The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-01-16

CoHIees.

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That our readers may form an ;dss Of Gas
style Of debate INDUCED in by AmsricaA
Senators in the present crisis, We give b.
low, the language Of that veteran coaservs-
tive John J. Crittenden, Of Kentucky, and
alss the defiant, impudent and fiery remarks
Of Robert Toombs, of Georgia. It vii ke
seen that Cr;ttenden insists upon Division
Of the Territory as a sire qua nos Of tie
Union; this fact shou'd be told the readers
Of those sheets which claim affinity Will
Crittenden, cry out Justify fot the Onion,
and yet declare their intention mot TO Yield
an inch" Mr.. Toombs' speech is cusios:
Enthusiastically correct in Its statements.
but ,rrogant and incorporating in ~
conclusions:
Mr.. Crittenden spoke in favor Of the
question to the people. 1t seemed to him
necessary in the distracted state Of the pub
lie council. It would be better to submit
the question to the people themselves, and
he saw nothing improper in it. 1t does net
conflict in any way with the Constitution.
He referred to the proposed amendments 70
the Constitution. and agreed i'll favor Of
their adoption. He contcnded that the es-
tablishment Of q line dividing the territories,
was not SO much compromise, as fair d.
justment of the rights. He asked il states.
men and Senators had rather encounter
civil war with all its horrors, than make
fair compromise, and recognize the exist.
ence Of slavery in territory till it becomes
a State. Was it party dogma, that no
slave State should be admitted to the Union,
and will Senators sacrifice the country for =
mere party dogma! The territory was &C.
|quired as the common property Of all, and
now few attempt to exclude portion from
their just rights, because they have consci-
entious scruples on the subject. Were Sen.
ators willing to sacrifice their country, ratii.
or than yield their scruplcs, rs matter Of
right? Have Senator'S any right to exclude
any property
He was now to consider the sacrifice Of
the country, and was here as an advocate
for the Union, contending for what he tko't
would save the country. This triumph fiIls
some portion of the Southern States with
alarm. Will the party now in the proud
and dogmas, and not yield an inch, or will
they, like generous men, be not emily just
but liberal. He appealed to them as patri.
OTIS ana countrymen to grant equal rights to
all. He did not think he was asking them
to make concessions, but only to grant equal
rights. He did not believe in the doctrine
ofseccssion. 1t was a new doctrine, and
an attempt to secede, with the bold front Of
revolution, is nothing but a lawlcss viola.
ton Of the law and Constitution; but hc
only wanted to bear his testimony to the
Constitution, and to let it be known that
the Constitution can not be bruken. IF
State wishes to secede let them proclaim
revolution boldly, and not attempt to hide
themselves ,lIder little subtleties of law and
claim the right Of secession. A constitu.
tional right to break the Constitution was q
new doctriue. He argued that Mr.. Webster
always went against any right Of secession
On one side was an asked concession, and
on the other side was civil war.
Mr.. Trumbull asked if the Senator did
not know that one State claimed to be out
of the Union already. How would conces.
sion alter the case?
Mr.. Crittcnden contended the adoption Of
compromise would put an end to all rcvo-
luton.
Mr.. Toombs said the Republicans had
long been sowing the dragons teeth, and
they now reapcd crop Of armed men. The
Unicn was already dissolved. South Caro-
lima had boldly-nobly met the public
danger. The cause of South Carolina was
the cause Of the South. They had appealed
to the fraternity and justice of the North in
vain, and now they were voting what was
called resolution, and were ready to appeal,
if needs BE-, to the stern arbitration of the
sword, and the ground would echo with the
tramp Of armed men from the capital to the
Rio Grande. The South had proclaimed ~
the civilized world, that they had taken up
arms, because a power had been elected to
federal power, which outlawed their proper
ty; stimulated insurrcction within and in
vasion from without The Senator from
Kentucky doubts the right of secession;
ere long he will see tia thing accomplished.
They take it up both ways at the South,
regular as in South Carolina. and irregular
below that State, and there were armed men
to defend both. AS the Republicans deem.
ed it treason, there stood before them as:
good traitor and as good rebel as ever
assembled from revolutionary loins. (slight
spplause.)
He reviewed the demands Of the South,
and contended that such demands were only
for an equality in the Union, unless gov
ernmcnt give protection, it could not ex-
pcct obedience. This was reason for tho
armed men that now sprung up everywhere
The Senator's from New York and Ohio had
sworn to observe the Constitutional com.
pact, but no oath could bind them. Thcv
had higher law. They take oaths and
break them. A professional perjurer
bought for fifteen shilings by an old Baily
lawyer. would scarcely be less fagrant-
He quoted the Personal Liberty bill of Ver-
mont, as her illustration of acts, and con-
tinued his detail Of grievances. He cited
invasions Of the slave States by the decla-
rations Of the Republican leaders. He de-
nicd that blood had been shed to establish
the Constitution. Not one drop. Many
OF the revolutionary patriots voted against
it. 1t was adopted in Vermont by ten mai.
in New York three, and Massachusetts by
nineteen. The people Of Georgia believed
the Constitution was the best form of gov
ernment which could be devised. For him.
self, he did not share in the opinion
Had he been in the convention he would
have voted with Henry and Mason against
it. Every tribunal Of the government had
decided in favor Of Southern demands; yet
they were not yielded, and now the only
arbiter was the sword. He argued that the
Chicago platform had logically dcclar, that
the treaty which acquired Louisiana and
Florida, as well as the decisions of the Su-
prcme Court, were void and no law. He
himself was willing to defend the Consti-
tuition with the halter around his neck. He
quoted Mr.. Lincoln's declaration that he
would vote to exclude slavery from the Ter.