Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-06

Delivered I'm the Hall of tno House Of
Representative, ON Tuesday, April ed,
1891 I'm Compliance with an Invitation
OF the Legislature Of Kentucky
Nr Speaksr, Genaemen Of the Senate and House Of
Representatives, and FslotO-C Citizens:
When reached home on Saturday last was in
formed shst had been honored by an invitation
from the General Assembly Of this State to address
them upon the present condition of Federal affairs.
feel moet profoundly, sir, the honor Of this dis
tinction; and only regret that am not competent
TO reward the invitation in such manner as feel
convinced it deserves, and give TO the General As
semby the counsel they have asked at my hands. But
sir owing all that am to the people of Kentucky
owing so much TO gentlemen around me, who have
extended the invitation, did not feel at liberty
TO decline. feel. sir, that it imposes upOr me the
duty to speak with perfect plainness and freedom
my opinions and sentiments in reference to the
present condition of our country. - -
Standing as we do, IN the presence of broken
Union-a broken Conference.-The manner in which
it may be restored, if that be possible; the relations
which Kentucky and those States which are asso-
ciated with her may be obliged to take, and many
ether kindred questions, of the greatest interest
and magnitude. They rise, SIR, far above all party
considerations and all party platforms.
In the course of my life, sir, have given and
taken blows in the ordinary political contests Of the
country but feel that upon such an occasion as
ficle of party feeling and speak according TO the
dictates of his honest Judgment concerning the
very highest interests Of his State and of his coun
try. Accordingly, Mr.. Speaker, will abandon any
friend with whom have been connected, who diff
fers with me in the views entertain upon the aab-
sorbing questions and will cheerfully unite with
all TO whom l may have been opposed heretofore,
no matter how bitterly. Ali who will agree with
the views which as . citizen / shall be bOand to
take, will stand arm in arm with them ash we had
been tWin-born.
Perhaps the General Assembly will excuse me
If detain them for few moments with some re-
marks with respect tomyself You are quite aware
that the official position which held in the last
Congress made it impossible for participate in
the public discussions of that body. But there was
no person throughout the country at Washington,
who felt deeper interest in what took place. or
who tried according TO his capacity, harder than
myself to bring about peaceabe adjustment of
our public difficulties Among other things, sug>
Rested conference of the Senators from the South.
ern states, which was held with view of uniting
the cOuuses Of all the States upon some plan of ad
justment 10 reunite the States that had gone off, and
TO prevent further additions to their number. Ny
distinguished friend now before NE Hon. John J.
Crttenden) was in that Congress, and well remem-
Der his speeches there and his efforts to unite the
counsels of all some plan that should give salts
faction TO the dissatisfied States. few weeks after
this / had the honor 70 draft paper, with a view
20 a conference of the Border Slave States for
the purpose of uniting counsel and preventing COLI
sion of arms II was signed by the Senators from
Kentucky and other Southern States but when it
reached the House of Representatives it at
sacked from both quRrters-attacked from one
quarter because II was said, the object was TO
gather together the Border States and precipitats
them into secession attacked from another quarter
the lower Southern States-becGuee, it was alleg-
cd the object TO unite the councils Of the Bor~
der States, and thus perhaps prevent the carrying
out of the secession movement. Failing to obtain
the signatures required, it fell through
Mr.. Speaker, we stand now, in the presence of
broken Union. A separation of the States has CON-
SneLce9, and has been carried forward TO a certain
extent The causes of that separation ought TO be
briefly considered before we come TO consider the
Eaanner in which the Union may be restored if that
be possible 1t seems me, sir, If / may be allow
ed 10 make 3 lew general observations that difficult
ties in which we are nov involved have not sprung
up suddenly. The withdrawal of seven States
from the Confederacy have not been the work of
politicians alone, or the impulse of a sEddeI mad
mesa, or the ebullition of blind rage.
Great communities of men do not SO act We all
know zhgt men are prone TO suffer while evils are
soerahle Father than after the forms TO which they
are accustomed. speak without reference TO the
merits OF the movement refer to- but with refer
snce 10 the facts II broke out with volcanic force;
but the causes that produced it had been growing,
as the chemical causes that prodgce volcanic erup
tons have been long preparing IN the bowels Of the
earth.
Ii seems to me- cir that the causes Of our present
Antiquities are to be found IN the radical differences
which exist among the people in regard 10 the char
acteR of the common government The dominant
party in this country hold in theory, and carry
IN practIce the idea that the common government
Is agovernplent made by the whole people In the
aggregate, and as unit They fan or refuse 10 re-
eoeize the prominent ard distinctive existence OF the
several States parties TO tie Federal Compact
Hence they speak continually OF tue psople, and Of
government by the people. They say. are you mo-
willing that the majority shall rule2 What Obieo
ton have you TO the expression OF the will OF thE
majority no matter in what form tina: majority
akel determine or in what manner the will OF tha
majority is ascertaned? 1t is sufficient answer Il
your objection, they say, that TINS Is people gov
ernmens and you must bow to the Will OF the PEG
Dle or Of the majority of the people. In all TINS
sir the existence of these States IS ignored. Inc
eminent gentenen NOW the President of the United
States declared upon recent occasion, IN puohS
address substantially that the States hold the same
relation to the common Government that the eoun
Sies of State hold 10 the State itself Accordingly
afsiys between the States precisely as the Legsla
fure of State will administer the affairs TO eact
county within its borders. Growing out Of THIS lt
nTof,eness 70 ignore Constitutional limitations eqd
10 do Ia the several States just whatever the domi
nant party may desire 70 DO GrowIng out OF TINS
il claim to incompatible al the Territories of the
United States.
n Is vain TO make Constitutions largument-vain
a. .oneal TO the practice Of the GOvernment-vain
- a.Ssaeal TO the decision Of the judicial tcibu-
is ~ ti,e land They will tell you that the will OF
H. nation is against it, The majority of the people
= theae Confederate States being in favor of eXclu-
J;g nearly one-half of their brethren, and having
t numerical power TO do so, they propose to do so
- accordance with the vicious theory which they
aatsrtsin and of which have spoken
7 sneak of this difference as one Of the causes
,.5so5 Las tended TO produce the present condition
NJ FEDERAL affairs 1t Is one which will have to be
srcped in Kentucky, because IL is OF the nature Of
,I;.;oaI d;srences to work themselves out to their
s,Ifmo+e causes We will have TO determine whether
chs is simply q popular consolidated government
or a limited Confederacy with ConstiIutlohal hll-
tatiops-a Government made by the several states
hold the theory contained in the hentncky- ieso,
buttons of 9swhich believe haFe been lndofseu anu
approved by the great 81 az
at one time or anOther-that the rsoeFn 49,.
sent is a compact of government between tne o1ale-
chat it is not the final judge OF VS. own PomeLs'
sRoe that would make its discretion, pet the SoDse
zion, the measure of its powers; but mas u tne ~.
resort, each must judge for itself of the Roee ahe
manner Of redress As we determine that We @SE
Aefmne other qWestions-questiong Of treason, ques
IONS OF allegiance, and other questions that may
TIse IN The progress of the existing difficulties.
90 not hold that any party iss a cause-less right
ereak up er withdraw from the Government.
NOT hold the righs Of State to dissolve its con-