The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-03-02

ticai questions that are before Us. Leaving
the past. letting the dead bury their dead
wish TO consider the present and provide for
the future. And, sir, If we would fully com.
prehend the great responsibilities that are
upon us, We must not shut our eyes to the
present condition of the country 1t will
not do to declare that there is no crisis +"
in the land that "the Union is safe: thai
- no man is injured :" that nobody has been
hurt" We must admit the facts as they
! are : and not, like the stupid ostrich, hide our
head when danger comes, and imagine that it
is passed because it comes not within the
range of our mere physical vision.
What is the present condition Of the coun-
try IN bicf! Why, sir. although we have
had the most abundant harvest that ever
blessed our fields although our granarics are
bursting with die rich fruits Of the earth: al
though gold IS pouring into our collers-nc!
only from our own Ophlr, but from across
the arm Of labor and trade is parnlyzed
throughout the land that the wrecks Of
shattered fortunes are gathering thick around
US: that the cry of the labnring man is
| coming up for relief; and that even the cred.
1t of the Government itself is crippled and
almost destroyed. Yes, sir and although
3
the soldiers that were intended to protect
them no longer fill the forts Of the West {:
but are here. in the very Federal capital itself
! to see that legislation is carried on without
| interruption, aud that the President elect Of
the United States is peaceably inauguratcJ {:
although, sir, our hardy and adventurous
merchantmen are Spreading their sails upon
every STA, the ships intended 10 project them
a I'm Sf
| in order to protect our own troops against at
| acks frolE citizens Of the United States
| Ay. sir, ard while the President elect is
making his triumphal procession to this city
and while We arc here talking about the Sale
| ty and preservation ofthc Union, and saying
that there is no crisis and no danger. the
President Of another confederacy within our
| is making his procc sson to another capital Of
another system of confed, rated States. receiv-
I'd by the plaudiis Of the multitude and sal.
woes Of artillery States that number five
million human souls States that have vast
empire within their limits States tina. de-
clare that they are free and independent Of
our control, and that they mean to maintain
their Independence at the point of the sword.
Sir. the country is in dangers there is a
crisis in the land the temple of liberty is
| ~.
The Rcpi csrntaiiveS OF the American pco,le,
charged with the interests Of the people.
charged to see that no dclrimcnt comes TO
the Republic, to take steps, if possible, to
avert this danger to meet this crisis: to
see that the rights and interests of the people
are guardtd and protected AMI that this Re.
plblic is not broken IN twain.
Mr.. Speaker, as have said. the RESPONSE
| nd,
it. True, there is highly intelligent. re.
Spectacle, and influential body Of citizens
sitting at the o.hcr end of the avenue Il the
peace conference and | trust in God that, in
their wisdom and patriotism. they will be
able to recommend some measure of adjust
:nent: but when they have done this, their
duties terminate. They can do no more. -
They cannot lceislate. That responsibility
will still be NJ on US. aud We cannot escape il.
Now. sir. what Shall VIC do to preserve the
Union OF. these States? declare to you, sir,
and TO the American people, that the one
great object | have in view is the prescrva-
lion Of the Union ard the rights and liberties
ofall the citizens ofthe Republic within the
Union. Two lines Of policy are before us,
separate and distinct, each having it's advo.
Gates upon this floor and throughout the
|
be the only policy that will lad to that re-
suit. What are they =? Oneis the policy Of
compromise, Of Cancellation, OF peace the
other is the policy of a rigid enforcement OF
the laws, and prompt suppression Of re-
hcilion unho"t compromise and rnhout con-
cession. Sir, between these two policies runs
the same line Of dema,kalion which marked
those which were advocated in the days
fat h.,r- l,l,.
mother country, by Lord North and the Ear
of Chatham. Listen" said the cid earl,
Ito the complaints Of your colonies. Re.
dress their grievances. :" Let us first sup.
press rebellion" replied Lord North. Let
us first enforce the laws; let us first see
whether we have a government" And the
Parliament, actuatcd BY that natural prompt.
ing fthe human heart, which We all have,
and which, think. has been actualipg us
here this morning. To punish whoever resists
our authority, yielded to the views of Lord
North; and the world knows the result. -
The rebellion was successful, and the English
empire was dismcmbercd.
Now, sir. who are the advocates of this
coercion policy? Whoare they that declare
that they make no compromise on this &C.
caSlon g that they will enforce the law a
all hazards " that they have millions for de-
Tense, but not one cent for tributc!" say
sir. with all respect to gentlemen, that in
this House and elsewhere they are the mcr
who have been remarkable heretofore fol
their hostility to the institutions of the South
do not like to be invidious. but NAV men.
tion some names. There is the rcycrned gen
tlcmcn from Illinois. Mr.. LovEJoY.1 Thcr,
is the worthy successor Of MIR. Giddings, MIR
HuTCTlINs, There is the senior member
from Pennsy lvania Mr.. STEVENS and hi.
more youthful colleague from the Wilmo,
district Mr. GRow.] There is the member
from the Syracuse district OF New York. mir
SEDGwlCK. and his redoubtable colleacu,
from the Orange district MIR. VAN WICK.
There is the gentlemen from Massachusetts
Mr.. BURLINGAME, who so gracefully ere
poses on the bosom Of the North End
There is the gentlemen from Connecticut
MIR. FERRY and there is the gentlemen
from Wisconsin, Mr.. WAsHBURN. the dis
tingnlshcd representative of distinguished
family. So might 90 on and tell the na,ior
the characters of the men who declare her,
and elsewhere that they will make no com
promise; that they intend to enforce the law.
at all hazards; that they intend to put dowr
Iebe llion at the point of the hayonet. Thu
country will believe that, in their policy h, re
these gentlemen ore but carrying out thei
hostility to the South and her institutions.
Go not intend to express any doubt abou
the honesty of notivcs ofthcse gentlemen We
the country will look through their action
and will believe. as believe, that they see i,
4