Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-23
REMARKS OF llR. MONROE,

REMARKS OF MR. MONROE,
Of Loraaa, IN he Ohio Senate, Jan. II, 1861,
vpoa Il. RssOlutioas rslstiFg e tA' 'iais St iA'
UniOR.
ron the I2th Of January, the Senator from
Madison, (Mr. HarTisOn) introduced into the
Senate series Of Resolutions 10 regard to
the present state of the country. One Ofths
Senators from Hamilton Mr.. Ferguson pro-
posed to amend them BY adding what is
known as the "Border State OompromiSe. =
The Senator from Butler, Mr.. Moore OBJ
iected to the Resolutions on the ground that
he preferred efficient legislation to mere
declarations Of opinion. After these and
other gentlemen had spoken, Mr.. Monroe
addressed the Senate, in substance, as fol-
lOws;l
Ma. PREsIDEEE-A fne old author says,
"Agree with your friends when you can; differ
from them when you MAST Sir, tits good max
i'm. It vas brou- ht to my attention early in
life, and it has been a rule of conduct with me
ever since. Il is a maxim which rational
creatures in social relations can never afford
to forget. While il should never be carried 80
tar as to sacrifice principle, in all mere ques-
tions Of eKpediency; questions in regard to
mere phraseology and times and modes ofac-
ton when there is common spirit and a
common purpose, it should be greatly res
pected. A due observance Of this maxim is
indispensable 10 the peace and welfare of So
oiety; and well would it be for us, if it were
more frequently remembered in communities,
in political parties, in churches, in State and
National Legislatures, and in our whole
Country. It isa principle Of action fully in
harmony with the genius Of eur institutions,
and with the spirit Of the Christian religion
II it is always incumbent upon US to cher
ish this fraternsl spirit it is especially so at
the present time, when there is 50 powerful a
tendency in the opposite direction, when the
evil genius Of disruption and separation is 50
busy in the land. The centripetsl forces Of
our great confederate system have slackened.
Its members are losing their proper gravita.
tons, and some Of them sre oscillating mo-
ment in the path Of their orbit on the line
between obedience and disObedience to law,
before they plunge away forever into some
unknown region Of darkness aud desolation.
Would TO God that this General Assembly, by
earnest and united action to-day might So
! tighten the bands ofuniOn, that not one mem
Der Of the system should wander from its
path, not one star fall from its place in the
bright constellation that adoras the sky.
Mr.. President, the resolutions now pro-
posed afford fit occasion for a union Of sc-
ton without a sacrifice OF principle. 1t has
been the conscientious endeavor Of the gen.
tlemen to whom was assigned the duty OF
preparing them, of whom l had the honor
to be one, TO draw up such a declaration of
sentiment, as should unite the whole Gene
raj Assembly, without any unworthy conces-
sion, in an earnest expression of attachment
to the Union, and disapprOval Of Secession.
/ The disorders Of the time demand, that the
whole moral and physical power Of the State
Of Ohio should be pledged to the Federal
Government in maintaining the union Of
the States and there has been an honest in
tention to accomplish this in these resolu-
tons in way that every member Of the
Senate could consistently sustain by his
vote. What do these resolutions contain p
/ We find in them only the nOblest and most
patriotic principles. They proclaim our 10y
atty to the Constitu ion and the Union; they
! denouncs secession as impossible under our
form of government they declare that the
/ Constitution and all laws made in pursuance
thereof, must be carried out in all States and
/ Territories; they disclaim all right or Inten-
ton to abolish slavery in the States where ii
exists by Congressional legislation or by
hostile expeditions from the free States; they
call for the repeal in all States of all uncon-
stitutiOnal- enactments, and insist upon il
that the general government shall secure to
"the citizens of each State, the privileges
and immunities of citizens in the several
1 States" they send words of encouragement
and cheer to citizens of Slave States who are
| struggling 10 hold back their States from the
vortex Of secession; they commend the course
/ Of President Buchanan in all thst he has
done to resist the spirit Of disuniOn; and they
pledge the entire power and resources of Ohio
to aid the Federal Government by whom
sOeVer administered in preserving the Unior
in its integrity Is there any thing here, sir,
which any honest man ano patriot canno
endorse? think not. The resolutions arr
not in all respects what l would personally
have preferred, as the Senator from Madison
(Mr. HarisOn,) very well knows. Their
I hLE 6DLlG puLh1Co III bIGAn " AASA WOu4N
have modified OF omitted, and some thing
were omitted from them which | would
gladly have included, had I been at liberty Il
consult my individual Judgment alone. Blu
IN all this / have Jared no worse than Others
Such concessions were necessary on all hand
in order to come to an agreement; and / inC
nothing in these resolutions inconsistent witt
the cherished political principles of mysei
or my friends. shall, therefore, give then
my hearty support; and may 1 not in fra
ternal and respectful terms, entreat all N.
brother Senators to do the same y
Here are declarations in which we are a
agreed. All party questions have been puI
posely omitted If I'VE must debate these, lie
US defer the contest until we shall have NOR
leisure, and shall have discharged our duty
our common country. 1t is not the time
encourage faction in the city, when the bal
tering rams Of the enemy are shaking th
walls.
It was assumed in the preparation of thes
4 Resolutions, that at a time like this, theI
would be sufficient community Of feeling an
principle among US, to furnish commO
ground on which we could stand. And, 81
this must be true. 1t is not it cannot
possible, that there IS not enough paLrlous
among us to afford US a common platform
We may be Democrats or Republicans, Coz
servatives or Radicals, but we are all Amer
cans. We may have voted for Douglas (
Lincoln OF Breckinridge or Bell, but we all,
trust, in our hearts, voted honestly for q
Country. 1t is the Country and not an
! political party which is now in danger.
is for the Country that we are all to da
asked to vote. Is there Senator here tn
. does not love the Constitution which Of
. fathers left us Is there q man on this hol
who has any sympathy with Secession ar
dissolution2 Is there a heart in these bosom
| that does not thrill at the words home, countr
native land2 Which Of you desires to 81
q single stsT blotted from the dear old flag
: to see that flag trailed in the dust soiled ar
dishonored Whose blood does not III
fire at the thouOht of such a calamity 2