Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-03

ment from US, VIII that not have tendency to bring
them back = l think 1t will
Upon an occasion not unlike the present ten years
ago, Mr. Clay stood near the spot which now occupy
The circumstances of the times then hot atogeh.
er unlike what they are now. He stood here in 1880
In lSiS the storm gathering it has gathered
Great apprehensons entertained in the COUNT Y
that It would terminate in dsunion. Mr. Clay went TO
Congress in 1919. lie brought forward series Of com.
promises in 1880, and had them passed. That pacied
the country and preserved the Union. Iu 1850 he came
here and in this Legislature he delivered and address
The storm had then passed By but he spoke them with
prophets fire. aud with all patriots concern of the
character of The Constitution of their country and the
! value Of the Uaion. He said 81 have teen asked
when would consent TO give up this Union? answer
never! never never and warn you, my countrymen,
now, If things TO tend, this country should be
divided into Union and Disunion party, here now
no matter who compose that party declare myself a
member Of the Union party. Whether it be Wing or
| a Democrat that belongs 10 the party Of the Uuion
there subscribe my name-.here unite my heart and
hand with that party" How would he the ques
tion, What shall We do? Shall we quit this Union now
and go oil upon the experiment of brethren of the
South? Wha. would he swer who then answered as
have stated?
say then it would be wisdom in us never to consider
the question OF dissolution. 1t is question be de-
bated il is not question to be settled upon poll ;i,s
o. arguments. You know the fruit Of that tree good
Stand under it, feed upon It's rich fruits you have DONE
until you see better one at distance, until some
great necessity il upon usunii necessity like that by
which our parents driven from Eden shall drive
you from IT, Then gc it will be time then, and that re-
cessity will be your Justification. There is another
thory still more venerable than that OF the illusrious
man whom have mentioncd-I mean General WagLing
ton. Do you believe he a wise man What did re
tell you OF the value of this Uuion and of your duty
maintain and uphold mot merely argumentave de-
voion ready argue yourselves in OF
sion he told you to have immovabe attachment to
the Union--nCver to think OF abandoning it; stick to it
fight for IT. fight in il; your rights disturbed main
tain them if that desperate extremity should come bat
that desperate extremity is not TO be apprGhended Il
may occur for short time. Wrong and oppression may
be practised for a short time Bad rulers may oppress
you as they have oppressed Others You may have
mischievous President and gGoant and injurious Con-
gress All this NAV occur but all this in the wisdom OF
the Constitution is swaow,d up in the general good
That Constitution which in the infrmity of human
nature, necessarily sui ects you to these evils gives you
the power of reressg thsm at short intervals Of time
and he who cannot for the perpetual good bear such
evils for short time, does not deserve 10 be member
of good government. You have he opportunity Of re-
emng that government by frequent elections Of Pre-.
sident and Congress If you permit a repetition Of a
maadministraton is your fault You have the remedy
and It s yoar fault if you do not apply it.
Gentlemen the Government is in bad and dangerous
condition. Whether it shall fall pieces and become
the scoit OF the world whether ruius all that
shall remain to tell story is the question to be
determined ! believe in the people more than do in
Governments 1 b,leve in the pcopl, more than be-
eve in Presidents in Senators, Houses of Repre-.
sentatives. | do not say that to litter ma;tudes.
cay il because believe in the intelligence of the people
believe in the public virtue of he reope whatever may
be said to the contrary. Though in many things many
people act little unworhly of the dignity of ircemen
still when look at the ma cstic body OF the people,
fl ID that here is wisdom, generosity, and public
rtus that g!ll not allow this ry to be tramrcd
der foot or to go down to ruins. Tley will cx end
their hands from the North 10 the South and from the
uh TO the North, in lrGerual sSmpatl les. DO not
have they vii igh, upon any cause that yet exists.
believe they will not permit their rulers to maintain any
petty platforms 10 destroy great country The Chica.
20 PLATFORM thing no bigger than my hand, 10 be
up ike idol OF old, ard worshppcd, aud great
try like ours with all millions, sacrificed upon s al
t.r.-the people vii IOt allow that TO be done. They
not pitorm makers Ta,'r country and their God
ID What they are for They fclow-cz -us, ard
Tcy will save us. THIS may be sup rsiCn tu' have
and Il comforts and solsc ne. Y u are po tim #
tlat great bcdy, and wi! YOU DO your part.
