Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-02-16
Wilson SEIpOSurc of DisImiOn Threats
What was said in 1856.

In his able speech in the Senate, Mr.. vii
son brought together the diSunion threats Of
1886, aud compared them with the threats
made ut this time. He said
Sir, when that uncertain contest was going
on, when the election of Fremont seemed to
the leaders Of the democracy not only possible
but probable, the senator from Louisiana Mr..
SIideIl), one of the most skiIful leaders of the
slave democracy-the acknowledged friend and
champion of Mr.. BuchaEan-deGlaGed to the
country that IF Fremont should be elected
the Union would be disolycd' The bold,
daShing and outspoken senator from Georgia
(Mr Toombs), declared, with emphasis, that
"if Fremont was elected the Union would be
dissolved and ought to be dissolved" The
senator from Virginia (Mr Mason, then, as
now, at the head of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, who avOwed on the floor of the Sen
ate that the South has the right to the nat
ural expansion of slavery as an element Of
political power" declared i'll public letter
that unless the aggression upon the rights Of
the South as he was pleased to designate the
resistance of the people Of the North against
slavery extension ceased, he was for the
separation Of these states" Mr. Butler, Of
South Carolina, then leading member of the
body, which placed him at the head of the i'm
portant Committee on the Judiciary, said:
"When Fremont is elected, we must rely
upon what we havc-a good state government.
Every Governor of the South should cali the
legislature of his state together, and have
measures of the South decided upon. Ifthey
did not, and suffered The degradatiOn, HeyIlc0utd
dcscrrc the fate of siaces. I sb0aid adrise my
legislature 10 go at the tap Of the drum"
Sir, 1 might quote other declarations of
senator's, in which these ideas are expressed
but / must pass On In the House, as the
records will bear evidence, these sentiments
we're profusely uttered by the men VINO upheld
the course Of oppression in Kansas, and die
tatcd the policy Of the democratic party. Mr.
Kett, in fiery and vehement speech to the
peogle of Lynchburg, Virginia exclaimed. in
view of the appreheuded election OF Fremont !:
al tell You now, that Il Fremont is elected
odhcrdnce to The Union is treason to liberty
Loud cheers tell you now, that the
southeFn man who will submit to his election
is traitor and eOtsard. Enthusiastic
cheers !"
This speech, so contemptuous, so defiant to-
wards the people of the North, so emphatic in
its avowals of Gisunon was promptly endorsed
as sound doctrine by John B. Floyd, now
Mr.. Buchanan's Secretary of War-a gentle
man of whom the Boston Post, the leading
administration organ in New England, in 1850,
said henceforth he must be treated as dis
unonst and the most dangerous Of them all. J"
In The autumn of 1856, Mr.. Brooks, of South
Carolina, received from the people of bis dis,
trict an ovation. Senator Butler, and the
senator from Georgia Mr.. Toombs) attended,
aud other southern democratic leaders sent ap-
pIauding letters To the assembled people of
bis district Mr.. Brooks said
We have the issue upon us now and how
are we to meet it? | tell you, fellow citizens,
from the bottom Of my heart, that the only
mode which | think available for meeting it IS
just to tear the constitution Of the United STATES
trample IL under foot, and form a southern con-
jsderaty, ererg state Of 1rhich 1e1H be sLare-
holding state Loud and prolonged cheers, !
believe it, as | stand in the face or my Max
er believe it on my responsibility to you as
your honored representative, that tie only hope
Of the South IS IN The South, and that the only