The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-01-09
REMARKS

4
eraI Government toward sece-
| ding States, delivered in the Sem
ate Of the u. s.. December 20,
| Is60.
Mr.. President. my colleague employed the
phrase "make war" in speaking ofa controver-
ny winch might arise between the State OF
Souh Carolina and the Federal Government
II it be cause of war. as my colleague suppo-
sed. why not war according to the usage OF
civilized nations? They do not, as my col
league proposed hang the prisoners. The Sen
ator from Illinois Mr. Trumbulll inquired this
morning for definition Of rebellion. Was not
George Washington rebel? And yet, sir,
when the British commander threatened to
treat American prisoners taken In battle as my
colleague threatens to treat our Carolina pris-
oners, u we should have any, General Wash
ington gave no ice of retaliation at once. That
ended the affair on both sides.
1t is OF no real importance I repeat. whether
we commence or south Carolina commences -
| Il will be case of actual war in either event
| The questions We have 10 decide, consequently
are those which PROFOUND d: shall we acqui
esce 10 the peaceful separation Of six States
from the rest, or shall we engage in war OF
which we cannot see the end; or shall we now
address ourselves TO the noble and higher duty
Of attempting measures Of conciliation, recon-
struct,ng, and laying more deeply, more firmly.
! than ever the foundations Of the Union as at
present constituted, redressng all complaints
silencing every discomfort, and doing this, not
as partisans, but (if there he no better motve)
/ by an instinct Of self preservation, and an ear
nest desire to perpetuate the Government which
has been SO valuable to U.s. the best Govern
ment which the heart Of maa could crave. 1t
is no time, sir in the very crisis Of our nation
al existence, to stand upon The question who
should propose or who should accept terms OF
conciiation. ", 5as
My colleague seems TO imagine it the duty OF
the President, under his oath Of Office, to pre-.
cipitate our whole country into civil war. He
said that the Pre- ident had sworn not to know
that any State had seeded, or attempted to Sc
cede. Well, sir, should like to be informed
whereabouts an affidavit Of such ignorance has
been recorded. | am not advised of anything
like il. The President is under obligation, as
suredly, to execute the laws Of the land; but
can we not suspend the execution of any law
upon the s'atu'e book? Can we no. suspend
! il for week, or mouth, or six months or
six years, If the attempt to execute it, by force
Of arms, will provoke ,nterminable war? In
Quincy Adams. He did not imagine. while he
occupied the Presidential chair that he was un-
der any obligation to provoke, or to accept,
such dire extremity. He did not believe that
the Con.ti utlon Of the United States hound
him, inevitably, to precip,ate the country into
civil war. On the contrary, in his special
message of February s. 1927, MIR. Adams sa d:
"In abstaining at this stage of the proceed
ings from the application Of any military force,
| have been governed by considerations which
will. trust, meet The concurrenc Of the leg
islature. Among them, one OF paramount i'm
portanee has been that these surveys have been
attempted and partly effected under color OF le
gal authority from tn" State Of Georgia. That
th" surveys are, therefore, n It to be viewed in
the light of individual and solitary transgres-
sors, but as the agents OF sovereign State, act
ing in obedience to authority which they be-
!ieved to be binding upon them. lntimations
had been given that. should they meet with in
terrupfion, they would at all hazards be sus-
tained by the military force Of the State; in
which event. II the military force of the Union
should have been employed to enforce its viola
ted law, conflict must have ensued, which
would in itself have inflicted wound upon the
Union. and have presented the aspect OF one o
these conedera ed States at war with the rest
Anxious above all toayert this state Of things
yet at the saa'e time impressed with the deepest
conviction OF my own duty to take care thai
the laws shall be executed, and the faith Of the
nation preserved, have used Of the means en-
trusted to the Executive for that purpose only
those which, without resorting TO miliars fnrce
may vindicate the sanctity OF the law by thu
ordinary agency Of the judicial tribunals I"
And yet. sir. that was a case in which thu
government was striving to maintain the plight
ed faith of treaty, as against in'raction by one
of the States. When my coleage, or The sen
ator from Tennessee, assumes, therefore, t
treat the acts OF persons bearing the cdmmis
sion OF South Carolina as Il it were only thu
act Of individuals, entreat them to consider
THE pertinent suggestions OF Mr.. Adams in
similar case. Such acts cannot be viewed al
the acts OF individual and solitary transgressor
but as the acts ofperscns obeying the mandate
o: sovereignty, and to an extent which they
believe, at least, IL is binding upon them.
It will end in war; begin as it may, it viii
end in war. THIS idea Of my colleague, tha
the Constitution otthe United States, er pyopi
aigore compels the Executive. and even com
lpels Congress, to engage in hostilities with
part vf our own people lit is amazing to me
and utterly revolving. Why. sir we have alb
, solute discretion whether to declare war O
} maintain peace in regard to foreign nations
If our citizens are abused, II our territory Is in
vaded, or even possessed. by hostile array, we
the Congress of the United States, consisting @
Senate and House Of Representatives. may
il We deem it essential to our own interests
decline to authorize hostilitiss. Does any on
deny that? Why, then, are We told that W
have not as much liberty in deciding question
Of war and peace with our fellow ciuz,ns Q
South arolina, as in deciding uch question
with foreign nations? A war. too, in which,
a my colleague be right, the unfortunate captive
: are not TO be treated as we treat prisoners Q
another naion. but are to be executed in tn
, most gnominious manner. Mr.. President,
have not words to express my adherence Q
such conclusion. ,g ~ a g,
II ;s tha Iaesan of h;,tor,, th.t ,,hanauar