Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-07
Important Debate in the United States Senate =
MEssRs SEWARD, MASON Hale CAMERON, DOUGLAS,
sr AND WIGFALL ON THE FLOOR


presented memorial from 3S, 900 citizens OF the
State Of New York, and SAID that although the Sen
ate Chamber was the largest legislative chamber
ever erected since the beginning of the world, ex-
cept the House of Representatives, this memorial
would cover space thirty eight times as large as
this chamber. He had already presented similar
memorial with 30, 900 Names all urging Cancellation
The committee who brought this memorial were the
representatives of the largest commerce in the world
"a commerce which in any other country would be
paramount to all other interests. Happily, here 1t
was not so He had been requested to support the
views of this memorial and regretted that he had
seen disposition the part o. the seeding States
and their friends to meet any practicable effort at
compromise on the part of the adhering States
He, however, held himsefopen to such propositions.
and rejoced at the raternal feeling manifested
by the people of his State in these memorials. lie
did not fear for the Union, did he believe these
difficulties would certainly be settled in thirty, six
ty or ninety days; but, nevertheless, he believed
they would be settled All platforms or men that
stood in the way of the preservation of the Union
would be swept away. The question Of slavery or
freedom in the Territories had been greatest in 1880
The admission of Kansas California and Oregon had
reduced the question to very narrow compass
In that part which remained, all being slave Terri
tory, over which slave code extended, there were
but twentv-four slaveS-but one for every A, 900
square miles.
He did not fear slave aggression which had only
carried twenty-four slaves to all that territory
Why then, should he despair of the Union? Why
could he believe that 80 100000 OF people would re-
duce themselves to the of mankind by the dis
solution of this Union for this question? This was
a confederation, not an imperial government. Sub
nit the question to Convention to be called accord
ing to the forms of the Constitution and the world
would see how thirty -four States could peaceably
adjust this difficulty. He urged, last resort, If
other failed the calling of National Conven-
ton, according to the constitutional forms. Hecon-
cuded by saying that he had advised the gentlemen
composing the committee who had brought on the
memorial to go home and speak for the Union, vote
for the Union to contribute their money to preserve
the Union and when all other expedients failed, to
fight for the Union
Mr. Mason moved that the memorial be printed.
He understood it to be memorial praying for the
adoption of the Crittenden amendments. lie did
not think that at this time, when six States had
seeded, and others armng, the Premier of the
new Administration had proposed any practical
measures. All knew by his votes his opinion on
the Crittenden amendments, and by his vote for
Clark resolution that the Constitution needed no
amendments but that the Constitution and laws
should be enforced He (Mr. Seward,l had urged
his constituents to contribute money to the Union.
He would like to know the meaning of that
Mr.. Seward said he meant that the people should
advance to the Union ting funds by which the credit
of the Government should now be sustained
Mr.. Mason said that he had not done him the IN
Justice to suppose that he meant the money to sub
siize or demoralize any portion Of the South. He
meant to pay the army to conduct the fight.
Mr.. Seward said he meant to advise that il, after
all Congressional compromises, the assembling Of
Convention of all the people of the United States
had failed then for all to stand, as he should do him
self in the breach for the Union.
Mr.. Mason said he understood the Senator.
He meant, if negotiations failed, to use war and
bloodShed to preserve the | Mon. The Union was
gone, and no attempt at subjugaton could restore
it. lie wanted his people who We're mcdating to
restore broken Union, Ia understand these things.
Mr.. Seward said he meant nothing that was attri-
huted to him by the Senator from Virginia He did
not believe that bloodShed would he necessary. lie
believed the people would settle it. The Union was
not gone, for the Senator here to sustain it.
Mr.. Mason said the remark of the Senator in favor
of coercion would undeccive Virginia, and show her
that all this talk about compromise and concession
amounted to nothing. Money and war was the
thing the North looked to. He would sneak with
out angry emotion. Men on the eve of measuring
swords should comport themselves as gentlemen
He trusted that they night avoid the ultima rafio
and that the advice Of the Senator of New York
would he rejected If there to he COnfedcra-
ton of Southern States. he trusted that they might
be permitted to separate in peace. lie hoped that
the good sense, humanity civilization, and 4 regard
for unborn poscrty, wOnld lead the people of both
sections to rcpudiate the counSeS of the Senator
from New York The first efforts of those desiring
peace should he to prevent collision, which was
now imminent The counsel of the Senator from
New York was, that the people of the North should
speak for the Union, vote for the Union contribute
their money for the preservation of the Union and
fight for the Union. Now, for the first time il was
Shadowed forth that the cry of the Republican lead
crS would he force. force. force" lie hoped this
would open the eyes Of the South to what she had
to expect. IF the North did not repudlate these
cnunsels and civil war enSucd after years of devas-
tatIon n military deSpOtlSm would be the result
Mr.. Seward was aStoniShed at the sef-deluson of
the Senator from Virginia. who had made out of
speech pacific and fraternal, declaration of war
lie wished the Union saved by the pacific and con-
stitutonal action of the people, and had spoken Of
force the last resort, when every other expcdent
had been exhausted. lie had been willing to hear
and consider all propositions and was still willing
so to do. New York stood ready to do likewise
and settle the question penccabv without resort to
the sword When all efforts failed to satisfy the in
tense SeccssoniStS, in whose interest the Senator
from Virginia seemed to speak, he would appeal to
the States to say whether for twenty-sour negro
slaves this great Government was to be destroyed
Mr.. Mason denied that he spoke for any other in
terests than that of Virginia, and there
thority for the Senator's statement.
Mr.. Seward apologized. He had meant nothing
offensive
Mr.. Cameron asked what Maryland and Virginia
wanted?
Mr.. Mason said that the demands Of Virginia were
expressed in the resolutions of her Legislature, now
before the Senate He made some illusions to dis
patches sent by Mr.. Douglas to Virginia. saying
that settlement would be reached
Mr.. Douglas said he had only expressed his views
when asked by Virginians. Everything depended
on the action of Virginia and the Border States 1t
was very clear the Senator from Virginia had one
o,,l h. H.
the Union by fair and honorable adjustment, but
had seen nothing in the action of the Senator from
Virginia looking to such result He had repealed
the advance made by the Senator from Pennsylva-
mia, and been applauded by the Republicans for his
declaration that the South wished no concession.-
The Sccessonists and Republicans conceded in their
efforts to destroy the Government and acted in con-
cert.
Mr. Mason-"Do you mean that we consult?"
Mr. DnnclaS-M Certainly not He then rcmark-