Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-02-15

old grandmother, that ! never did like
She feared neither God, nor man, nor the
devil, when the sun shone. But let her
discern o storm-cloud arisiong, and the
western horizon lighted up with the flashes
of electricity, and her face would become
suddenly as long as the moral law, and
she woulE take the good old bible from the
mantle-piece, and reverently brush from
lis lids the dust of weeks, and seat herself
il the old arm chair, with such an air Of
seriousness that one would suppose, to be-
hold her, that she never had an unholy
thought in all her life, while we little ur-
chins, innocent, then, you know, whose
mother had taught US to fear Gods SUM-
shine just as much as we did his lightning
that while We loved his gentle voice in
the evening zephyrs, we should proportion
ately more his louder voice in the pealing
thunders that shook the armament. | saw
we were severely chastised for our uniform
levity-our constant childish mirthfulness,
which was the same in all kinds Of weather.
! repeat, sr, | never adopted these prln-
ciples in sunshine to ignore them in the
storm.
Thirdly and fourthly, l don't know exactly
which, viii say finally, to be sure I'm
right, as that is what the ministers usually
say before they get half through am
opposed to the appointment Of these COM
nlissioners, because | an convinced beyond
the shadow of a doubt that it will be all
labor, time, and money lost. l have not
the first spark of faith in its beneficial re-
suits; aud never undertake an enterprise
in which | can get up no faith. believe
that every effort on the part of commits
ssioners to reconcile the Earring elements,
viii be entirely fruitless. What though
they do succeed in amending our Constl-
tuition SO that it shall throw around the In
stitution of American slavery all the guar
antees it ever dared to ask. What then ?
Constitutions are but the creatures Of man
must and will crumble before the advanc
ing tread of public opinion. The South
Carolinians know this, and have declared
in Congress and out Of Congress that if we
would keep them in the Union, we must
smother the growing sentiment of the
North And how viii you do that? VIII
constitutional amendments do it? Nay
verify, you might as well undertake to
smother the flames of IEtna. Why, they
know net what they ask They ask US,
sir, to qucnch the spirit Of the age-an all
pervading element in the atmosphere of to-
day, inhaled into the bosom of every man,
all over Gods Universe. Thousands of
the poor serfs tolling on the surfeited
plains of Russia, have felt its warming in
fuencs And the dark eyed Italians
around the regal ruins OF Rome, are shout
ing halleluahS to it to-day, while we, poor
evil-serying christians in America are
talking about driving back the resistless
tide, and compromising the spirit Of the
nineteenth century Sir, undertake to re-
animate the smouldering dust that sleeps
on Bunker's CORY battlefield; but in the
name of consistency--in the dignity of
common sense, don't undertake the more
impossible task of checking the developing
virtues of the American people.
But, Sir, We are told by gentlemen
on the other side of the House, that one
good, and only one, may grow out of send
ing commissioners>-an and that is, 1T will
have tendency to pnt off the evil day,
Well Sir, must beg leave to differ from
the gentleman on this point. My opinion
Is that the effect would be exactly the re-
verse Should our commissioners 90
there and stand up in the dignity of honest
manhood, the first sun would not set, al
ter the assembling of the Convention be-
fore the intelligence would be spread
throughout Virginia and Maryland, that
the Black Republicans come with the
determination Of not yielding vote a: pre-
pare, prepare without delay.' And thus
you see the cri-is would be precipitated
| hope gentlemen do not think of sending
men there, with false characters, and Of
deceiying their brothers Of the South, and
making them believe they are willing to
compromise when they have no such
idea in their heart and thus by an ungen-
erous and unmanly course stave IF the af-
fair until after the inauguration, ond then
throw off the max. Sir, such an insult
to. Virginia, would only serve to initiate the
irr,tated s;lrEace-increase the disaffection
and it would burst forth in four-fold fury
No, | trust no such course will be taken.
The gentleman who occupied the floor
before me, pointed US to the position of
some of cur eminent statesman as having
recommended the appointment of commits
gioncrs-among whom were the Hon.
VIM. H. Seward and part of the Massa-
sets delegation. Well, sir, as much as [
honor and respect those wise and patriotic
mer, am not to account for eir options.
They did not think proper to consult me,
but gave their opinions first, and hence |
suppose the difference do not think the
gentlemen will be surprised, for we find in
looking over the history of mankind that
great men have often differed before.
The marine corps of the United States