Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-01-04
nenry clay on DisanIon in 1850.

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PRINTERS DEVIL.
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| Henry Clay on DisuniOn in 1850.
In 1850 there were many who looked fol
disastrous issue of the events of that day.
California, it had been supposed, would
furnish one slave State as well as one free
State. The organization of New Mexico
and Utah, and generally the practical deci
sion whether the great acquisitions of the
Mexican war should result in a gain to the
interest desiring to extend the political
power Of slavery equal to the gain of tho
| free States and Territories, was the trial OF
the time, and it came as near to effccting
severance of the Gulf States and South
Carolina from the Union as the power of
those representing those States in Congress
could bring it. In the course of that strug-
tgle, the compromise measures, elaborated
with great care by the celebrated Commit
tee of Thirteen of the Senate, were broken
up by the detaching of California, and by
the occurrence of the precise contingency
which several Southern Legislatures had de-
clared would require steps to effect sepa-
ration from the Union. On the first of Au-
gust, 1850, Mr.. Dawson, of Georgia, dccar-
ed in the Senate that the contingency had
arrived which compelled the calling of a
convention in that State to provide for the
extreme remedy of dsunion. Henry Clay
! followed him, and after few words depre-
eating the failure of the special adjustment,
he said:
Now, Mr.. President, l stand here in my
place, meaning to be unawed by any threats,
whether they come from individuals or from
States. l should deplore, as much as any
man living or dead, that. arms should be
raised against the authority of the Union,
either by individuals or by States. But,
after all that has occurred, ifany one State,
or portion of the people of any State,
choose to place themselves in military ar
ray against the government of the Union, |
am for trying the strength of the govern
ment. Applause in the galleries. am
for ascerLaining whether we have govern.
ment or not-practical, efficient, capable OF
maintaining its authority, and of upholding
the powers aud interests which belong to a
government. Nor, sir, am to be alarmed
or dissuaded from any such course by init
nations Of the spiling of blood. If blood
is to be split, by whose fault is it3 Upon
the supposition, maintain it will be the
fault of those who choose to raise the stan
Idard of disunion, and endeavor TO PROSTATE
the government; and sir, when this is done;
so long as it pleases God togive me a voice
to express my sentiments, or an arm, weak
and enfeebled as it may be by age, that
voice and that arm will be on the side o
my courtry, for the support of the genera
authority, and for the maintenance of tho
powers of this Union. Applause in the
Igalleries.
81 repeat the sentiment; if resistance is
attempted to any authority of the country
by any State, or any people of any State,
will raise my voice, my heart and arm, il
support of the common authority of the
general government. Nor, am apprehen
sive of this idea that blood is to be she'd
But if it is shed, who will be chargeablC
with the effusion Of human blood? T!ost
who attempt to PROSTATE the general au
thority, upon the supposition | have made
that single State, if there shall be one, OIL
if the people of any State, choose to raise
the standard of disunion and attempt to de
stroy the Union by force. God knows
desire no such thing; but if it occurs, viii
be among the last who will give up the Of
fort 10 maintain the Union in its entire, full
and vigorous authority.
"Sir, these threats are not so alarming
and so dangerous as gentlemen in their i'm
aginations may suppose. We have had al
event of this kind in our history. WheI
Washington was President, now sixty year
ago, the standard of insurrection was raised
in the western part of Pennsylvania. The
army Of tho United States moved forwart
for the purpose of subduing il. There wa
some little bloodshsd at the house of Col
/, Neville, but the insurgents then-as dsun
ionists aud traitors always will-Aed from
the approach Of the flag of the Union, sup
ported by the authority of the Union, anc
and countenanced by the father of the Un
ion. - Congressional Globe, lst ssss., 3lS
Congress, p. l,4s6.