, 1861-03-08

i lOeTlhlhly not TOT lne purpose OF preserving
the Union. / have too much respect fol
gentlemen on the othe side of the chamber
collectively and individually, to believe
there is one among them who does moi
know what war is. You cannot expect to
exterminate ten millions Of people, whose
passions are excited with the belief that
you mean to invade their homes and light
the flames of insurrcction in their midst.
You must expect to exterminate them or
subjugate them, or else, when you have got
| tired Of war, to make treaty with them
No matter whether the war lasts one year,
or seven years, or thirty years, it must have
an end at some time. Sooner or later,
both parties will become tired and ex.
ghausted, and when rendered incapable of
fighting any longer, they will make treaty
OF peace, and that treaty will be one Of
separation. The history Of this world does
not furnish an example of war Of sections
or between States of the same nation,
where the war ended in reconciliation
Such war always ends in treaty OF
peace, and final, eternal separation. 1
don't understand how man can claim to
be friend of the Union. and yet be In
favor Of war upon ten millions of people In
the Union. You cannot cover it up much
longer under the pretext of love for the
Union. Now, the question must be met,
and whatever concessions l am called upon
to make, choose to make voluntarily, be-
fore blood is shed, and not afterward. No
man has more pride Of country than l. It
humbles my pride to see the authority Of
the Government questioned, but we are not
the first nation whose pride has thus beeu
humbled. Republics, empires and king
doms alike, 10 all ages, have beeu subject
to the same humiliating fact. But where
there is deep-seated discomfort pervand-
ing ten millions Of the people, penetrating
every man, woman aud child, and involv.
ing everything dear to them, it is time for
inquiring whether there is not some cause
for this feeling. II there be Just cause for
il, in Gods name let US remove il. Are
we not criminal, in the sight Of Heaven
and posterityi If there is no cause, and
yet they believe there Is, so much the
greater the necessity for removing the mis-
conception. Are you so elated with pride
Of your recent triumph, or pride Of opinion,
that you cannot remove an unfounded ap-
prehension, when il is rushing ten millions
Of people into disunion and breaking up
the Government Of our fathers. and lcaF-
ing us, hitherto proud Republic on earth,
10 become a by-word among nations i
still entertain the hope that this question
may be adjusted, although the indications
are blood will be shed and war will rage
before gentlemen will appreciate the crisis
through which we are passing. don't
think my nerves are any weaker than ofdi-
nary, nor do think there Is much eourageI
in shutting the eyes 10 the face OF danger,
and the saying you do not see 1t. The at
nasphere is full Of it. l have determined
that 1 will do all that is in my power TO-
rescue the country from such a dreadful
fate. But l will not consider this question
Of war till all hope Of peaceful adjustment
fails. Better, a thousand times better,
that all political armies be disbanded and
dissolved. Better that every public man
now In existence be consigned 10 retire,
ment aud political martyrdom, than this
Government should be dissolved, and this
country plunged in civil war. / trust We
are to have no war for . platform. / can
fight for my country, but there never was
political platform that would 20 10
war for. fear il this country is to be wreck
ed, It is 10 be done by those who prefer
party TO their country. Party platforms,
and pride OF opinion, and personal consist
ency, are the only causes in the way Of
satisfactory adjustment. Of this difficulty.
l repeat that, notwithstanding The gloon
and the dark clouds which oyerhang every
thing, l do not despair Of the Republic,
and l will not despair till every effort shall
be found 10 be Of no avail.