The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-09-20

Remarkg ofMr. HamIin Of Main.

Remarks ofMr. Hamlin of Maine,
On rcsigniug his position as Chairman
of the Committee on Commerce, and
the Tests of the Cincinnati Convention,
IN the Senate of the United States
June y, 1856.
The Senate having come to order
Mr.. HAMLIN said Mr., President,
I rise for a purpose purely personal,
such as 1 have never before risen for in
the Senate desire to explain some
matters personal to myself, and to my
own future course in public life.
Several Senators-"Go on"
Mr.. HAMLIN.-I ask the Senate to
excuse me from further service as
Chairman of the Committee on Com
merce. do so, because l feel that my
relations hereafter will be of such
character as to render it proper that
I should no longer hold that position.
[ owe this act to the dominant majority
in the Senate. When l cease to har.
monizc with the majority, or tests are
applied by that party with which 1 have
acted, to which cannot submit, l feel
that ought no longer to hold that re-
sponsible position. propose to state
! briefly the reasons which have brought
me to that conclusion.
During nine years of service in the
Senate, 1 have preferred rather to be a
working member, and so I have been
almost silent one On the subjects
which have so much agitated the coun-
try, Senators know that l have rarely
uttered a word. 1 love my country
more than love my party. l love my
country above my love for any interest
that can too deeply agitate or disturb
its harmony. / saw, in all the exciting
scenes and debates through which We
have passed, no particular good that
would result from my active informing
ling in them. My heart has often been
full, and tho impulses of that heart
have often been felt upon my lips
but l have repressed them there.
Sir, L hold that the repeal Of the
Missouri Compromise was a gross mora
and political wrong, unequaled in the
annals of any other free country. Still
sir, with a desire to promote harmony
and concord aud brotherly feeling
was a quiet man under all the exciting
debates which led to that fatal result
believed it wrong then; [ can see tina
wrong lying broadcast around us now
As a wrong I opposed that measure
not indeed by my voice, but with con
sistent and steady and uniform votes
L so resisted it in obedience to the die
tates Of my own judgment. l did i
also checrfully in compliance with tn,
instructions of the Legislature OF
Maine, which were passed by vote al
most unanimous. In the House of Rep
resentatiyes of Maine, consisting Of on
hundred and frty-oue, members, onl
six, l think, dissentod and in the Sen
ate, consisting Of tbirty-one members
only one member non-concurred.
But the Missouri restriction was alb
rogated. The portontous evils tha
were predicted have followed, and ar
yet following along in its train. 1t wa
done, sir, in violation of the pledges o
that party with which l have alway
acted, and with which have always vo
ted. 1t was done in violation of sol
omn pledges of the President of tn
United States, made in his inaugura
, address Still, sir, was disposed
suffer wrong, until 1 should see that n
evil results were flowing from it. w
were told by almost every Senator VIII
addressed US upon that occasion that n
= evil results would follow; that no praC
y tical difference in the settlement Of th
country and the character Of the futuI
States would take place, whether the az
were done or not. have waited cain
ly and patiently to see the fulfllmout O
. that prediction; and I am gricved, 81
TO say now, that they have at least bee
mistaken in their predictions and prom
ises They all have signally failed
That Senators might have voted f
8 that measure under the belief then O.
e pressed, and the predictions to which
4 have alluded, can we'll understand bl
1 how Senators can now defend that mea
ure, amid all its evils, which are owe
] whelming the land, if not threateniu
s it with a conhagration, is what ] do n
10 comprehend. The whole of the di
q turbed state Of the country has its ri
4 in and is attributable to that act alone
K nothing else. 1t lies at the foundatic
,. of all our misfortunes aud oommotion
d There would have been no incursiol
Il by Missouri borderers into Kansa
either to establish slavery or contr
elections. There would have been I
n necessity either for others to have gou
IS there, partially to aid in preserving Il
a country in its then condition a
would have been peace there. Had
d; not been done, that repose and qui
10 which pervaded the public mind thO
l. would hold its tranquility to-day. 1
d stead of startling events, We shou
g have quiet aud peace within our bC
ders, and that fraternal feeling viii