Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-12-22
HALE AND IvERs0N.

The following speeches fairly represent the two
: extremes OF opinions in the National Legisisturs
in relation to Secession the majority OF members
S seem however, to be more ready to patch up diR.
, erences by a compromise.
MR. HALE ON PRESIDENTS MESSAGE AND
/ SECESSION.
Mr. Hale of New Hampshire, addressed tho
Senate on the Presidents Message, particularly
that part Of it which relates to the secession ques-
ton. Mr.. Hale said l have read :he Message,
somewhat carefully, and if l understand it, and
think do, it is this First-That South Ca-oli-
ma has just cause for seeding, Second-ThsI
she has no right to secede. Third-That we
have no right to prevent her from seeding. That
is the amount Of the Message, substantially.
Then the President goes on to represent this as
great and powerful country, and that no state has
right to secede from it; that oil the power Of the
country if understand the President, consists in
what Dickens makes the English constitution con-
sist-the power to do nothing, Now, sir, think
it incumbent on the President OF the United States
to have pointed ou! and recommended to Congress
some rule, and to have told US what he recommen-
ded us to do. But, in my Judgment, he has en-.
tirely avoided this. lie has failed to look the
hid his head, and thereby though. to escape the
danger. The only way to escape the danger is to
look it in the face; and think the country did
pee. from the President some exposition of deci-
ded policy. l confess for one, was rather indif:
erent as to what that policy would be; but l did
hope it would be decisive But he has utterly
failed in that respect. l think that the state Of
things in this country looks to Of two things
it looks to absolute submission not on the part Of
southern states, but on the part Of the North, to
an abandonment OF their position; it looks to .
surrender Of that popular sentiment which has
been uttered through the constituted forms of the
ballotbox; or it looks to open war. That is what
il looks to, and wo need not shut our eyes TO the
fact 1t means war 10 the state which has put
herself in an attitude Of secession and she looks
upon it so, and asks no counsel She has consid-
cred Il go, and has armed herself II I understand
things, it locks to that and nothing else.
Mr. Hale said that the resignation Of the PrOsi-
dent and President elect had been suggested,
but he did not regard that proceeding as exps
dient nor would it be likely to settle the question
at issue. Ito added that while be had no desire
to add 10 tho existing feeling Of bitterness he de-
sired to lock lhe difficulty in face to zee where We
are. HO cOntinued
"What is the issue that is presented, but thai
tho constitutional will of the public opinion, ex.
pressed by the forms Of tho constitution, will NOT
be submitted to2 And if war is the alternative, let
it como in any form or in any shape. The Union
is dissolved, and it cannot be held together as
Union if that is the alternative upon which
we 90 into an election. If it Is pronounced and
determined that the vote of the majority expressed
through the regular constituted forms Of the con-
s.ituton will not be submitted to- then, si! this is
not Union of equals. 1t is a Union Of diCtA-
tora oligarchy on the side and heard Of slAyss
and eOwarts on the other. That is it-nothink
more or less. And this is not Union Of equals.
II this discussion is proceeded with l shall take
occasion to address myself to that phrase Of ,Ao'
controversy which is SO constantly, perSevoiingly
and continually held rp, that the Northern Sta.es
are the aggrsssors. We have a Get Of presses and
politicians among US who have perverted the p1tsS