Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-01-05

! most, we beat you. We beat YOU on the
$ plainest and most palpable issue ever nre-
S scented to the American people. and one
t they understood the bes.-and now, when
we come to the capital, we tell you that our
J candidates must be inaagurated and adj
minister the Government precisely as Their
predecessors have done.
1 1t would b. Illuminating eId dishonora-
. bic 70 us if we listened to compromise by
which we should lay aside the verdict Of
fIthe people. When it comes to that, YOU
: hayeno Government, but anarchy interviews
and civil war may follow, and all lie evils
THAT human imagination can raise may be
! consequent upon such a course MS that.-
The American people would lose the sheet
Ianchor Of Liberty, whenever il is denied Oh
this floor that a majority fairly given shall
rule | know not what others may do, but
i | tell you that with that verdict OF the peo-
.lple in my pocket, and standing on the plat
form on hich these candidates were elec-
tied, would suffer anything before | would
IIcompromise in any way. | deem it No
case where we have a right to extend cour
tasy or generosity. The absolute right,
the most sacred that free people can be-
stow upon any man, is Their verdict that
gives him full title to the office he holds.
\ If we cannot stand theie, we cannot stand
and, mv friends, any other YER
Idict would be as fatal TO YOU as to U.S.
! \ on say he came from one section Of the
.icountry. What Of that2 Mr.. Wade APP
lpealed to gentlemen on the other side TO say
liz they believed if the result Of the contest
had been the other way the Republicans
would have threatened dsuuion lie claim.
ed that if Mr. Lincoln was an honest man
he would administer the Constitution faith
fully. Therefore | say to you, as far as !
am concerned, | wall yield to no compro-
mise. do not come here begging one
4 1t would be an iDdignity to the people | rep
resent if was to stand here recreant to the
rights Of my party. We have won our
fright to the Chief Magistracy, and if you
were as willing to do justice to others as TO
exact it from them, you would never rise to
TASK for compromise. Many of you stand
lin an attitude hostile to this Government
when you threaten, unless we do so and So,
you viii 60 out Of this Union, and destroy
1.-THE Government. | say, in my private en-
pacity | never yield to anything by way Of
,lthreats. In my public capacity have no
] right to yield. Therefore, would not en-
terrain proposition for compromise
) EThis long, chronic controversy must he met
e upon the principles of the Constitution. ]
j hope it may be adjusted, but know Of nc
flway except that laid down by the Constitu-
| ton Of the United States. When we 90
, astray from that, we plunge ourselves into
difficulties. There are different ways Of
constituting it, but, in my Judgment, it is the
] wisest Constitution ever yet organized, and
ana willing TO stand BY it. | ask fol
I nothing more
There is another subject about which !
{ ought 10 say something 1t is claimed
! that you have a right to secede at your
!. pleasure. | cannot find any warrant for
doctrine like that ia tho Constitution. In
my judgment, il would be subrersiye Of
Unconstitutional Obligations. Ifthat 1850, we
have no Government. 1t would reduce
} this Union TO a mere conglomeratioh Of
States, to be held together at the will of
any captious member Of it. The State Of
} South Carolina is a small State; but, prob
lably, if she was sunk by an earthquake, we
] should hardly find it out, except BY the I'M
( lwonted harmony that would prevail in this
iChamber / say this from no i'll WILL
think she is unwise. / would be willing to
let her 90 out if We could do so without an
} example fatal to all government But,
standing here, nay wishes must be control
led BY constitutional duty. don't see
how any man can contend that State can
90 out Of the Government at pleasure
The question was reviewed thirty years
AGO, and received verdict which it was
supposed had set it at rest forever By
i Gen. jackson, and the men who surround
led him, it was pronounced delusian, and
utterly disruptive Of all Governments.
4 Yet, here it is to-day. blooming and fresh.
/ Mr. Calhoun, even, held to the doctrine
that we have powerto make war on State.
You viii fad this doctrine in his long let
j ter to Gov. Hamilton. | acknowledge to
the fullest extent the right Of revolution, if
YOU so call ia right to destroy the Cow
lernment and erect another on its ruins more
lin accordance with your wishes. But
when you undertake it you undertake il
with this provision: If you are successful,
lall is right. You are heroes. But, if you
are defeated you are rebels.
j That is the character Of revolutions; if
successful all well, if unsuccessful the Gov
! ernment treats them as traitors. lie did
not see a cause to apprehend that any par
fItv intended to make war on the seeding
B Stats; be only serted the right to do 50
,lif they saw fit. He would not, however,
'lcounsel or advise any party to do it. He
would be very tender with the rights Of the
people who were about to break up the
i Gogernme1t under which they had deIiber-
lately come to the conclusion they could net
,Iiive-but be app. ehended that the position
lof the Republicans would compel them to
AXE austere ground. Although a State
Isecsles, they cannot recognize her right to