The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-02-06
EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH OF
THE HON. JOHN S. MILLSON.
vt FIhUINIA,
Delivered in the House Of Representatives,
January 81, 1881.

January III, 1851.
proper that there should be some ruar-
anees IL does not involve the objection
Just now presented by the gentleman from
ohlo, that the members Of the Republican
party entertained constitutional views which
they could not yield. We are not asking
any surrender of constitutional views, found
ed on their construction vi the Constitution
as II IS. We do not ask them TO give up
their construction Of the eristing clauses of
\ the Constitution, but We ask an addition
stipulation. We ask that the Constituton
may interpret itself. There can be no oh
Jectlon, then, on the ground of 4 surrender
OF constitutional views; because such 4 stin.
ulatlon would simply determine doubts and
alnerehces y proposes no concession OF
privileges % the South Il proposes no new
grant OF rights to the slsvehoding States. 1t
requires no surrender Of power or advantage
BY the northern States. Il would serve only
as declaration Of existing rights.
I Gentlemen, IN another point of view, this
territorial question has been settled. The
battle has been fought, aud il has been won
BY both parties; il has been lost By both par
ues. You have lost the principle on which
your party is founded. You cannot. under
existing laws and the existing Consultation.
a. interpreted BY the Supreme Court, pro-
hibt slavery in a Territory. You have lost
The battle; We have gained it. But YOU know.
that, i your purpose has been to exclude sla.
4 very from tie Territories, there il NOT the
least probability that slavery will ever be
carried into any one of them. Thus, in all
that respects practical results, you have
gained the battle, and We have lost il. You
have lost the principle; we the substance.
You have gained the substance we the prin-
clple. We are. then, on equal terms. We
are both yictors; we are bnth yanouished.
There IS nothing, then, to prevent Us from
making an end Of the whole quarrel now, and
preclude all controversy 90 the subject here
after. Let Us restore that harmony and good
fellowship which ought to prevail amongst
cnniederated States.
was sorry 10 hear the gentleman from
Ohio intimate that in some contingencies co..
erclon might properly be used sgainst se-
cedIng State. He said there would be no
coertlon attempted ofa seeding State If it
should obey the laws. Sir, it, State, after
secession. refused obedience to the laws, it,
. becsnse u has thrown OF its obligations to
the Constitution. ! will not now INQUIRE
whether u has done this 10 the proper form
and manner. or whether IL has had Just and
sufficient cause and provocation for the act:
will not dwell on the significant fact that
South Carolina. and perhaps Florida, made
the passage OF personal liberty bills, by the
Legislatures Of some northern States, the
ground and Justification Tor secession need
mt call attention to the fact that South Car.
olina withdrass from the Union; and yef
the acts she complains Of we're not done in
virtue d any powers derived tom the Union;
that she absolyes herself from the Constitu
ton, and yet the Constitution, 90 far from
being the source Or the occasion Of her griey-
inces, supplies the only means ~ which thew
could be redrrssed; that she dissol,es her
connexion with tue Federal Government,
and yet The Federal Government has neither
committed nor is responsible Tor the wrongs
10 which she applies thi. anOmalou remedy;
nor will comment On her mode aud manner
n secession. ! confess. ss a Stztes.rights
man, that the course pursued by South Cor
nlina y not what her association with the
other States required. South Carolina il
member ~ this unlOn.
u she srcedes, she withdraws from the
UniOu. South Carolina does not secrde from
Congress; she never VA. member OF Con.
gress She does not retire IRON the Federal
InternineDt; she was never q part Of the
Federal Government. When she secedps.
>ie Withdraws fran the Union-from her as.
,0ciatlDn With The other States, and confes.
that, instead Of hurrying. fleeing, escaping
lrm the Union, AZ II she li.trustsd her ow1
sovereign right To sreede, / would have her
call together the cunIsdcfatsd States. inform
them u her grievances. and make known To
them, aud not TO the Federal Government
nnlS. her intention 20 Withdraw. We. in
Coagfcss. cannot be officials tod by south
Carolina that she has silbdtasu from the
tninn, because We are the representatives. of
delegated prwsrs only We represent n.ne
i the reserved powers. Hut south Car,,li.
"a glthifaws irum the Union 10 the exercise
= hrr reserved powers or rights. Still.
honss Me have 20 cthciai notice Of the se.
'esslon " soa,h Carolina. yet ~s hay. such
ifohg, such clear, such definite informat,on
! nc lsri, from informal and uuoEicisl sour.
- a. wi warrant ~ 10 acting a. il We had
eceYsd y through the proper channel. She
as. then, withdrawn from the uninn; and
s'ihg wlthdrssn. she Is not 20 be coereyd
= msniber of the Union. The gentleman
ays that she IS only 10 BE- cosrcsd into ,,bs.
ience TO the Federal law. bat she deniss
er obligation TO obey the Federal l,s: and
shie DO not approve Of the mode 10 which
'ouIh Catolina has viihdfswn from the On.
on aud while ! have It'll. sympathy, and
ardlt any patisnes with her, a. to the causes
ssgnel Tor her secession; whlle 4 Do not
orget that am Repressst.tiys of Virginia.
nd not Of South Carolina. whils 4 think 4
&c that there was . purpose on her part so
Q act upon theloiher States as 10 compel
hem 70 iollow wherever she might please 10
cad them yet, not sserely for the sake of
'outh Carolina, not merely for the sake of
ne other seceding States. but for the sake Of
W osa State, oppose every resort 10 force.
nd every attempt si sssrsisp. I do pss