Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-04-10
Henry C!ay's Last Speech.
WORDS OF WISDOM.

"Such is the Union, and such are it's glo-
rious fruits. We are told now, and it is
rung throughout this entire country, that
the Union is threatened with subversion
and destruction. Well, the first question
which naturally arises is, surprising the
Union to be dissolyed-havlng all the
causes of grievances which are complained
of--how far will dissolution furnish a
remedy for those grievances? If the Union
is to be dissolved for any existing causes, 1t
will be dissolved because slavery ls lnterdic-
ted or not allowed to be introduced into the
ceded Territories; because slavery Is threat
ened to be abolished in the District of Co
lumbia, and because fugitive slaves are not
returned, rs In my opinion they ought to
be, restored to their master. These | be-
lieve will be the causes, il there be any
causes, which can lead to the direu! event
to which | have referred.
Well, now, let US suppose that the Union
has been dissolved What remedy does it
furnish for the grievances complained of 10
its united condition? Will you be able to
push slavery into the cedel Territories .
How are you to do it, supposng the North
all the States north of the Potomac, and
which are opposed to tin possession Of
the navy anu army vi lHt oHileu 'otiIeS
Can YOU expect, il there is L dissolution Of
the Uuinn that You can carry slavery into
California and New Mexico? You cannot
dream Of such purpose. If 1t were abol-
ished in the District Of Columbia, and the
Union WAS dissolved, would the dissolution
of the Union restore slavery in the District
of Columbia? Are you safer in the recoye-
~ of your fugitive slaves in 4 state of dis
solution or vi severance Of the Union, than
YOU are in the Union itself? Why, what is
the state OF the fact IN the Union? You
lose some slaves. You recover some others.
| Let me advert to fact winch | ought to
have introduced before, because it is highly
creditable TO the courts and Jurles OF the
Free States. In every case, so lar as my IN
formation extends, where an appeal has
been made to the courts OF Justice for the
recovery of fugitives, or for the recovery OF
penalties inflicted upon persons who have
assisted in decoyng slaves from their mas
tiers and aiding them in escaping from their
masters-as far as am informed the courts
have asserted the rights of the owner, and
the juries have promptly returned adequate
verdicts in favor Of the owner. Well, this
is some remedy. What would you have if
the Union were discovered? Why, sir, then
the severed parts would be independent of
each Other-ioreign countries? Slaves Ia
ken from the one into the other would be
there like slaves now escaping from the
United States into Canada. There would be
no right Of extradition no right 10 demand
your slaves-no right to appeal TO the
courts of justice to demand your slaves
which escape, or the penalties for dccoyinS
them. Where one slave escapes now By
running away from his owner, hundreds
and thousands would escape if the Union
were severed in parts--l care not where Or
how you run the line, if independent SOW
eroignties were established.
Well, finally, will you, III Il state of dis
solution Of the Union, be safer with your
slaves within the bosom Of the States than
YOU are now? Mr.. President, that they
will escape much more frequently from the
Border States no one will doubt.
But, must take occasion to say that, in
my opinion, there is no right on the part Of
one or more Of the States to secede from the
Union. War and the dissolution of the
Union are identical and inseparable. There
can be no dissolution of the Union except
by consent or by war. No one can expect,
in the existing state Of things that that con-
alternative by which 4 dissolution could be
accomplished. And, Mr.. President, if con-
sent were gven-if possibly we were to
separate by mutual agreement and by
given line, in less than sixty days after
such an agreement had been executed, war
would break out between the free and slave
holding portions of the Union--between the
two independent portions into which it
! he IF of
separation. Nes, sir, sixty days--in less
than sixty days, believe, our slaves from
Kentucky would be fleeing over in numbers
TO the other side of the river, would be pur-
sued by their owners, and the eZcltable and
ardent spirits who would engage in the pur-
suit would be restrained by no sense Of the
rights which appertain to the independence
of the other side Of the river, surprising it,
then, TO be line Of separate On. They
would pursue their slaves; they would be
repealed, and war would break out In less
than sixty days war would be blazing forth
in every part Of this now happy and peace
able land.
But how are you going to separate them ?
In my humble opinion, Mr.. President, We
should begin at least with three Contedern-
cies--the COnlcderacy of the North, the
Contederacy Of the Atlantic Southern States
1.-THE sIaveholding States,) and the Cnntele-
racy of the Valley Of the Mississippi. My
life upon it, sir, that vast population that
has already concentrated, and will conuen-
trate upon the head waters and tributaries
of the Mississippi. will never consent that
the mouth OF that river shall De held sub
Jet to the power Of any fnreig State what
ever. Such believe would be the c"nSe-
quences of Il dissolution OF the Union. But
other Confeleracies would spring up, from
tiue to time, as dissatisfaction and diScon
tent were disseminated over the country.
There would be the Coniederacy 81! the
Lakes--perhaps the Coniederacy Of New
England. and of the Middle States
Bnt. sir, the veil which covers these sad
and disastrous events that lie beyond pcs
sble rupture Of this Union is too thick to he
penetrated or lifted BY any mortal eye or
| hand
Mr.. President, | am directly opposed to
any purpose Of secession or separation.
nm Tor staying within the Union, and defy
ing any portion Of this Union to eXpel or
drive me out of the Union. am for stay
ing within the Union, and fighting for my
rights--if necessary, with the swort-witil-
ia the bounds and under the safeguard OF
the Union. am for vindicatng these rights,
but not by being driven out of the union
| ID uprnran1npi, II w Inv any Torti1D