The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1861-01-23
speech of senator Beniamin.

SBcccn oisSchatoF ~ nJe
We regret that we are unable to lay the
whole of the magnificent speech Of this elo-
quent gentleman before our readers. We
consider it emphatiealIy, one of the ablest of
the many able efforts that have been made in
the Senate during the present session of
Congress. We annex only his closing re-
marks. Having read a citation from Yattel,
giving the rule for the construction of treaties
between sovereigns, and compaets between
States, he proceeded thus-
There is the text; now the commentary.
You, Senators ofthe republican party, assert,
that under just and fair Interpretation of the
Federal Constitution, ii is right tbatyou deny
! that onr slaves, which directly or indirectly
involve value of more than four million dol
lars are property at all, or entitled to protec-
! ton in Territories owned by the General
Government You assume the Interpretation
that it is right TO encourage, by all possible
means, directly or Indirectly, the robbery Of
this property, and to legisate so as to render
! its recovery AS difficult and dangerous as pos
sible; that it is right and proper and justifi-
able, under the Constitution, to prevent our
mere transit across a sister State, to embark
with our property on a lawful voyage, with
out being openly despoilcd oft: You assert,
and practice upon the assertion, that it is
right to hold Us up to the ban of mankind
in speech, writing aud print, with every pos
sibc appliance of publicity-as thieves, rob
bers, mnrlcrers villains and criminals of the
blackcst dye, because we continue to own
property which We owned at the time that
we all signed the compact; that it is right
that we should be exposed to spend our trea-
sure in purchase or shed our blood in the
conquest of foreign territory, with no right
/ to enter it for settlement, without leaving be-
hind our most valuable property, under pen
atty of its confscation. You practically in
terpret this instrument to me that it is
eminenty in accordance with the assurance
that our tranquility and welfare were to be
preserved aud prompted; that our sister
States should combine to prevent our growth
aud Development; that they should surround
us with Gordon of hostile communities, for
the express and avowed purpose Of accunulat-
! ing In dense masses, and within restricted
limits, population which you believe 10 be
dangerous, and thereby force the sacrifice of
property nearly sufficient to pay the public
debt of every man in Europe.
This is the construction of the instrument
that was 10 preserve our security, promote
our welfare, and which we only signed on
your assurance that that was its object. You
tell us that this is fair construction-not
all, some say one thing some another; but
You act, or yonr people do. upon this prin-
clple. You do not propose to enter into our
States, you say, and what do we complain
of! You do not pretend to enter into our
States to kill or destroy our institutions by
force. Oh, no. You initiate the faith of
Rhadamistus you propose simply to close
lis in an embrace that will suffocate us. You
do not propose to fell the tree; you promised
not. You merely proposed to gir,lle it, that
it dies And then, when We tell You that we
did not understand this bargain this way,
that y6ur acting upon it in this spirit re-
leases us from the obligations that accompany
it; that under no circumstances can we con-
sent to live together under that interpreter
ton, and say: ave will go from you; let
us 60 in peace; :" we are answered bv your
leading Spokesman: "Oh, no; YOU cannot do
that; We have no objection to it personally,
but We arc Loqpd by our oaths; if you at
tempt it, your people will be hanged for
treason. We have examined this Constitu-
tion thoroughly; we have searched it out
with fair spirit, and we cap find warrant in
it for releasing ourselves from the obligation
Of giving you any Of its benefits, but our
oatlis force us to tax you we can dispense
with everything else; but our consccnces,
we protest upon our souls, win be sorely
worried if we do not take your money"
Laughter. That is the proposition of the
honorable Senator from Ohio, in plain Ian
guage. He can avoid everything else under
the Constitution, in the way Of secession !;
but how is he to get rid Of the duty of taking
our money, lac cannot see. .a .EHt -