New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-12-17
th @rlfans 4aiIp Crescent.
SPEECH oP HON. ROBERT TooMBs,
psiEvsrsd BEFORE shs Legislature Of Georgia
REVIEW OF rHR woRgasGs OF THE GOVERNMENT
soRrH AND SOUTH srScE Trs ORGANIZATION.


REvIEw or THE woRkaSGs OF THE GOVERNMENT,
SoRTH AND SOUTH, SINCE IRIS ORGANIZATION,
Gesasaesne,s OF nc General ASSEMBLY, very
much regret Ia appearing before you ~ your ree
u,,esf 20 address you on the present state OF the
country, and the prospect before u.s. lna' San
march BIT events has brought usR conflict with orr
norsfasehuiding confederates upon the funaa-
mental principles of cur compact OF Union; ne
have not sought this conflict we have sought 100
ionF Ia avoid III. our forbearanee has been con-
strsied into weakness, our magnanimity into lear,
until TIC vinaicaticn of our manhood, as wen q
The defsnse Of eur rights " required 9. our aaqs
The door OF Cancellation and compromise y hnailv
closed BY our adversaries and 1t remains oniy 60
us IA meet ths conflict with the dignity ana urn
ness uf men worthy of freedom. we necd NO ae-
81 rafSstY III Independence Above eighty -i0ur
vsars .ssr oir fathers wen that by the sword from
5sress britain and above seventy years ago Georgia,
with te twelve other confederates az tree, soser
eitr ana inIspendent Siases, having perfect SO,
already in existence, for purposes and
shie;5s clearly expressed, and With powers clearly
defined erected common agent for the attainment
IA these purposes BY the exercise Of those pow
era, and called this agent the United States OF
The basis, the cornerstone Of this Government,
was thc perfect equality Of the Tree, sovereign ana
independent States which made 1T. Ihey were
unequal in population wealth ane ,eITasoflal r eS
liz
sliits institutions and laws but they had common
Interests, mainly exterior, which they proposed 20
protect by this common agent-a Constitutional
unifea Governmen mt without y any degree SUP,
eptInR their inequalities and dTersities 70 federal
control Of action. Peace and commerce with Tor
eirn nations could be more efectuaily aud cheaply
cultivated by q common agent; therefore, they
Fave 1.-The Federal Government the sole manage
SY,eut 81 our relations with foreign Governments.
Tie conflicts of interests and the passions Of rnlers
and PEOPLE bring wars their effectual prosecution
ana The common defense could he mere Germany
and cheapIy attained by putting the power OF each
under the control of q common agent; hence the
power Of peace and war was given to the Govern
Tyaent These powers made armies, nayies, and
II fafhion areufs necessary - these could only be
nsain5ained BY 4 common treasury. Besides, we
had d large debt, contracted at home and abroad
Id our war of Independence; therefore, the great
power Of taxation was conferred upon TINS GOV
srn1nent Conflicting commercial regulations OF
tie different States shackled and diminished both
foreign and domestic trade; hence the power 70
regulate commerce was conferred we mad o
large common domain, already added by the sew
eral States for the common benefit of all; purchase
and ssar might make large additions TO this com.
