Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-02-22

friday. FEB. ~. 1861.
8. M. Yo5r, Editor and Proprietor
Speech of Hon. John Il. Harris,
i'm the House of Representatives.,
Feb. 6, lS6l.
The House having under consideration
the report from the select committee of thir-
ty-three-
Mr.. Hams, of Virginia, said
Mr.. SPEAKER: Many questions of grave
consideration, and variety Of themes for
fruitful speculation, present themselves to
the observer of current events. Issues are
involved which not only affect the present.
but their consequences will reach far into
the future, and determine, for veal or wee,
the destiny of republican institutions. Sir,
under such circumstances, and in view of
such consequences, | conceive it to be the
part of wisdom, as well as the command Of
duty. for every member of this body, in the
discharge of his representative trust, to do
all in his power to avert the calamity which
now threatens our common country. In
doing this, will "sing no peans to the
Union" Ip' efer that its present great
ness, its proud position before the world,
the hitherto unrivalled prosperity Of its PEG
Pile, its own grandeur and sublinlity, shall
speak it's praises. Nor will | arralgn any
member on this floor or impugn lis motives.
The time for elimination is past The evil
is upon US. The crisis is at hand. We
must meet it as becomes men and patriots
Neither looking to the right nor to the left,
but with an eye single to the preservation
of civil liberty and religious liberation, each
should march up to the discharge of his
duty, without regard for the consequences
to himself. No personal sacrifice can be
too great to preserve and perpetuate the
only model on earth of free representative
government; the only government on whose
Legislation the will of the people is impress
ed and which guarantees to all equal lights
and privileges; Government in which the
highest position is open to the humblest
! freeman, government in which merit, not
birth or wealth, is the sure guarantee Of
success and preferment; government, and
the only one, whose laws extend over a
territory which produces every variety Of
the necessaries, as we'll as the comforts and
Injuries, Of life life Truly, sir, no people
were ever so favored by kind Providence,
unless the hand Of destruction be stayed,
mono will deserve it less.
The question is presented to us, and we
are brought to the issue, shall this Union
be dissolved? We can neither avoid it, nor
evade it., We would. Each and every man
in this country must take his position =
Each has his part to play in this great dra.
MAJ fear tragedy-of human affairs. l
have never had any hesitation as to the
part, however humble, | should play I
shall use every exertion in my power to
preserve this government. [ am for the
Union even now. bleeding, torn, shattered
as it is. [ pray [ may De enabled to be so
forever!
When people have been injured and in
suited as the South has been, Cknow they
are apt to 60 toe. far in their eudeavor TO
resent and redress the wrongs which have
been inflicted upon them They look only
on one side of the picture. They think only
Of the injury which they have received and
thus press their determination TO a9enge it
without regard to the consequences which
may follow. Before a step SO important
and fatal as a dissolution Of the Union be
taken, we ought to stop, pause, rehect-rc
fect-refect upon the dangers and Difficult
ties which attend its dissolution, as well as
the evils which must result after it is ac
complshed. [ know, sir, it is said south
ern men should not speak of these things;
that it only emboldens the North, and makes
them the more determined. The caami-
ties attending and following dissolution of
the Union bear equally on both sections, and
to each are boundless. Therefore, think
free, full and frank statement CT our views
is betting the importance Of the crisis
We should speak to each other as sober, dis
Greet statesmen, appealing rather to the
honor and justics of men, than to their fears
or passions. IF we canndt convince the
judgment Of the North that the South has
never injured her, or tramped upon her
rights, and that she ought and must do JUS
tice to the South, then, indeed, is our gov
ernment at an end. If, by threats of disu-
Mon, we could brighten the North into
temporary adjustment, [ should not be will
ing to do so; for it would only postpone the
sad event a brief space, and not avert it.
We must have a Union based upon the af-
fections of the people; each section observ-
ing due regard for the rights and feelings
of the other. This Government can alone
be perpetuatcd by the affections of its citi-
zens-not by the sword.
I think it is the duty of both sections to
contemplate the horrors attending disrup-
ton OF the Government. That which, per-
haps. rises above all others is, can it be done
in peace? When we look at the peculiar
character of our government, it's varied in
terests, its immense amount of public prop
erty, its vast extent Of territory, be must !
be but an Indifferent observer of public e.
vents who tkinks+al these can be adjusted
without resort to the arbitrament of the
sword. There is, DO question which think
presents greater difficulty than that which
would grow out Of the claim to the free nav
igation of the Mississippi river. Will the
great Northwest permit this, the Only nat
ural outlet for their great productions, to
fall into the hands Of hostile government?
1t may be said, by comfy this river would
be open to free navigation. But this is an
swered by those interested, that they will
never nermit a vested RIGHT. necessary to |