Ny friends thcse rsmarks are d6sl'tory. Ihlve net
pretended sketch the sad history of these Of to
relate them in their detail have not attempted to DIS
cua5 al the probable consequences Cf abandoning
Standing by the Government of this Union. have sm.
ply satisfied myself by saying tlai to Din the gov
erument would be nothing hu. q speculation. To stand
fist where You is TO perform the duty which
est yoG, aud within your clear conviction. That Is the
course have recommended What have YOU done>--
w
tucky'4 been? You sent some years ago piece
Of Kentucky marble 10 he wrought ~ iaO the sttucre
Of that mlgriGceGt monument OF the Father Of lis
OOun sy-nos unGished ia the city % Washington. Trat
your tribute the patriotism aud the great OF
that uncquaed man. What did YOU caus. be inscrb.
ell upon IL? L.. remind you. Upon the stone is en-.
graved these words "kcnucky the first State 10
enter the Union cler the adoption OF the present Cons-
tuon and she will he the last TO leave it," This is the
testimony ergraven by your order Ii is cuEraVcn upon
a. 49, l. nls 4pff fha
the memory OF Washington where al the world may
it, While Washington 20 sdored rs the founder OF the
pon-ihe founder OF the countryin that holy keeIirg
this monumento of recorded rock in which you say you
will be the last TO leave the Union.
Now, Mr.. Sp 'aker and gentlemen when you have c1-
amined in every material point of vew ia the view OF
every material interest this question to the policy and
course Kentucky oueh 20 purs6 whom Won have sounded
them bl let say thu. think your Judgement will I'D
it satisfactory not remove from the Union But sup
pose YOU did not at that satisfactory conclusion,
il there something in the stability which marks the
mauhcOd OF old Kentucky? Here she stands upon her
own native ground here she stands by that Dag under
which she has 1fen fought and aiaDds by that Cnion
That she has sworn to mair'an.is Is there not sentiment
that You fec in your heart that however politicians may
.asoa policy ought 20 sway this matter There is
great deal even in doing wrong when you do it in pur
susnce OF OF fidelity and honora Of patrio
tsn. which Of yOu your child IL to read the History
of this period, il it he sad fat" that country
is TO PERISH and re is left to read only the mouGul h
Tory cf s fall how would you rather Il would stand n
that history-tha Kentucky IN the tunut of this
luton w led away, led away from her coos and her
Constitution and Joined in the sad experiment of South
crn Cotton State Republic? that she suudcred herself
from the parent Government, which was hrokOn into
Fragments and helped 10 form little GOVERNMENTS which
soon cor sumed each other or that old Kentucky was
left when the land had been swept by secession and
vo,lion ana nothing left OF the Union. Kentucky
alone seen standing upon the field which revolution
h I'd conquered-standing slone, like Gtalwart
quered cid warrior with The Ig OF his country in his
hand standing bv the falling ooumn-hat the last scene
of your aaeSstor should leave him sitting Ike Marius
upon the ruins of Carthage, mourning tue melancholy
aud disgraceGul fall Of his once glorious country p
Where would you rather your ancestor should he pre-
sented in historyas ;ding eff into revolution and
cesson, making .he experiment of the republic, or
atandnr unconqu,red and alone, with he stars and
stripes il bis hand, falling Dobly and faithfully and
dsvotedly with the Constitution his country? l lhk
there is OF one of US thai would prefer ancestor
to take that course. know that we sometimes w0uld
be wiling that ancestors would pursue that
are unwilling 10 pursue ours3lves-Therei is hardship,
diMcu and danger about it that would rather avoid
provided We can have, through ancestor the he
rsditary glory of acting such self sacrificing part
at.
Mr. Speaker, | have occupied much more Of the tine
of this enlightened body than intended In conclusion,
vii! only repeat my acknowledgment for the great
many honors you have conferred upon me. They will
make my retirement honorable peaceful and happy, aud
will revive recoectons continually Of yoar kindness and
Of that confidence which you placed in have been
long time in the service of nay country. Here, sir,
was the earliest soene of my political fe Like you,
and the young among you, was once upon the floor
of this house endeavong 10 sere my country, rs you
are For many long years, in position Other |
have lived. / ought o retire. The time has come. /
have wished for it, You have made the way to that