The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-02-13

must enforce the laws; that they must collect
the revenue; that they must maintain the Con-
stitution. Sir, these ends are very desirable to
be attained. Twill aid in any measures likely
to accomplish them. | will vote for any sys-
tenn Of legislation which will effect them. But,
in my judgment, the system OF which this bill IS
the harbinger will utterly fail.
Gentlemen tell us, they must collect the rev.
enue. find BY a report which have here,
from the Register OF the Treasury, that the net
revenue collected In the ports OF South Carolina
all of ofthem-during the year 1859, was 1884.
237; the net revenue for the next year, 1860,
was S309, ,222-less than an average of $780,.
600 year. Now, the expense of sending your
floating custom. house to Charleston harbor, and
Of maintaining there the armament necessary
to perform the duties prescribed by this bill, for
one month, ay, sir, for one week, will exceed
the whole revenue for one year. II, IN these
times Of disaster and civil commotion, the
revenues do not fall below the sum which
we were able to collect in times OF secu-
rity and peace, even then the pecunlary specula.
ton would hardly be worthy Of the world wide
reputation of our New England brethren
But, sir you will not collect one dollar of reve-
nue--not one dollar. How many ships will 60
into the port of Charleston, II, at the mouth OF
the harbor, vessel OF the United States com
pels them to pay duties, and before they reach
their moorings they are met by State laws, to
be executed by State officers, demanding, upon
the penalty of seizure and confiscation, the pay
meht ofthe same rate Of duties again to them ?
Not vessel will 60 into the port. And II pri-
vate persons were willing to take their chances,
how long would foreign nations submit to it,
that you, by armed vessels, should collect your
customs at the mouth of the harbor, when your
receipt is not good on the shore? How long,
unless you secure to them the consideration up
on which alone customs are paid, that the i'm
porter shall have free ingress and the right to
sell upon the land? Your pretended system Of
collecting the revenue, will be only blockade;
it will be an act Of war; it will impose restraints
upon trade, not by open and declared war, but
by pretended police regulation, to which other
nations have not submitted, and to which they
will not now submit.
When Mexico revolted from Spain, and un-
der the pretense Of collecting revenue her ports
were closed, the nations interested in that trade
protested against it, and treated the blockade
as of no validity whatever. When Texas re
volted from Mexico, and under the operation Of
a system for collecting revenue, an attempt was
made to cut off all the trade Of her ports, the
United States, with other nations. resisted it,
upon the well established ground that in this
age OF the world, belligerent rights, however
we'll ascertained must be exercised in subordi-
nation to the superior equity OF the rights Of
neutrals You will not collect dollar of rev.
enue 10y this system; nor have you the excuse
for passing this bill, that unless you do so,
Charleston will become free port, and the
trade OF New York, Baltimore, and New Or.
leans will be thereby injured. The port o.
Charleston is now subject to revenue laws i'm
posing the same duties as are imposed by the
laws Of the United States; and there is no rea-
son to believe that further importations will be
made there, than are necessary for the city it.
self and the adjacent country.
But, gentlemen tell us that they must EN-
force the laws. have shown that they cannot
enforce the revenue laws. What other laws do
they propose to enforce? Do they propose to
carry the mails through the State ofS0uth Car
olina, or any other seeding State? No, sir;
they are willing to suspend those laws, altho'
it may be as necessary to the people OF the coun-
try, to have free postal communication with the
interior Of the seeding States as to collect a
few hundred or few thousand dollars at their
ports Do they propose to enforce the laws tor
the administration of justice? No, sir, that is
not contempa ted; although it is the constitu-
tona right OF every citizen OF the United States
to have his claims against any citizen of South
Carolina adjudica in the Federal courts
Those laws they will suspend. Do they pro-
pose to enforce the laws for the punishment oil
crime? No, sir; even though 1t is just as ne
cessary for the well being OF the country, that
the current coin Of the United States should
not be counIereited in South Carolina as in any
Of the other States of the Union. Gentlemen,
you are willing to suspend all these laws, or to
wink at their iniraction. Why will you not
suspend the revenue laws also? Is the collec-
tion ofcustoms the great end OF all government
the highest object of all S satesmanship?
Gentlemen tell US that they must maintain
the Union. l yield to no man in devotion to
the Union. My constituents--the people OF the
whole North west-have for 1t an unalterable
attachment They are an inland people; they
are chiefly devoted to agriculture; they are dis
tant from the ocean by thousands oi miles; they
are shut off from communication with the ma.
tions Of the earth; they fear, from isolation, the
loss Of prestige and Of power They are attach
ed to the Union by the double tie Of interst and
affection; their material prosperity is bound Up
iE its continuance; their hearts cling to it with
incredible tenaci:y. They would make any
sacrifice to maintain it. Sir, il armies could
preserve this Union, half million of armed
men would spring up in night. II money
could preserve it, our teeming soil would leap
with joy to yield a golden harvest. II blood
could maintain it, our young men and Inaidens
our old men and children, would, with Grim
son food, from their very hearts, swell every
stream that waters our plains But. sir, mon,
ey, armies, blood, will not maintain the Union
Justice, reason, peace may. This Union, Mr.
Chairman, is a confederation of States. The
Constitution is the bond. In order to attain
certain ends beneficial to all, these States came
together in voluntary association. They or.
ganized Central Government, and invested il
with certain powers; they themselves agreeing
to do certain things, and to refrain from doing
certain other things, which were clearly within
the scope oftheir sovereign power. In order tc
maintain this Union, in order to preserve this
Constitution, it is necessary that every agency
OF this complicated machinery the Genera
Government, the States united, the States SO
verally--should perform the functions allotted
to them by the Constitution.
Now, sir, what force Of arms eau compel q
State to do that which she has agreed to do?--
What force Of arms can compel State to re.
frain from doing that which her State govern
ment, supported by the sentiment OF her people
is determined to persist in Going? tt is proyid.
ed in the Constitution that the citizens OF every
State shall have all privileges and immunities
OF citizens Of the several States. What force Of
this Federil Government can compel the OBJ
servance of that clause, if State is determined
to pass and execute laws whereby citizens e
other States shall not haye, within its limits
the same privileges as Its own citizens2
"Fuil faith and credit shall be given in each
State to the public acts and judicial proceedings