New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-11
SPEECH OF JUDGE CLINTON OF BUFFALO

respect and honor Of the Free States.
SPEECH OF JUDGE CLINTON OF BUFFALO
In the Democratic Contention Of Ns0 York at albany Jan 81
did not come here with the least intention Of max.
ING a speech. / should not have SAID word, We're
not con vfnced that silence Il inconsistent with duty 70
myself and you. My day for mere party action has
long been over; and am thankful that II Is But IN
this critical condition Of our great country, all that
there Of me is due TO that country and to you Thank
God we yet have country. The Union If mol dls,
solved With our leave II never shall be- IL panied
me very much to hear from member oil THIS C9nven-
on flat in bis orinion it was dissolved and there
yas nothing left but to reconstruct II. But was gad
that he found no supporters and that this Convention
by its action repealed the thought. The proposed
amendment is either verbal and lmnater1a ana snouid
therefore be rejected il is Substantial and may, by
possibility be construed advising the General Gov
eminent 10 depart from lie duty and humble lsen be-
fore the secedng States In that Gaze II hould be re-
iected with scorn. This word coercion may be, It Is
used in different senses. II mean invasive war, we
are opposed 10 lite exercise by the General Government
We abhor the thought in present posture OF AFFAIR."
of such a war against the seeding States. Bnt IL
coercion includes the maintenance Of the law by the
General Government, and the defense OF the pubhc
property, or such Of it AZ is left in its posssssion
then coercion il duty and am for lie performance
We talk OF Secession. What Is it There can be
no such thing legal Secession, unless II be provided
for in the original compact Of Union, and be In accord
ance with the provisions Of that compact. But the
Constitution Of the United States does not for
Secession. On the contrary, II contemphtes perfect
and perpetual Union. Call IL what you will Secession
il rebellion; and rebellion, too, against the most mild
lust benefcent and glorious Government that was
ever created BY to bind communities together.
think 1t was about here that goOd.looklng member
called out 10 me, "Then ] am a rebel said was
sorry for il and went on IL lie not new thing IN
our country. Twice least it has been passed upon
and condemned by the people. i was brought up IN
the belief and retain b. that he Hartford Convention
was a most damnabe and reasonable assembly. IL
I'D fnVda nod EUfh
cause in the Judgment Of the world II contemplated
Secession And then we all remember Notification.
My heart bounded toward Andrew Jackson-the heart
of nv country bounded toward him when be uttered the
sentiment The Union II must II shall be preserved.
Would TO heaven be were living now Modification
was signsy rebuked. And wiz. was Secession but
Notification by the wholesale o. worse-a hTustiIg
ont by violence OF All the laws Of blessed Govern
ment II this doctrine, that State can legally OF s
own sovereign WILL withdraw from the Union, be once
admitted what il the Union worth Congress declares
war and Secession paral Yves the national arm on can
mibthIn quarrel however hOly-nOi even III ueleh+
of the freedom Of the seas-Oi free trade and sailors
rights Congress parses revenue law ana each
sovereign State accepts or utilities II NJ II rieaset
Who would honor such Government No freeman,
worthy Of the name If he could avoid II, would live
under such q Government a single day. No my
friends our Southern brethren Of the seeding States
are all In the wrong. We believe that they have hced,
and are acting under deuson-a strange delusion ~
TO the feelings Of the North Therefore, we are anx-
ions 10 remove the deubion and counsel Cancellation by
compromise and are opposed to all unnecessary force
on the part Of the General Government. The whole
tenor Of our resolutions is opposed to aggressive force
But our Government must MAINTAIN lis dignity. III
must defend s Notifications and collect III revenues
for the payment Of the common debt and for The com
mon benefit III surrender the public property TO the
seeding States and abandon the collection OF the rev.
enue upon their border comedies the Legality OF reces
sion and humbles .elf before them. For one, never
will advise or consent to such abasement. About
this time member called me to order, stating that
had not confined myself to the matter in debatel
am impusive and oXcitable. j have been deeply e&-
cited and IT, speaking a. have done without prepare
ton, | have transcribed the limits Of debate am
sorry for it, repeat, this amendment is either lmnh-
teria and should therefore be rejected or It Is suscep-
tble Of construction which demands It's rejection