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

The House having under consideration the
reIor, frcm the select committee 0: thirty-three-
MIR. WEBSTER said:
MIR. SPEAKER: In submitting some re-
marks to the House this morning upon our
national affairs. | desire. so far as possible
to ley aside every feeling Of a partisan or Sec
tional character. and come mp to the consid-
Grafton Of the question with an eye single,
not only to the interest and welfare OF the
State which represent, but also. to the i'll
,ert st and welfare of the whole country. be.
lcyng. as do, that they are inse parably
CONNECTED and although | AIN well aware
that shall not be able to bring to this dis
cussion the ability. the research, and the
-loqucncr which have characterized many cf.
forts made upon this floor. ye. do claim to
have as earnest desire and as honest n pur-
pose rs any man can possess to assist III
bringing to a peaceful settlement Our pres
ent unhappy difficulties.
Sir, AIN not friend to secession. have
NIT been taught in that school of politics. -
l have learned at the feet Of Clay and Of Web
sier, that when this Government was formed
by our fathers it was intended to bca strong,
self.sustaning. permanent Government =;
that they did not suppose that they were
planting in it the seeds of its own destruc-
ton. but believed that they were forming n
Government that should exist through all
time. But. sir, even if such right does cx.
list. hold that tie policy Of the seeding
States. in attempting. at this time, to cScr-
cise it, has been prccipitate, unwisc. and sell
fish.
Who, when he knows that in three shor,
months after the American people in all the
States peacefully. at the ballot box. have dc.
clarcd !heir preference for Prcsidrn,
of the United States, seven Of these States
have determined to break up this grea,
Government which our fathers were long
years in originating aud perfccting. and who
also knows the fact that the action of lhos,
States in severing themselves from the Gen
eral Govcrrment-the highest exercise OF
sovereign powtr--has in no instance beer
submitted 10 the people for ratics ton. car
deny that the action of these States has hern
rrecipitatc! Who that knows that if tn,
Representatives Of the sccecding States ir
both houses Of Congress had remained in theil
places, even if the incoming Administration
had designed to take measures for the injury
of tho South, itwould not have had the abil
ity that the South and the friends of til,
South would have controlled both branches
Of the National Legislature; and that con
.tqucntly, the Administration would hav,
been harmless for evil; who, say, thu
krows these facts. can doubt that the actor
of the seeding States has been unwise! And
sir, who tina, knows that the seeding State.
have taken their course without consulting
the wishes and feelings of their sister
southern Slatcs-wcll knowing, as they did
that our institutions wcrs similar to theirs
that we have the same interests in this stru2
gle rs they; that our rights were a.
much involved as theirs; that the danger.
resulting from such course were much great
CT and more imrrinent to US than to them =
can deny that they sclfishly and arrogant!
have cndeavored and are endeavoring to drag
us. the border slave States, into secession
against our wishes and against our interests
But, Sir, have no desire to discuss thi!
question. nor the alleged causes that have lee
to the action Of these States--thc wrongs IN
ficted on the southern people by the unfrend
ly and unconslitutiona! legislation Of certain,
northern States. and the formation and tri
umph Of q great sectional party at the N orth
selecting its candidates from that section
and eiecting them by the votes of that sec.
ton alone. founded upon the idea of resist.
ance to the institutions Of the South and
as it were. endtavoring to ignore the South ir
the control Of the Government. These ques.
tions do not believe to be pertinent to thi.
discussion; I know t.ey arc no. profitable