Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-12-27
Henry Clay on DlsuniOn In 1850.

In 1850 there vera many who looked for
dsastcrous issne Of the events Of that day.
California, it had been supp,t d. would fur
nish one Slave State Ms we'll as one free State
The organization OF New Mexico and Utah,
and generally the practical decision whether
the great acquisitions Of the Mexican war
should result in gain to the interest desrinl
to extend the political power of slavery equal
to the gain Of Tree States and territories, was
the trill of the time, and it came as near to
effect severance Of the Gulf States and South
Carolina from the Union Us tho power OF
those representing those States in Congress
could lring it. Ia the course Of that strug.
Gle the compromise measures, elaborated will.
great care by the celebrated Committee ui
Thirteen in the Senate, were br"kea up by the
dctachng of California, and by the occur
renee of the precise contingency which sever
al southern legislatures had declared would
require steps to effect ~ separation from the
UEion. On the first Of August, 1850, Mr.
Dawson, of Georgia, declared in the Senate
that the contingency had arrived which COM
PEELED the calling of y convention in that
State to provide for the extreme remedy OF
dsuunu. llcnry Clay followed him, and AZ
ter a few words dcprccat!ns the failure Of the
special adjustment, said
Now Mr.. President, stand here in my
place meaning to lie unawcd by any thrOats
whether they come from individuals or from
States. sh Iuld deplore, As mach - any
man living or dead, that arms should be ra;s-
ed against the authority of the Union, either
byinividuals or by States. But, after all that
las occurred, if any ono State, or portion
Of the people Of any State, choose to place
themselves in military array against the gov
ernmeut of the Union, am for trying the
strength OF the government. applause i'll
the gallcrieS) am Tor asccrtaulng wheth-
err we have \ government or not-practcal
efficient, capable of maintaining its authority
and of upholding the powers and interests
which belong to government. No, sir,
am to be alaI med or dssuadcd from any
such course by the intimatious of the
spillng of blood. If blood is to b. split by
whose fault is it? Upon tina suppostipn
maintain it will bs tho fault Of those who
choose to raise the standard Of disuninn, and
endeavor to PROSTATE this government and,
sir when that Is done, SO long as it pleascs
God to give me voice to express my sen
timeu.s, or an arm, weak and eniecbled a. it
may be by age, that voice and that arm will
be ON the side OF my country for the support
of the general authority, and for tho MAIN
tenance OF the power Of this Union APP
plause in the galleries
81 repeat the sentiment; if resistance is at
tempted to any authority the country by
any State, OR any people Of any State, will
raise my voice, my heart, and arm, in sup
port OF the common authority of the general
government. Nor am apprehensive Of this
ilea that blood is to be shed. From the bot
tom of my heart hope it never will be shed.
B 1t if it is shed, who will lie chareeable with
tn. eifusion of human blood Those who
attempt to PROSTATE the general auth rity,
upon the suppositon have made, that SIN
&c State, if there shall be Que, or the people
OF any State, chose to raise the standard of
dsunion and attempt to destroy this Union
by force. God knows | desire 10 such thing
but if it occurs, | will be among the last who
will give up the effort to maintain the Union
in its entire, full, and vigorous authority.
'Sir, these threats are not 30 alarming and
so dangerous as gentlemen in their imagina-
tons may suppose. We have had an event
of this kind in our history. When WASH
:ngton was President, now sixty years agr,
the standard of Instruction was raised in tie
Western part of Pennsylvania. The army
of the United States moved forward for the
purpose Of srbduing it. There was some
little blood shed at the house of Colonel
Neville, but the insurgents then-as disun-
iouists and traitors always will-ned from the
approach of the flag of the Union, supp rted
by the authority OF the Union" Gong. Globe
l>t sess.. 81 Congress, p. l646.l
Is the race Of statesmen and patriots who'll
" lost in these times? Must the people wait
until time suiiiccs to break the power OF
great com bina,uns for reasonable purposes,
simply because of their Inherent weakness
rhcss words OF Henry Clay ale unsPeakably