The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-01-04
Speech Of Senator Nicholson, Of Ten
....-. nessee.

Speech OF Senator Nicholson, Of Ten.
.,..-. nessee.
Senator A. 0. P. NICHOLSON, of Tennessee,
made speech in the Senate, on the Oath.
He denied WADE's charge, that the belief
so general in the South, that the people of
the North were the enemies of the South,
was brought about by any acts Of Northern
Democrats. The belief came from the most
reliable sources-from the speeches and
writings of the eminent men of the Repub.
lican party. Mr.. NICHOLSON closed his
speech, in moderate and conciliatory tone.
He said ... ...... ....
The trouble is not 80 much that the fugitive
slave law is not enforced, or the equality of the
States Denied but that principle is laid down
that denies the title of Southern men to pro.
perty which they claim under the Constitution.
He (NichOlsOn) argued that Mr.. Lincoln hated
slavery, and belived that the Constitution
could be administered in such way that no
objection could be made to the final extinction
of slavery. He claimed that nothing but full
constitutional guarantees could save the Union.
No State was more attached to the Union than
the State he represented, yet the sentiment
was widely spread there that the result of the
late election would render the, preservation of
q Constitutional Union impossible. Unless
proper guarantees are given, he thought that a
majority of the people of Tennessee would be
compelled to separate from the Union. He
would do all he could to obtain proper guar.
antees, but if all failed he would choose seces.
sion or revolution rather than acquiesce.
He regretted hasty action in the South, and
thought it better to have Cancellation and con-
certed action in the Senate. He thought that
an appeal from the whole South, with unani-
nifty Of sentiment, could not be resisted by
IRENE Southern States as dictated by desire
to provoke the sentiment of the North, rather
than from love of disunion perse. He thought
that it was the duty of the border States to meet
in solemn consultation and present their de-
mands to the North but from the course of the
Republican organs, he had scarcelya ray Of
hope that their demands would be granted
The chief points in our demands would be the
recognition of the right of property in slaves,
and the right to hold them in Territories.
Although he had not much hope left, yet he
preferred to try if solemn appeal from the
South to the North would not produce good
effect. .l,.
Mr.. Nicholson then referred to the secession
ordinance of South Carolina, as the act Of q
sovereign State, saying that he would only
allude to it as q fact, and not argue whether it
was right or wrong. He argued that any resort
to force by the Federal Government was equiv
alent to a declaration of war against South
Carolina She had absolved her citizens from
all allegiance to the United States, and the
government could not make war rightfully
upon them. He drew q picture of the horrors
of civil war, and urged calmness and consulta-
ton on the part of the Southern States. He
concluded by expressing the hope of . more
perfect union at no distant day. .. r