, 1861-01-18
mir. HfcClernaudsa Speech,

The correspondent Of the n. Y. Tribune tel
egFaphs as follows concerning Mr. NcClez-
nand's speech in tho House Of Representatives
on Monday last:
Mr. McClcrnand Of Illinois made an effective
aud manly speech today, declaring he was
ready to maintain the Union ut every hazard,
and to sec the laws executed with all the pow
er conferred by the Constitution. It vas In
marked contrast, both in spirit and purpose, to
the recent humfllating exhibition made by yr.
Douglas, who not only lowered the standard
he raised ut Norfolk, but was among the very
first to congratulate Mr.. Tombs on his seces-
has been one Of his nearest friends, and this
disagreement is significant.
Mr. McClernand said when danger can
no longer be averted or stayed, 1t WAS tho part
Of Wisdom to meet nnd endeayor to overthrow
1t. In this spirit he proposed to deal with tue
question of Secession now upon US. He de-
MED the right Of any State to seccde from the
Union, and depreciatcd the consequences OF
my such assumed right, ns a measure Of rey0-
luton which must necessarily, In the present
case, cmbroil the country in sanguiuary and
wasteful war. In his 1egal argument he said
the idea Of nationality Ii as old rs the Revolu-
lion itself, and that was was national measure,
The treaty OF 1883 was made rs nation which
Great Britain recognized lie referred to the
decisions Of the Supreme Court In support Of
this view, saying tire unity Of the American
people peryadcd the Convention which framed
the Constitution. Any mode Of withdrawing
from the Union, excepting b 8 Convention,
would be revolutionary. The Government
being sovereign, its fitst duty is to preserve
itself; and being sovereign, where IL the pow
erto dissolve it? lie argued it would be un~
just, unsafe, and lnexpedient for some States
to seccde from tho others, for, with the posses
sion of the Southern forts and the mid Of for
cign powers, they would be capable Of inflict-
Ing great wrougs upon the commerce of the
adhcring States. He spoke of the Mississippi
Valley as geographical unity, which the pto-
pie OF the great Northwest could not consent
10 share With foreign power. &c had heard
much about coercion. but s.ds il cotrrion for
u 10 do uhdt se hay seo1n to do, ,aasaty Uphold
less, .iole7,4 hand that scosid tear doon tbs Cos
erssme:at? We're ,ye to be required to submit
to State epo1iatonss MOL Such submission
would be disgraceful, utter imbecility. But Ii
NC must submit, let 1t be proclaimed that our
system Of Government Eas splendid failure.
In the course OF his remarks lc earnestly np-
pea1ed to the Northern States to remove the
grievances which are complained Of He
believes the Northern Siates would ali do so
when the sober, second thought Of the citizcns
had time to act While the anti Slavery ngi-
tatlon commenced in the North, he could not
say that the South were b1ameless. The Gar
risons and the Phillipscs find their counter
part in the Rhetts and Ianceys. Such men, In
fact, formed the two great sectional parties.
In conclusion he appealed to all conservative
men to rally In favor Of the Integrity Of the
Constitution, merge the partisan In the patriot,
and wake q generous sacrifice on the altar Of
their country for the general welfare and hap-
plncss Of all