Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-19

So, sir, in the address sent under the Royal Sign
Manuel to the Parliament, it was invoked to take
measures for "beter securing the execution Of the
laws and acq1iesced in the suggestion. Just as
now, servI Executive, under the sinister influence
of insane counscls, is proposing with your assent
"to secure the better execution of the laws by
blockading ports, and turning upon the people Of
the States the artillery which they provided at their
own expense, for their own defense, and entrusted
to you and to him for that and for no otherpHrpese
Nay, even in States that now exercising the I'M
doubted and most precious rights of free people,
where there is no secession, where the citizens
assembling TO hold peaceful elections for consider
ing whatlcourse of action is demanded iDths dread
crisis. by a due regard for their own safety and
their own berty-aye, even in Virginia herself the
people are to cast their suffrages beneath the
disguised meraces or frowning fortress. Cannon
are brought to bear on their homes and parricidal
hands preparing weapons for rending the bo-
som of the mother Of Washington Sir, when
Great Britain proposed 70 exact tribute
from your fathers against their will, Lord
Chatham said: Whatever Bsa mans own
is absolutely his own. No man has right to take
it from him without his consent Whoever at
| tempts to do it, commits robbery. You have no
right to tax America. | rejoice that America has
resisted Let the sovereign authority of this coun
try the colonies be asserted in strong terms
can be devised, and be made to extend to every
point of legislation whatever so that we may bind
their trade, confne their manufactures, and exer-
else every power, except that Of taking money out
of their own pockets without their consent" 1t
was preserved for the latter half of the nineteenth
century and for tho Congress Of Republic Of free
men to witness the willing abregation of all power
save that of exactng tribute. What imperial Bri-
tain, with the haughtiest pretensons of unlimited
power over dependent colonies, could not even at
tempt without the vehement protest of her greatest
statesmen is to be enforced, in aggravated form, IT
you can enforc it, against independents States.
Good God sir, since when has the necessity arisen
for recalling to American legislators the lessons of
freedom, taught in sping bchildhood by loving mo-
Tiers that pervade the atmosphere we have breathed
from infancy and that so forming part of very
being that in their absence we would lose the con-
seriousness of Jour own identity. Heaven be prais-
ed that all have not forgotten them-that when we
shall have left these familiar halls, and when force
bills blockadcs, armies navies, and all the coercive
machinery of despots shall be proposed and advo-
Gated, voices shall be heard from this side of the
Chamber that will make its very roof resound with
the indignant clamor of outraged freedom. Me-
thinks still hear ringing in my ears the appeals of
the eloquent Representatives Of Ohio, Hon. George
II. Pendleton,) whose Northern home looks down on
Kentucky's fertile borders, armies, money, blood,
maintain this Union. Justice, reason, peace,
may"
And now to you, Mr.. President and te my broth
er Senators on ali sides of this chamber, bid
spectful farewell. With many of those from whom
have been radically separated IN political senti-
ments, my personal relations have been kindly,
and have inspired me with respect and esteem
that shall not willingly forget With those around
me from the Southern States | part men part
from brothers on the eve of temporary absence,
with cordial pressure ofthe hand and smiling
of the speedy renewal of sweet intercourse
around the family hearth But to you, noble and
generous friends, who, born beneath other skies,
possess hearts that beat in sympathy with ours, to
you who solicited and assailed by motives the most
powerful that could appeal TO selfish natures, have
nobly spurned them all TO you who in our behalf
have barred your breasts the fierce beating of the
storm and made willing sacrifice of life's most gilt
tering prizes in your devotion to constitutional lib
erty oyou who have made our cause your cause,
and from many of whom feel that now part for
ever what shall l. can say? Nougbt, know and
feel, needed for myself. But this will say fer
the people in whose name speak to-day Whether
prosperous or adverse fortunes await you one
priceless treasure is yours-the assurance that
entire people honor your names, and hold them in
grateful and affectonate memory. But with still
sweeter and more touching return shall your unset
fish devotion be rewarded when in after days, the
story of the present shall be written-when history
shall have passed her stern sentence the erring
men, who have driven unofending brethren from
the shelter of their common home your names will
derive fresh luster from the contrast, and when
your children shall hear often repeated the familiar
tale 1t will be with glowing cheek and kndling eye.
Their very souls will stand atp toe their sires
named, and they will glow in their lineage from
men of spirits as generous, and of patriotism as
high-hearted as ever illustrated adorned the
American Senate.