Daily national Democrat., 1861-02-15
Speech OF Hon. Richard Irwin, Senator
from Butte and Plumas.

Mr. President: These are resolutions upon
what we, as well as our constituents, regard
as a great and important question. W { are
deliLerating on the state of the Union, and |
am cratified that all the Senators who have
addressed us acknowledge all the benefits and
GOOD results to Us, as a people, flowing from
the Union of the people of the states, under
a common Government limited and restrie-
ted by IA Constitution such as was never be-
fore devised by man. No one does or can
find fault with the Constitution; no one does
or can find fault with the laws Of Congress,
enacted under and in pursuance OF Its pro-
visions. Where then, are we TO look Tor the
cause Of the present dissatisfaction and un-
lawful resistance TO the Constitution and
laws? | answer, that the present disturbed
state of the Republic can be traced TO no
other cause than the nsdious and impercep>
tiLe efforts of designing and ambitious men
party leaders-duling the last few years, TO
obtain and retain power, by exciting and
keeping alive in the mass of the people the
! iuea that one section of the Union was at
tempting to obtain and retain the ascenden-
cy and mastery over the other. Ambitious
men at the North have inculcated into the
minds of their followers the idea that the
South sought and retained power solely and
In order to advance the interests OF their
peculiar institution, and that the lat oring
classes at the North were, and would be Sc
mouslV damaged unless they were hurled
from official position and deprived of their
| influence in the management OF the General
Government On the other hand, ambitious
men at the South in order to retain place
and power, have inculcated into The minds OF
their people that the North entertained de-
signs of limiting, if not abolshing, slavery
where it existed. in order that they might
either testify 10y their works their horror OF
the institution, or make room for the fast in
creasing white population OF the Northern
States These efforts, at first made simpyas
political capital, have gradually created in
the minds of great many men, both in the
North and South, the fixed and it is TO be
feared, lasting impression that an "irresisti-
ble contlict' exists, which can Only result in
the complete and established ascendency OF
one or the other Of the sections. The advice
Of Washington, "to lrown Indignantly upon
the first duwnug of an attempt to ALLEVIATE
one portion Of this Union from another
seems to have been forgotten; and ambitious
partslus have led the people on to the very
verge Of ruin, and good and true men, the
brayest Of the brave, now stand appalled, and
look with surprise and fear upon the present
distracted condition Of the republic. During
our short existence Il united and irdepen-
dent nation, we have had clouds overcast the
political horizon, but until now the storm has
never burst upon Us; and every one realizes
the necessity Of prompt, vigorous and united
action, in order to save from utter ruin and
destruction this firest fabric of government
ever framed 10y man. History shows us that
other nations and Governments have had
their period of YOUTH manhood, Old age and
CONSEQUENT decay. Our example, if we now
fail. viii add to the history Of the world that
OF u Government free aud prosperous, respcc-
ted 10y all nations and in the tu!l vigor Of
young manhood, going to ruin and decay ON
account of the iollies and tmpitudc of those
who should have protected it with their
"liyes, fortunes and sacred honors." In or
der to check and rctard, if not to save the
republic, many measures and plans are pro-
posed ! have, Mr.. President with much
care and all the reelection | am capable of
giving 50 important and serious Il subject, eN-
amiued the various resolutions offered 10y
senators, and give to those presented for our
consideration by the honorable senator from
Napa my approval and support They en-
body, in my opinion, principles which, If put
into active operation, would bring about the
hpuicst results The simple question in
volyed in them is shall the Union be re-
served? If-o howT In voting for these
resolutions, Wrarc called upon to say WhctA-
er the Government formed 10y the wise men
and patriots Of the Revolution of l716 shall
Ne uerpcuated or nut--to decide whether
system oG government under which We have,
from infancy, grown up TO be one Of the most
powerful, wealthy, prosperous and free peo-
pie on the face Of the earth, shall be destroy
! ed or not. These are important and grave
q 3.
tent to- the task? or are wcso dcgcncwtcd,
SO stultiiicd by partisan zeal, so blinded by
the dusl of party strife. that we cannot pro-
tcct and defend the great, sacred and holy
legacy left It's by our fathers-not for our
benefit alone, but one which, by all that is
sacred, we are bound to hand down uuim-
paired TO future generations of our own cOuu-
try and in which all mankind have living
and abiding interest with ourselves. In our
system Of government the people are su-
preme all sovereignty, all power is derived
from them. Whatever of power the General
Government possesses and can exercise under
the Constitution, i given, granted and be-
slowed by the poople-not hy States or COM
munities, hut by the people in their separate
and indj iIual pacity-cach sovereign cili-
zen yielding, for the common good, a certain
portion of his natural rights to the General
Government for certain specified purposes
and certain other portions to the State Gov
ernmeut for certain other purposes all pow
rr not expressly granted to the General Gov
ornmrnt and all not expressly granted TO the
state Government, rcmlining with the SOY
eigu citizen himself Thus we have two dis
liuct and separate, accurately defined sys>
tens, which if controlled and ruled according
to the Constitution of each, can never como
in serious conflict The State Governments
are inferior to, and subordinate to the Cen
eral Government in all matters of national
concern; and no state can establish a Cousti-
tuition, or enact laws in conflict with the
Constitution Of the United States. ANY at
tenpt to do so, and to enforce them, is iu-ub,
ordination and revolution 4 Government
without laws is an anomaly. a Government
with laws, lacking the power to enforce
them, Is an absurdity and farce. We have
a Government, without exception the best in
the world. We have laws lust and humane
Shall We enforce them? The candid, the
just, the friend OF the republic will answer in
the q lilmatve. If we cannot do il, our Gov
ernment-thc pride and boast Of lis all-is a
miserable and disgraceiul failure. Great di-
versiiy OF opinion seems TO exist in regard to
the powers of the General Government. but
| am satisfied that these differences Of opin-
Ion arise rather from feeling and prjudicn,
than from cool reflection and reason The fll
scope and meaning OF the power intended to
be conferred on the Congress of the United
states and the Executive can be found in Ar.
ticle 10 of the amendments TO the ConSGtu-
tion, which reads as follows: "Thc powe
not delegated to the United States 10y the
Constitutions nor urohihiie1 hv il to fine