The Placer herald., 1861-02-02
Senator Hunter, of Virginia, on the Ma
tional Crisis.

In the United States Senate. on the llth of
January, (accordng to the Sacramento Union $
dispatches) while Critenden's resolutions were
under discussion, Mr.. Hunter said:
Before the end of tie month. six or seven
States will have seeded. The old Union cannot
now be .aved We cannot restore the dead. We
will construct ne" Government. u new Union,
which we propose making perm,nent. Since 1920.
war against the social system of the South has
been carried on. and President is now coming
to power who has declared that all States must
he free or all slave. The South has all the ele-
ments OF Empire. He said the only thing to pre-
serve the peace was the adoption OF amendments
to HE Constitution, us follows:
First, Congress has no power to abolish slavery
in any State. the District OF Columbia. dock
yards, forts and arsenals oil the Government.
Second. Congress shall do nothing to obstruct
the Interstate slave trade.
Third. That it is the duty of each State to sup
press the armed invasion Of another State
Fourth. That ny State shall be admitted to the
Union with or without slavery, according to the
votes of the people.
Fifth. All States thall restore fugitive slaves
or pay their value to their owners.
Sixth, All ingitves are TO be deemed TO be
those off ndng the laws within the jurisdiction
of the State. and their escape thereirom.
Seventh. And Congress shall declare the right
| of the Government to recognize and protect pub
lie prop rty wherever the Government shall have
jurisdiction.
Such laws must be passed by majorties of the
Senators of beth the non-saveholding and slave
holding States also. that the Supreme Court shall
be adjusted and shall consist of live Judges from
each section.
Hunter then argued against coercion. pvedi-
eating his remarks in this suggestion. that the
Union WAS now non existing and held that coer
cion was neither right nor possible. us well as
destructive OF all appearances of reconstruction
of ~ new Union.
| Hunter continued. saying England and other
foreign powers would not consent to Il blockade
of the cotton ports. and argued in favor OF Pc
turning the forts in Charleston harbor to South
| Carolina. BY coercion. the North would only
hasten II vii war, which they wish to prevent :;
and the Senator then pictured the horrors of Il
civil war which would meet the dctestation of
mankind and there will be such Il resistance 10
cOercive measures as yer before was known in
the world He asked that the people should
have time for consideration, and concluded with
an earnest appeal to Con.ress.to to see it the scat
tered remains Of the Union could not once more
| he brought together. Let us see if we cannot
| tiRd some place, some common grOun.l. where all
| can rally once more; and then. when the columns
come from the North and the South let them
mcet each other in peace, and from the rising 10
the setting sun, take part in grand review.
| Then will shake the hcaveis with such gladneSs
is to bring the very birds from fl ght; and then
will be proclaimed at last that We are brothers
in war, brothers in peace. and ready to take our
place in the grand march of human progress.