New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-23

nation from tie Of nations. They might as well
~ 20 bin Of peseedble ca thquake which eaveo o.
diee IN common ruin They might az we'll talk of q
peaceful storm which fills the heavens with darkness
deso lion, and DEATH lie concluded by arguing that
The Stater had ht TO secede. They possess in
hertnt iiphs at all The people have cause Of guev
ace which ust,es revolution, and the Con-
stituiioD and supreme law ofths land Oar duty not
10 amend but 10 maintain and uphold the Constitution,
and on this basis he would stand. He opposed the
measures recommended by majority of the Commit
tee: He would not vote for the admission into the
Union OF NeW-hexieo until she repeats the unjust
Slave code which would bring blush to the cheek of
Caligula. lie would not aid in making this a Slave
Government. He wished to punish treason aud recap
ture the forts and other public property. lie appealed
to the people to uphold the Constitution.
Mr.. CLEMENS lDem., Va. next addressed the
House. He thanked God that he was permitted, after
long Sickness take his stand upon that floor in
ovated health, at time when his services might prove
most valuable to bis constituents. He would not now
SPEAK in passion. II would not belt the solemn and
portentous ssues of the hour They in the midst
Of great events II might be that they were in the
dying days Of the Republic and he would not there
fore utter, even in whisper one word which might
tend to bring down the impending avalanche upon
the quiet homes of the people. He would, ut the
same time, speak as Southern man, identified with
all the interests Of the South He would speak
as Western Virginian, and as the custodian of
those who were not cid enough TO know the penis
10 which they were exposed by those who were now
riding on the crest Of the popular wave, but who were
nevertheless, destined to sink into the very trough OF
the sea to a depth go unfahomable that not bubble
would ever riso to mark the spot whore they went 70
iqnominiousy down.. Well might those who had in
aneuated the revolution which was stalking over
the land cry out with upiltod hands for peace and
deprecae the esion Of blood Ii was the inventor OF
tie guotine who the first victim, and the day was
not far off when they would lind among their own Peo
ple those who would have 10 rely upon the magnanm-
y Of that population whom they had most cruelty out
raqed and deceived He had not the heart to enter
into detail of the arguments, or 10 express tne
indignant emotions, which rose TO DIS lips ior
uterance. But before God and in bis lnnost consc;
ence he believed that Slavery would be cruciiied
should this unhappy controversy end Ia disnenber-
ment of the Union. If not crueiied 1t would carry
the death rattle in its throat II remained to be seen
whether treason could be carried out with the sane
facility with which it had been plotted. There was a
holy courage among the minority OF every State, that
might be for time overwhelmed. Lazarus was not
dead, but slept; and ere long the stone would be
rolled away from the mouth OF the tomb, ana they
would witness all the glorics of resurrection. IL
would not be forgotten that among the clans of Scot
land beacon fires used TO be lii by concerted signals from
crsg to crag, in living volumes OF flame, yet ex-
IiIiDQ even In its own hercene65, and SINKING into
a.hes az the faggos which had them were consumed.
To such picture az that might be Gkened rebellion
such as political leaders sometimes excite for a brief
hour; but the fires OF rebellion burnt out with tho g-
aots and all was cold and dark again. There was
striking contrast between such movement, between
euch rebellion IA be alluded to, and the uprising OF
the masses Of the people In vindcaton OF violated
rights As Eeat difference rs there was between
Spug the JOINER and Bottom, the weaver, who
" could roar y0u "a fierce as lion, or coo yon as
gently ma sucking dove One was the stage trick or
political harlequin. the other was living reality-he
one was liyid and itul flame the other wasa prairie
on fire. finding in every step Of its progress food for its
all.Iaytning In the present emergency, before
lhis political conspiracy, il might be that he would
stand al mo with lis colleague Or. Wilson,. Let it
be 20. lie sought 10 office. His political race was
very nearly voluntarily run. History would record
the proceedings of this turbulent period and imethe
gentle but infallible arbicr OF all things earthly
would decide the truth. Upon that he would take his
stand They lived in the age Of political paradozes.
Bread expansive love OF country bad become dig.
eased seutimcntaty Patriotism had become starve-
ling Birding cnging with unedged wings around he
nest Of twigs where it was born. a statesman must
now not only narrow his mind and give up TO party
what was meant for mankind, but he must re-
ceds IA submissively as blind horse in bark
mill 10 every perverted opinion which sits, whip
in hand on the revolving shaft at the end OF which he
l. harnessed To be a diamond OF the hist water ne
must stand in the House of his country and in
tie face Of orbearDg people, glory IN being traitor
and rebel. He must solemnly proclaim the death OF
the nation TO which he had sworn allegiance, and with
the grave sodty Of an undertaken invite is clLHenS
10 their own funeral. He mus. dwarf and provincial
ize his patriotism 20 tho State whose local passions
he thIyes TO the country where he practices court or
TO the city where he haun,5 in all tho meroricious Dig
nifty Of Doge of Venice Iie can take an oath to sup
port the Constitution Of the United States but he
enter with honor into conspiracy 10 overthrow IT, lie
can, under the sancii'y Of the s1e oath advise the
seizure OF forts and er'cnal. docards and 1hlpF ami
money belonging to The Unisn whose officer he s and
find most loyal aud convenient retreat in State au
thorty aud State allegiance. He wac ready to laugh
in their faces they only told him that before the time
wien he was mulng snd puking in biz nurse arms"
there lived very Obscure person named George Wash
ington who before he died, became eminent by per
peaing the immortal joke Of advising tho poodle Of
the United States that it Of infinite moment that
their national Uhion-tat they should cherish
diul, babitual, and hnmovablo attachment TO it |
that they should wstch It's preservation with |
Jealous anxiety, discountenance whatever might |
suggest a. suspicion that IL could In any event be
abandoned, and indignantly frown down the first
dawning attempt TO ALLEVIATE any portion OF
the country from the ns or to enieeble tho sacred ties
winch linked together ite various parts washington
ew into the future and discovered that disastrous Pc
Rod in history against which he warned his eon-
tpmen when he told them TO beware Of geographical
parties" These extreme parties North and South had
at last met. Their differences had been created and
carried on by systematic perversons OF each others aims
and Objects in tho North il had been represented that
the South desired and intended to monopolhe with
slave territory all the public lands and 70 drive there
from free Labor 10 convert every Free State into COM
non ground for the Tecap.ure Of colored persons as
slaves wto were free, and 20 put the Federal
Government in all ia departments under the control Of
slave ogarchy. These and al other stratagems that
could be- resorted to autagonistc feelings which
were welded with turbulent pssssops. Ashley planted
40 they Ieaped. Now that victory had been Won by
the Republican party, and Government must be admin
stercd upon national policy; the assures in the
ground occupied by them became apparent, and hence
there would necessarily be large detection In its
riinks among the more ultra of It's adherents who
were, us general thing, ideal, speculative
aud not practical men. Dat OF ac,ual power party
WIS apt to be radical. Vest il with power and II be-
came conservative. This the ordeal through which
tho Republican hike all other parties, was now pass
Ing and he hoped for the peace OF the country and the
triumph of practical rather than ideal policy and ms
suree. Herein consisted the almost insuporab1