, 1861-03-15
Speech Of Senator Latham.

lHe lolO"lHS IS part OF Speecl deliver
ed on the state Of the Union. The view.
of coercion are forcibe, while the strong ex
preston of hope for a continuance of thc
American Confederacy, finds hearty echo
in the sentiment ofthis Coast:
~ Even our title Of " America would dis
appear, and we be known in England n,
the tribes of Indians, only by their specif,
names. What respect would these isolated
states or small confederacies command al
European courts How would the diplo.
matte agents Of our dssvered Republics be
received at St. James, or at the Tuilleries!
/ Representing small State is no disgrace;
but to represent the members of great
nation where the whole country had once
commanded respect honor and ndmira-
ton, is a position to which few would aspire
to be regarded as parade ministers, or
small snitors, and, at the best, but as intrig-
ing against portion of his former country,
humbly begging what q Minister of the
United States would have demanded, and
no power ventured to Withhold without
being made aware Of the consequences
Ministers of our discovered republics would
occupy no pleasant place among our diplo-
matte colleagues-sOme of whom, no doubt,
secretly glad to behold them shorn Of their
former prestige and influence, pointing them
out as the diminutives of their greatness
living assurances Of their future harmless
ness and good behavior of those same
Americans whose progress so alarmed Gui-
zot with the prospect Of disturbing the
worlds equilibrium" of power. We shall
be held 10 terrible account by humanity
even for having blasted all hopes Of the
success Of republican Institutions; and by
monstrous national suicide, forever destroy
ing the popular faith in self-governmen'.-
Whichever way we turn, there is nothing
but scorn and obloquy for our fallen institu-
tions: while despotsm itself would draw o
long, free breath, from the terrible and IN
answerable example Of our liberty.
What service could the Senators and mem
bers Of subjugated States be in anntional
Legislature Of equals The first shot ex-
changed between the North and South it.
self dissolves the Union. With such violent
disruption, oil sense Of equality, duty and
loyalty would destroyed forever; and in the
absence Of these, our republican forms
become sheer license, so intolerable and
so utterly unfit for the prtection Of life and
property, that the people in the end would
1y to monarchy, as means Of salvation
from utter anarchy, lawlessness, usurpation
and chaos. The men who connive at this
result win find themselves utterly incapable
Of ruling even the section which now sup
ports them in their career Of aggression and
faDaticism; and unsuccessful in their schemes
they will be as hoplessly abandoned by
their present followers as they are now anx-
ious to discard those who would implore
them to retracn their needless steps to save
our common country. a1t
have not alluded, ia what / have said,
10 the position Of my own State IN this con
test. The people Of the Pacific Coast
breathe but one sentiment Of loyalty and de-
votion to the Union. They will raiify any
proposed amendment 10 the Constitution,
which would bring peace 10 the country
and restore to the South sense Of tran
guilty. If no such peace can be had; if
neither the leaders Of the Republican party,
nor their followers in the Northern States,
will give peaceful guarantees to the South
ern States, then, sir, 10 my opininion, a
large majority Of the citizens OF that Coast
will say Let them go in peace !" Civil
war cannot remedy the evil, and let any re-
suit follow sooner than all its horrors.
While they would not allow the dignity Of
the Union or its laws trampled or spit upon
by any portion Oft people, yet the appeal
Of ten millions Of their fellow-citizens filling
ofregard, destroys SO much Of that unity as
will cause them to consent to any steps o
sense Of security may dictate, even TO a
final and peaceful separation.
The history of our future career as two
Confederacies the result Of nalnecessity
to give peace'to the people, is not, to my
mind, SO full Of gloomy misgivings. Bat a
violent separation needs no prophet Ito tell
It's direful issue to Republican Institutions
Peaceful separation leaves the two sections
TO pursue their pathway, not SO mighty, it
is true, as when united, but still powerful to
command respect from the civilized world
As Mr.. Madison said, They may be divi
ded as to each other, but united as to the
world" California, from her commerce
her institutions and interests, / believe, will
remain with the free States, Applause IL
the galleries, with whom, in every respect
she is identified. Their destiny and our owl
are indissolnbly united. And here let me
say to the Distinguished Senator from New
York Mr. Seward, that the loyal people
Of that State will "speak for the Union
vote for the Union, contribute their money
) to preserve the Union, and, when all othel
. expedieuts fail, fight for the Union, "provi
ded the distinguished Senator will show u
, how, BY fighting, we canpreserve the liber
ty, the fraternity, and the equality Of oul
Southern brethern in the Union. But
unless he can do this, we will never-neyer
: sir, imbrue our hands in the blood Of ou
Southern brethern. Applause in the gal
lerfes; and the Vice President said b
would have to have the galleries cleared
if it was repeated. Believing it to be tn
sentiment of her people that she will clinl
Q TO any remnant Of q Union, while on