lightly. | speak in
sorrow, not in anger; make them with pain,
not pleasure. | feel it duty | owe to my
country, to my whole country, to speak the
truth plainly, that the people may know and
perchance avert the public calamity, I feel
deeply the obligation which rests upon me
to sustain them by clear ahd irrefragable
proofs before the Senate, the country, and
civilized world -; to that duty now proceed,
| charge, first, that this organization has
annulled and made of no effect fundamen.
tai principle of the Constitution of the Uni.
ted States of this Union, and have endeav,
ored to accomplish the same result in all the
non-slaveholding States.
Secondly. charge them with openly
attempting to deprive the people of the
slaveholdpg States of their equal enjoyment
of, and equal rights in, the common Terrific,
ries of the United States, as expounded by
the Supreme Court, and of seeking to get
the control ofthe Federal Government, with
the intent to enable them to accomplish this
result by the overthrow of the federal judi-
ciary.
Thirdly. 1 charge that large numbers Of
persons belonging to this organization are
daily committing offences against the people
and property of these confederate States,
which, by the laws of nations, are good and
sufficient causes of war even among inde.
pendent States, and governors and egisla
lures Of States, elected by them, have re,
peatedly committed similar acts.
j Now, for these causes, I maintain that
this coalition is unfit to rule over a free
people; and its possession of the Federal
IOONeIHmeuG 10 just cause OF war Dy the
people whose safety is thereby put in jeop.
ardy.
The third clause of the second section Of
the fourth article of the Constitution read.
as follows.
"No person held to service or labor in any
State under the laws thereof, escaping into an.
other, shall, 10 consequence of any law or regu.
lation therein, be discharged from such service OF
labor, but shall be delivered up on claim Of the
party to whom such service or labor may be due"
The second section of the sixth article
says n
''This Constitution, and the laws of the United
States which shall be made in pursuance thereof,
and all treaties made or which shall be made
under the authority of the United States, shall
be the supreme law Of the land, and the Judges
In every State shall be bound thereby, anything
in the constitution OF laws of any State to the
contrary notwithstanding" e3 n
This is the Cons 1t is plain il
is distinct. 1t needs no commentary, and
it it did, such commentary is found 10 the
words of the fathers who put the provision
there. | have them before me. They are
known of all men The principle did not
originate in the Constitution. 1t has been