Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-03-15
SPEECH OF Hon. E.P. WALTON

i W Pefm ont, on the otde OF the Union
in the House Of Representatives, Feb
16, 1861.
The House having under consideration
the report from the select committee ol
thirty-three-
Mr.. WALTON said
Mr.. SPEAKER: The events of the
last ninety days show that the Federal
Government is still an experiment, aud
perhaps as doubtful now as it was when
Washington declared in lis first inaugu-
raj address, that "the prasyvation Of the
sacred fire Of liberty, and the destiny Of
the Republican model Of government, are
Justly considered as deeply, Prhaps as
finally staked on the experimen intrust-
ed to the hands Of TIE American people" "
1t has successfully resisted all assaults
from without, stimulated within a eowth
in civilization, material wealth and moral
power, unparalleled in any nation r age
Of the world. 1t has multiplied thtpop-
ulation Of the nation by ten, and itspro-
ductiye power by more than ten tines
ten it has extended its domain rom
ocean to ocean, and brought the septer
Of commercial supremacy within it5grasp;
and for the freedom of its people, tie nov
city of its machinery, and the briliancy
Of its results, it has commanded u.iver-
sal admiration and respect And now,
while at peace with all abroad, aid but
for the wretched, and we may hope
temporary, consequences of maladninis-
tration OF the government, prosperous at
home, we are threatened with an instant
and utter failure of the experiment.
which Washington inaugurated, and with
the instant and utter wreck of the en-
pire which he founded. II is national
death; it is death to our power, security
and grandeur; it is death to our national
name and fame; and a million deaths, it
may be, through anarchy and civil war.
For more than a quarter of a century. |
South Carolina has deliberately and per-
aimed at the destruction Of the
Union and this design was not more
monstrous in iniquity than it has been
mastery in execution. The great states
man who first conceived II saw the end
from the beginning, shaped the means to !
the end and so sagaciouslg shaped them
that the very virtues of the people, and
the patriotism which be offended, have
been made instruments for his work.
BY the assertion OF new and strange pro-
slavery principles, at first repulsed by
everybody, but ultimately carried out in
a large degree, by the annexation of Tex
rs, the Mexican war, the fugitive slave
aw of 1850, the Kansas and Nebraska
act Of 1854, the reputation of the Mis-
souri, compromise, and the raid upon
Kansas ; by pro-slavery agitation and
acts-the Soulh was sed4ced
IN the ore hand and the North repelled
IN the other, until all tie old national
parties were demolished, and the NorIh
and South politically divided by sec
ional line. The Wing patty in the South
was blotted out in 1852, lhe Democratic
oarty of the North was divided, and the
Wing party of the North botted out in
1856 the Democratic patty of the North
vas deliberately assassinated by its South
'rn allies in the spring of 1860; and thus
vas secured the foreordamcd triumph of
he Republican party in November last.
Az, toreordained, prayed for, waited for,
md rejoiced at by the ploners of disun-
on, and by none more heartily and sin
,etely. The election Of Abraham Lin
'oln was not the reason. but the occasion,
or disunion; and the occasion was in
tantly and impatiently improved by ordi-
,ances of secession.
The Government had ample warning
If the designs of the conspirators and
,ut for the neglect of the Elk ,utiye, the
ecessions of this day might have been
Is harmless as were the notification
# South Carolina in 1882, and her Sc
ession in 1882. The President was
warned by avowals of the secessionists
nd as early as October last he was espe-
tally warned, by the highest officer Of
he government in military rank, and the
,eer of the highest in the world in mill
lry reputation, of the dangers to which
he country was exposed, and of the rem
dy within his reach. Warnings were
eglected, treason lurked in the Cabinet,
nder the very eye of the President, and ,
aveled through the Executive depart ,
lents. The army was dispersed il dis
mt Territories, and the navy in distant ,