Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-19
SPEECH OF
Mr.. Toombs on the Crisis.

IN THE SNEATE JANUARY G.
Mr. TooMBs, fopp) Of Ca, said he should speak
principally in relation to the action of the Commit
tee of Thirteea The success ofthe abotionists and
their allies, under the name of the Republican
party has rrouduced its logical result already.
They have for long years, been sowing dragons
teeth, and they have finally got crop of armed
men, The Union sir,is dissolved That is fixed fact
lying in the way Of this discussions and men may
as WELL heed it. One Of your confederates has ell
ready wisely, bravey, boldly met the public dan
ger and confronted it. She is only head and be-
yond any of her sisters, because other greater fac
iy of action. The great msjority Of these sister
States under like circumstance consider her cause
as their cause and charge you, in their name,
here to-day. "touch net seguretum." While my
| friend from Kentucky mr. Crittenden while the
House Of Representatives are debateing the const-
tuti0nslity and the e1pediency Of seceeding from
the Union, end while the perfdious authors Of all
! this mischief are showering down denunciations
| upon large portion Of the patriotic of this
country, those brave men calmly and coolly eff
fecting what you call revolution. Aye, sir, better
than that-an armed defence. They appealed to the
Constitution and to justice, they appealed to faer
nifty until the constitutional justice and fraternity
was no longer listened to in the legislative halls of
the country. And then, sir, they prepared for the
| arbitrament Of the sword. Now, sir, you may see
| the glitter of the bayonet and hear the tramp Of
| armed men, from your capital to the Rio Grande.
And will assert the honesty and the sincerity of
those men. And inasmuoh as Approve their present
persistence, deem it my duty to etste their cause
to the Senate, to the country, and TO the civilized
| world. My countrymsn have demanded no new
government; they have demanded new consti-
| tuition. Look at the records at home From the
beginning Of this national strife until its consumma
| tion in the disruption of the empire they had not
demanded a siugle right except what is guaranteed
them in the constitution of the United States =
They have only demanded that constitutional rights
should be respected, and that justice should be
! done They have stood by your constitution; they
have stood by all its requirements; they have per-
formed all its duties, uncalculaiingly and unsefshly
until q party sprRng up in the country which en-
dangered their social system. party which they
arraigned, and which they charged before the Ans
rican people and before the civilized world TO have
made proclamation Of outlaWry against their pro-
perty in the Territories of the United States, and
| having put them under ban of Empire in all the
States with having aided and sbetted insurreetion
from within and invasion from without, with view
of subVertiEg their institutions and desolatng their
homes au1 Hre-sides. For these causes they have
| taken up arms. I shall proceed to vindicGte their
demands and show the injustice of their adyersa-
ries. shall not spend muehtime-Ishall consume
very little time upon the question of the constitu
tiona right to secede from this Union. Perhaps my
| friend from Kentucky will find out, after while,
that it is fact accomplished. l believe they have
got il in the South both ways. South Carolina has
:
il irreeularly. You can take either way. You Will
| find that our men are ready, and We viii defend
both stated that the disconnected States of this
Union demanded nothing but clear, distinct, uue-
ouivocal, and well acknowledged constitutional
rights-rights older than the constitution, which
are planted upon the immutable principles of natG-
raj Justice and which have been go affirmed by the
good and wise CT all countries and all centuries
The sole fact is they demand power to injare any
| man, or to iujura any confederate States They
demand no right to interfere with their institutions
neither By word nor We claim no right to
disturb their peace, tranquility or security
We demand simply and solely that you
\ should give US equality, security and iran
| ouilty-that is all. Give us that, and peace
restores itself; refuse it, and take what you
can get. Ny own position and my own de-
| mands, as I win now give them, are consider
| ed the demands of an extreme person, and
what YOU, who talk of constitutional rights, con-
sider treason believe that is thesterm. believe,
for all the acts which the republican psrty call
treason and rebellion, there stand before them as
FOOD traitor and good rebel as ever descended
from Revolutionary loins What does this rebel de-
maudG That these States have equal rights 70 90
into the common Territories and remain there with
their nroperty and be protected by the government
til spch Territories shall become States. We have
fought for this Territory when blood vas its price.