Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-03-02

warlncsss of political brethren, so long
as there is any hope that they may
come to a better mind.
/ think it easy to pronounce what
measures or conduct will not save the
Union. l agree with the honorable
Senator from North Carolina (Mr.
Clingman that mere eulogiums will
not save it. Yet, l think that as pray.
or brings us nearer to God, though it
cannot move him towards us, so there
is healing and saving virtue in every
word of devotion to the Union that is
spoken, and in every sigh that its dam
ger brings forth. Iknow, at least, that
like virtue, it derives strength from
every irrevercnt act that is committed
and every blasphcmous phrase that is
uttered against it.
The Union cannot be saved by mutu-
al ordinations concerning our rcspcc-
tive share of responsibility for the pres
cnt evils. He whose conscience ac-
quits him will naturally be slow to ac-
cusc others whose cooperation he needs.
History only can adjust the great ac-
count.
The speaker then, after dilating at
length in a dspassionatc, widc-rcach-
ing and philosophical view of the polit-
ic,l and commercial greatness of our
present United Republic, and the nu-
mcrous calamitics and commissions that
must G u, f!om its dis solution, thus
advcrts to the apparent reasons for
disunion sentiments, and its direct, os-
tcnsible cause for tllcirprcscnt extreme
agitation:
The disuniOn movement arises partly
out of IL dispute over the common do
main of the United States. Heretofore
the Union has confined this controvcr-
sv within the bound, of political de-
bate, by referring it, with all other ma
tional ones, to the arbitlamcnt of the
ballot-boX. Does any one suppose that
diSunion would transfer the whole do
main to either party, or that any other
umpire bnt war would, after disunion,
he invoked?
Third. This movement arises, in an
other view. out of the relation Of Al fri
can slaves to the domestic population
of the country. Freedom i. to them,
as to all mank ind, the chief object of
desire. Hitherto, under the operation
of the Union, they have practically re-
manned ignorant of the controversy, es-
pccially of its bearing upon themselves.
Can we hope that fragrant civil war
shall rage among ourselves i'll their
very presence, and yet that they will re-
main stupid and idle spectators? Does
history furnish lis any satisfactory i'll
struction upon the horrors of civil war
among Il people so brave, so skilled in
arms, so earnest in conviction, and so
intent in purpose, as we are: Is it Il
mere chimca which suggests an aggra-
walton of those horrors beyond cndur-
ancc when. on either side, there shall
occur the intervention of an uprising
fcrocious African slave population of
four, or six, or perhaps twenty millions:
The opinions of mankind change,
and with them the policies of nations.
One hundred years ago, all the COM
mcrcial European States were engaged
in transferring negro slaves from Atr-
ca to this hemisphere. To-day, all
those States are firmly set in hostility
to the extension and even to the rrac-
ticc of slavery. Opposition to it takes
two forms; one European, which is
simple, direct abolition, effected, ifnccd
be, by compulsion; the other American,
which seeks to arrest the African slave
trade, and resist the entrance of domestic
slavery into Territories where it is yet
while it leaves the DISPOSE
ton of existing slavery to the consider
ate action of the States by which it is
retained. 1t is the Union that restricts
the opposition to slavery in this coun-
try within these limits. If dissolution
prevail, what guarantee shall there be
against the full development here of
the fearful and uncompromising hostil-
ity to slavery which elsewhere pcrvadcs
the world, and of which the recent in
vasion Of Virginia was an illustration ?
X
And now, Mr.. President, what is the
cause for this sudden and eternal sacri-
flee of so much safety, greatness, hap
pincss and freedom Have foreign
nations combined, and are they coming
in rage upon us? No. So far from
being enemies, there is not nation on
earth that is not an interested, admir-
ing friend. Even the London Times,
by no means partial to us, says:
cit is quite possible that the prob
lem of democratic Republic may be