The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-01-01
SENATOR WADE'S SPEECH,
Delivered in the Senate, Dec. II, 1860.

At time like this, when there seems
to be unusual excitement, | have very
little faith IN the efficacy Of any argu-
ment But must say, when, in this
very chamber, where we have all raised
our hands to Heaven and took an oath
that we would sustain the Constitution
OF the United States, we hear it said BY
many Senators that we are upon the eve
OF "A dissolution Of this Union, and that
your Constitution is to be lrampled un
der foot, Silence under such circumstan-
ces seems 10 be akin to treason itself.
We have listened TO complaints on the
other side OF this chamber patiently, and
with an ardent desire 10 ascertain what
they were. But | confess | am unable
10 understand what it is of which they
complain. The party which has lately
elected the President, and is prospect
lvely coming into power, have never
held Office under this Government, nor
any individual of them. Therefore, il is
manifest that that party have rs yet com
mitted no act ofwhich any body can com
H''''H' - ti OHI bao iSdlS 10 " HUdt
may hereafter ensue, they are mere APP
prehenslons-nothing else. 4 bare sus.
picion-a fear-rising out of unwarrant-
abe preludices. | wish to ascertain in
the outset whether we are right, for tell
gentlemen here ii they can convince me
that am holding any political principle
that is not warranted by the Constitution
under which we live, or trenches on their
rights, they need not ask me to compro-
mise, for will redress their rights my
self when ! am wrong No man need
approach me with threat that the Gov.
ernment is to be destroyed, because
hope that ! have now, and ever shall
have, that sense OF justice that when any
man shows me am wrong, | shall be
ready TO right il without treat or com
promise. Now, what is it of which gen
tlemen complain ? When | left my
home in the West TO come to this place
all was calm, cheerful, and contented
heard OF no discomfort, and apprehended
there was no cause TO interrupt the har-
monious course of legislation. | did rot
know there had been, since we adjourn.
ed, any new fact intervening that could at
all disturb the public mind. | did not
know that there had been any encroach :
ment upon the rights of any section or
any individual. Therefore, came here
expecting We should have harmonious
session. II is very true that the great
Republican party, which has been organ
zed ever since you repealed the Nilsson
ri Compromise. which gave you four
years ago full warning that its strength
would result as it has resulted-and
suppose any man might have supposed
things would have resulted in the same
way-it is true, this party has carried
the election but do not suppose any
thing growing out OF the election is the
cause Of the present excitement in the
country. Now, who is it that is com
planning? Is il the minority that they
have subjected to an oppressive and az
gressve Government No such thing
as that, sir. We might suppose that "a
years ago. when the leaders of that glor-
ious Revolution met at Philadelphia,
there to draw up bill of indictment
against weak king and his ministers.
they had been at a loss what they would
set forth MS the cause of their complaints.
But they had no difficulty in setting
them lorth. and SO that great article ol
impeachment will so down TO posterity
to Justify them for all they did Let US,
then. suppose the old patriots had been
tho Ministers Of the Crown, or members
of the British Parliament of the domi
nant party that had ruled Grea, Britain
for 80 years previous. Instead of digni,
Tying what they did as revolutionary.
who would not have hanged every man