Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-01-24
From tbs Chicago Tribuno's Correspondent
senator Bakers Speech.
lie Vuuquis4es Benjamin and his Co
Fsre-Eaters - mr. lkas9n literally
WAsnlNqroN, IN. 5, l8a.


Iaudience that ever con- ened within the walls
lof the Senate chamber. Long before the
hour Of meeting every accessible space was
crowded to suifocation. So intense was the
pressure to GET within hearing, that several
ladies tainted, and with difficulty were re-
moved tothe neighboring committee rooms.
As he had done the day before, be pressed
hard upon Benjamin, who was festiye and
excited, and received bis punishment with
bad grace. Baker gave him all the oppof-
tun;ty for explanation or defence which he
desired He was prompted by JEFF. Davis,
Wigfal, Toombs and other leaders Of the
| file-eating section But he was clearly
loyer-matclied in the encounter and felt
beaten and huniiated in the eyes Of bis
paltisan friends, though lie is the ablest
imam on that side Of the Senate chamber
Baker followed him up Ike powerful and
lskillfal swordsman, parrying his thrusts,and
dealing blow after blow upon bin, driving
| him back by the irresistible force Of l0gic
and fact, from one position to the other,
and never ceasing until he had vanquished
! the Louisiana Senator, driving him COM
pletely from the field. The constitutional
right Of a State to secede from the Union
lie demonstrated to lea myth, an invention
Of Galhoun's, not countenanced by theopin
ions Of the trainers Of that instrument, nor
warranted BY its ablest expounders, inelu-
ding Webster Clay, jackson, Adams and
| Madison, who, on the contrary, utterly de-
lnied and repudiated the assumption. lie
also proved BY the highest authority that
can Be summoned, and by the very terms
Of the Constitution itself, that It il not in
the nature Of a league or compact between
States, which may be broken by them, but
that it emanated directly from, and was
ratified BY the people, in their capacity Of
citizens OF a common country Having
disposed of The right Of peaceable or com
lstitutional secession, he took up BenjamiD's
dreary catalogue Of complaints against the
North, and demolished them che by one.
| He showed that the South had no cause for
dissolying the Union by any decision Of the
Supreme Court, or law Of Congress, or
act Of the free States.
When pressed to the very wall for rea-
Isons TO Justify secession, Benjainin said that
1.-THE Northern people were hostile to slavery,
and that individuals stole negroes and at
tempted to create Instructions among
slaves, and that they denied that the Con
lstitution recognized property in slaves, and
Opposed the protection Of slavery within
the territories. To this Baker replied in
substance: AS to the charge that some
Northern men had improperly interiered
with slavery IN the Slave States, be was
afraid there was truth in it. The people
lat the Moth are 2 free people; they have
the liberty Of thought and freedom Of
speech, aud, as a consequence, with all peo-
pie so situated, are to some extent a people
Of isms.D People in the North, as else
where, will not always think truly and wise
lily. There are people at the North who
not only violate the fugitive slave law, but
Ia good many other laws; people who not
only steal negroes, but steal horses. Some
of these it had fallen to his lot az a lawyer
to defend, and he had no doubt that the
Senator from Louisiana could b. surround
ed by offenders of all kinds Who bad been
acquitted by his legal skill. South - well
as North were men who regarded no law.
But, as people, it is not the desire Of the
North to interfere with the slavery of the
Southern States. Is that ground for dis
union, for revolution, for civil ware
i But, replied Benjamin, tie tendency Of
Republican principles was to surround the
South with Gordon of Free States and
thus destroy slavery.
Said Baker, in reply, it is confessed then
that Congress does not do the South any
wrong; the States don't DO il; The people
Of the North don't 10 it; but lie Republi-
can party is going to hem in slavery BY
surrounding it with Gordon Of free States.
! This he (Mr b. took TO be an abandon
nent Of the indictment. Is that grounst
for separation, war and desolationg
Mr. Benjalnin--DecidedIy YES.
/ Mr. Baker- Emphaticaliy no. Would
lit be cause Of war against France, or Eng
Hand, or any other Powerg Why complain
Iof eneirelng slavery with Gordon Of free
lStatesl Is it not now SO sunounded2 Ii
Icannotmoys without moving on some free
State OF freo territory. 1t cannot 80 North
Though il is trying very hard. It cannot
90 South without coming on the free States
Iof Mexico, who bale nothing SO bad as
negro slavery. 1t cannot 60 West, iol
there are free States. Is II not circled he
would not say "girdlel," for that implies
i death. Where can slavery 70 but into
New Mexicol Is it not, then, idle, nay,
wicked to plunge this country into civil wal
on this account9 But will it be any bettoi
latter dis1nion9 You have now with us
what you call compact by which We
are calIod upon to come to your assistance
lin case or slave revolt. May such never
arise but if it should we win marchto sap
lpolt you With all our power. As 70 your
fugitive SLAVES, nc are bound 70 returnthem
lby the provisions Of the Constitution,
Though against the common law and the
general sentiment Of the civilized world
Would France, or England, OF tic Ger Of
Russia return Your fugitive slaves No;
We Of the free States, and we only. arc The
parties Is whom You can look ia lie Hour
lof peril. Why, then, dissolve, Why nlenaee
Ithe Union z II can only be that you aye
dissatisfied with the peaceful pFogfess al