mon domain, hence the power over existing and
& failure Territories, with the stipulation to admit
new States, was conferred. Being independent
ffs I'M snch close proximity acts seriously affect
inn HE tranquility Of some might be done by
others fugitiyes from labor and justice in one
might seek sanctuary III others. producing strife
and hloodshed and insecurity therefore the power
way conferred In the common agent and the duty
imposed by Ile compact upon each confederate t
re1ledy these evils. These we're the main object
for forming the Federal Government: the poweri
1t possesses were conferred chiefly with the view
4 OF securing them. How have these great duties
been discharged by the Federal Government ant
X by 0Hr confederates
The Executive Department of the Federal Gov
ernnent for foftyeght ont of the first sixty years
under the present Constitution in the hands oil
Southern nIan and 40 Just, fair and equitable, con
3 stitnHpnaI and advantageous to The country was
the policy which they pursued, that Their policy
and administrations were generally maintained by
the people. Certainly there was no just cause Of
complaint from the Northern State no advantage
was ever sought to be obtained by them for their
section of the republic. They never sought to use
n single one of the powers of the Government for
the advancement of the local or peculiar interests
of tho South and they all left Office without leaving
single law on the statute book where repeal
would have affected injuriousy single industrial
pursuit. or the business OF single human being in
fhe South. But on the contrary, they had aequi
esced hi The adoption of policy in the highest de
gree beneficial to the Northern interests The
principles and policy Of these Presidents were
marked by the most enlarged and comprehensive
craftsmanship, promoting the highest interests Of
$lle republic. They enlarged the domains Of cont
merce BY treaties with all nations, upon the great
principle of equal Justice to all nations, and special
3 favars to none. They protected commerce and
trade with aa efheient navy in every sea. Mr.,
Jefferson acquired Louisiana. extending from the
Baiize to the British possessions on the North, and
from the Mississippi to the Pacific oeean--a coun-
ry larger than the whole United States at the time
Of The acknowle dgment Of their independence.
He guaranteed the protection of the Federal Coy
eminent by treaty to All the inhabitants Of the
purchased territory ID their lives liberties, prop
ertV and religion sanctioned by law the right 81
all the people Of the United States to emgrate into
the territory with all Of their property of every
Kind expressly including slaTes) to build mp new
States, end To come into the Union with such con
stifnilens as they must choose to make. Mr. Aiadi
son Findicatea the honor Of the nation maintained
The security 0f commerce. and the inYiolablity
tile persons Of our sailors by the war Of 1872. Mr.
Monroe acquired Florida from Spain, extending
the same guarantee to the inhabitants which Mr.
Jefferson had to these Of louisiana Gen. jackson
compelled France, and other nations of Europe, Ii
do long deferred justice to onr piundered mer
chants Mr.. Tyler acquired Texas By yolnntar'
= compact, and Mr.. Polk California and New Mexie
By successful war. In all their grand additions Il
the wealth and power Of the Republic, these states
rnan neither asked nor sought any advantage TO
4 their avn section; they admitted they were com
mon acquisitions, purchased BY the common bloc
s and treasure. and fer the common benefit Of tn
g,4upIe OF the Republic, without reference to loca
aty Oh Institutions. Neither these Statesmen on
their constituents sought in any way to use til
Government for the interest Of themselves or thei
section, or for the injury of single member of tn
canederaey- We can to-day open wide the histor
of their administrations and point with pride t
every act, and challenge the world TO point out
single act stained with injustice TO the North, 0
with Partially to their own section. This Is on
xtea.
The instant the Government was organized, a
IL tAexery tfst Congress. the Northern States eFnce
general desire and purpose TO 1t for their ow
benefit andto peryert its powers for sectional ad
vantage. and they have steadily pursued that POI
ICY To this day. They demanded monopoly q
tiebusiness Uf ship building, and get prohihitio
against the sale Of foreign ships to citizens Of III
United States. which exists to this day.
They demanded o monopoly Of the c0astin
" trade, iii order To get higher freights than the
could get In open competition with the carriers Z
the world. Congress gave il to them, and they We
hola tls monopoly And now, to-day, if q foreig
vessel III Savannah offer to take your rice, cotton
grain Or lumber to New York, or any ether Amer
can port, for nothing, your laws prohibit it, i
9Tier that Northern shipowners may get enhance
prices FOR doing your carrying. This same shippin
interest, with cormorant rapacity, have steadn
bnrrowed their way through your Legislative hall.
usitil they have saddled the agricultural cIasse
with d large portion of tile legitimate expenses
their own business. We pay million OF dollar
per annuT for the lights which guide them into an
paSof your ports. We built and kept up, 1t th
cost Of at least another million d year hospita
Tor their sick and disabled seainen, when they wea
them cut and cast them ashore. We pay half
million per aafanm 10 support and bring home thos
they cast asg ay I'D foreign lands. they defllan
and have received, millions of the public none
to increase the safety of harbofs and lessen Il
aangar Of navigating our rivers. All OF which e.
YsHaHBs Iegisrnately fall upon then business, al
nf