American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-08-03


bad New 4Hgland origin, and began in
Massachusetts, in 1901 at the time of the
Louisiana purchase; We're revived by the
Hartford Convention in 1874, and culnina-
ted, during the war with Great Britain. in
sending Commissioners to Washington To
settle the terms of peaceable separation OF
New England from the other States of the
Union. He forgets to remind as and the
country, that this present revolution began
forty years ago in the vehem MT, persist ent
offensive. most irritating and unpsovoked
agitation OF the slavery question in the NORTH
and West, from the time of the Missouri
controversy, with some short intervals. dowr
to the present hour. Sir, if his statement
of the case be the whole truth and wholly
correct, then the Democratic party and eve
ry member Of it, and the Wing party, too
and its predecessors, have been guilty for
sixty years of an unjust, unconstitutional
and most wicked policy In administering the
aifairs of the Government.
But, sir, the President ignores totally the
violent and long continued denunciation oil
slavery and shareholders, and especially since
1851 appeal TO Jackson's message for ths
date and proof--until at last political anti
slavery organization was formed in the
North and West which continued to gain
strength year after year, till at length it had
destroyed and usurped the place of the Wing
party, and finally obtained control of every
free State in the Union, and elected himself
through free State votes alone, to the presi
dency of the United States He chooses II
pass over the fact that the party to viii b
be thus owes his place and his present pow Ell
of mischief is wholly and totally sectional
organization; and as such condemned by
Washington, By Jefferson, by jackson, Clay
and Webster. and by all the founders and
preservers of the Republic, and utterly in
consistent with the principles or the peace
the stability, or the existence even, of our
federal system. Sir, there never was an
hour, from the organization of this sectional
party, when it was not predicted by the
wisest men and truest patriots, and when ii
ought not 70 have been known by every in
teIligent man in the country, that it must
sooner or later precipitate a revolution and
the dissolution of the Union. The Presi-
dent forgets already that on the 4th OF
March, he declared that the platform of tia,
party was "a law unto him. by which he
meant to be governed in his administration
and yet that platform announced that where
a. there were two separate and distinct kinds
of labor and forms OF civilization in the two
different sections of the Union, yet that the
entire national domain, belonging in common
to all the States, should be taken, possessed,
and held by one section alone, and consecra-
ted to that kind of labor and form of civil
cation alone which prevaileI in that section
" hich By mere numerical superiority, bad
chosen the President and row has, and for
some years past has lad, majority III the
Senate, as from the beginning of the Gov
ernment it had also in tue House. He omits
too, to tell the country and the world-for
he speaks aud we all speak now TO the world
.. L. -
prime minister, the Secretary Of State, de-
clared three years ago, and have maintained
ever since, that there was an s.irrepressible
conflict" between the two sections Of this
Union; that the Union could not endure part
slave and part free; and that the whole pow
err and Influence Of the Federal Government
must henceforth be put forth to circumscribe
and hem in slavery within its existing limits.
And now, sir, how comes it that the Pres
ident has forgotten TO remind US, also, that
when the party was committed to the prin-
ciples of deadly hate and hostility to the
institutions of the South, and the men who
had proclaimed the doctrine Of the irrepres-
sible conflict, and who in the dilemma or al
tentative of this conflict, were resolved that
s.the cotton and rice fields Of South Carolina,
and the sugar plantations of Louisiana should
ultimately be titled by free labor" had OBJ
eminent of the States, the. South, except
enc State, chose first to demand solemn con
stitutional guarantees for protection against
tue abuse of the tremendous power and pat
ronage and influence Of the Federal Govern
ment, for the purpose of securing the great
end of the sectional conflict, before resorting
TO secession or revolution at all Did he
not know-how could be be ignorant--that
at the last session of Congress every sub
stantive proposition for adjustment and COM
promise, except that offered by the gentle
man from Illinois, MIR. kellogg and we all
know how that was received-came from
the South? Stop moment and let US see.
The committee of thirty-three was moved
for in this House by gentleman from Nir-
ginia. the second day Of the session, and re-
ceiyed the vote of every Southern Repre-
sentative present, except only the members
from South Carolina, who declined to vote.
In the Senate the committee of thirteen was
moved for by a Senator from Kentucky (Mr.
Powell, } and received the silent acquiescence
of every Southern Senator present. The
Crittenden propositions, too, were moved
also by another Senator from Kentucky
mfr Crittenden,) now a member OF this
House: a man venerable for his years, loved
for his virtues, distinguished for bis services,
honored for his patriotism for four and
fcrty years Senator, or in other public Of
flee; devoted from the first hour Of bis man
hood to the Union OF these States; and who,
though he himself proved his courage fifty
years ago upon the battle field. against the
fol eign enemies of his country, is now, thank
God. still for compromise at home o-day.
Fortunate in long and well spent life OF
public services and private worth, he Is un-
fortunate only that he has survived Union
and, / fear, Constitution younger than
himself.
The Border State propositions also were
projected by gentleman from Maryland
not now member of this House. and pre-
sented by gentleman from Tennessee Mr..
Etheridge,) now the Clerk of this House.
And yet, all these propositions. coming thus
from the South, were severaliy and repeat
eddy rejected by the almost united vote of
the Republican party in the Senate and the
House. The Crittenden propositions, for
which Mr.. Davis, now President Of the Com
federate States. and Mr.. Toombs, his Scare
tary Of State, both declared in the Senate
that they would be satisfied, and for which
every Southern Senator and Representative
voted, never, on any one occasion, received
one solitary vote from the Republican party
in either House.
fhe Adams or Corwip amendment, so
kt1xnss ffn.af nj