Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1861-01-16
BEJANNlIN'S SPEECH

Tee following is the conclusion OF
Benjamin's speech in the Senate, on
tho 3lst. 1t is eloquence expended in
bad cause:
"And now, Senators, within few
weeks we part to meet as Senators in
one common council chamber of the
nation, no more forever. We desire,
we besecch you, let this parting be in
peace. conjure you to indulge in
no vain delusion that duty or con.
science, interest or honor, imposes upon
you the necessity Of invading our
states or shedding the blood Of our
people. You have no possible justi.
tication for it. thrust it is in no craven
spirit, and with no sacrifice the hon
or or dignity of my own state, that
make this last appeal, but from fa'
higher and holier motives. If, how
ever, it shall prove vain, if You arc
resolved to pervert the government
framed by the fathers for the protec
ton of our rights into an instrument
for subjugating and enslaving us
then appealing to the Supreme Judge
of the universe for the rec,itude o1
our intentions, we must meet the issue
that you force upon US as best become.
freemen, defending all that is dear tc
man.
"What may be the fate of this hor
riblc contest, no man can tel, none
|pretend to foresee; but this much
will say: the fortunes of war may be
adverse to our arms; you may carry
dcsolation into our peaceful land, and
with torch and fire you may set ou'
cities in flames; you may even emu
late the atrocities of those who, in the
war of the Revolution, bounded on the
blood thirsty savage, to attacks upor
the defcnseless frontier; you may, un
der the protection of your advancing
armies, give shelter to the furious fan
a,ics who desire, and profess to desire
nothing more than TO add all horrors
Of scrvile instruction to the calamitic!
of civil war; you may do all this-anc
) more, too, if more there be--but yos
) never can subjugate us; you never car
convert the free sons of the soil into
vassals, paying tribute to your power
and you never can degrade them tt
level of an inferior and scrvile race
Never! Never!" Loud applause ii
the Galleries.
i Such was the excitement in the Sen
ate, at the close of the speech, that tn,
galleries had to be cleared. Th,
} World correspondent describes th'
: scene.
"When he said the south neve
would be subjugated, the applause
from the galleries was positively terif
ic, the audience arising e., nsasse, amit
mingled cries, Kisses, cheers, ani
. waiving ofhandkerchiets by the ladies
; The Senate was thunderstruck
!, Senator's demanded, order, andth,
clearing Of the galleries, followed by
, motion to adjourn. The Sergeant q
: Arms Immediately summoned larg,
police force, and cleared the galleries
leaving only the ladies. The Senate
Immediately adjourned. 2tae
''The like of this scene was neve1
, before in the Senate, except on th,
passage Of Benton's expunging resolu
, tions, when spectators were brough
: before the, bar Of the Senate.
= ''Tho presence. Of q large police
: force in the Capitol alone preyente,
} serious collisions after the dispersion
: Of the audiancc, which continue,
$ greatly excited. The excited pcopl
G were pcrtubed, and the mover Of tn
c adjournment was heartily able t
e !speak intelligib'y- amid the confusio,