The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-02-12

four negro slaves this great Government was to be
destroyed.
Mr. Mason denied that he spoke for any otherin-
terests than that of Virginia. there was authori
ty for the Senator'S statement
Mr. Seward apologized He had meant nothing
offensive
Mr. Cameron asked what Maryland and Virginia
wanted?
Mr. Mason said the demands of Virginia were
expressed in the resolutions of her legislature,
now before the Senate. He made some illusions
to some dispatches sent by Mr. Douglas to Virgin
la, saying that settlement would be reached.
Mr. Douglas said he had only expressed his
views when asked by Virginians. Everything de-
pended on the action of Virginia and the border
States. 1t very clea- the Senator from Vir-
ginia had one object in view and he another. He
was for saving the Union by fair and honorable
adjustment but had seen nothing in the action of
the Senator from Virginia looking to such result
He had repeled the advances made by the Sena-
tor from Pennsylvania, and had been applauded by
the Republicans for his declaration that the South
wished 70 concession. The secessionists and Re-
publicans concided in their efforts to destroy the
Government, and acted in concert.
Mr. Mason-"Do you mean that We consult!"
Mr. Douglas-'Certainly not" He then re-
marked that by the refusal of Southern Senators
to vote the Clark substitute adopted in lieu of
the Crittenden resolutions.
Mr. johnson, Arkansas said he could not per-
NIT that statement to 90 abroad without correct
ing It, AS compromises not adopted by MAORI
ty of both parties in the Senate would be useless
following the rule which governed the action of
the Committee of Thirteen certain Southern Sena-
tors remained passive to see what the other side
would do. They had all, without solitary excep-
tion, voted against the Crittenden resolves. That
the fact, and he did not wish the Senator to
send deceptive statements abroad, that Southern
Senators had acted in concert with Republicans
Mr. Douglas said he could not know the motives
of individual Senators. He only knew the refusal
of certain of them to vote caused the adoption Of
Clark substitute, and, upon that, dispatches were
sent South that there was no hope.
Mr. .Johnson-There was no deception in that
There is no hope.
Mr. Douglas said he never would despair of the
Union. War could only lead to disunion and final
separation. He reason why the difficulty
could not be adjusted. The Senator from New
York had shown that the Government had been
in the hands of the South for twelve years, and yet
in that time had only planted twenty-four slaves
in all the Territories That showed that slavery
could not be carried there in opposition to natural
laws. Why, then, seek to break up the Union on
an abstraction of no practical value? A simple
clause in the Constitution torbidding Congress to
interfere with slavery in the States Territories,
would close the whole controversy.
MIR Hale expressed his surprise at the remarks
of the Senator Of Illinois, in regard to the appro-
baton he manifested at the remarks of the Sena-
tor of Virginia. He approved the sentiments OF
that Ser ator, because he said that the people of
Virginia only wanted the Constitution, and de-
manded concession.
MIR Mason said the South asked for no conces-
sion. That the term used, and implied a
gratuity to which she was not entitled. She wish
ed only the Constitution, but that had been
violated, she demanded guarantees that would
more effectually protect her.
HIr Hale said the remarks of the Senator from
Virginia showed that he and his people were salts
fed with the Constitution and desired no change
Why, then, should the Senator from Illinois de-
plore expression of loyalty to that instrument?
He had been asked by self-appointed committees
to settle this matter, but he did not know what
was to be settled. The South admitted that the
Constitution was right, they had not" complained
of the administration of the Federal Government,
and the Supreme Court with them.
He wished it understood that, in declaring his
devotion to the Constitution, he did not wish to
evoke it's power to repress the manifestations of
disaffectiOn in any section of the country. He
thought the South had all she wanted, and the
Supreme Court in the Dred Scott case had decided
everything in its favor.
Mr. CliDgman.-Does the Senator from New
Hampshire adopt that opinion?
Mr. Hale.-When there is vacancy On the Su-
preme Court Bench, and when Mr. Lincoln appoints
me to it, will answer the gentleman-then my op-
inion will be worth something The judgment of
the Court can't be affected by my opinion
Mr. Wigfali said that he was in favor of the
Union if it could be administered according to his
understanding of it. He explained his refusal to
vote upon the Clark resolutions, and said he wish
ed to see what the dominant party would do. He
then reviewed the action of Mr. Seward, Mr. Cam
eroa, and other Republican Senators, TO show that
they had during the present session, voted against
every plan of adjustment presented. Mr. Lincoln
had declared against compromise and for coercion.
What, then, the of talking about the
Union, when nothing was done to save it?
The Senator from Illinois came forward with his
Townsend's Sarsaparilla paled-and accused him
of favoring dsunion This cah1e with bad grace
from man but for whom and his great specific
Democratic President would have been elected
and the Union saved. To use paradox, be was
in favor of preserving the Union by disrupting IT,
He intended to give in his adhesion to the Govern
ment to be formed at Montgomery, and the seced-
ing States never would come back into the Union.
Mr. Wigfall then branched off into an extended
in defence of the rights of the South
ard the grounds upon which she had taken her
present action He severely upbraided the
Republicans for their political course aud said
they were reaping the rev ard of their deceptions
upon the people. he argued that the Declaration
of Independence did not refer to negroes, because
one of the grounds of revolt was that George III