Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-01-04
POLITIC AL.
Senator Wade on Compromises and
Oisunion.

II would DO humiliating and di,honrable
10 Us IL We listened to compromise by
which We could lay aside the verdict Of the
people. When IL comes to that. you have
no government, but anarchy intervencs and
civil war may follow, and all the evils that
human Imagination can raise may bc con.
sequent upon such course rs that. The
American people would lose the sheet anchor
o., Liberty, whenever il is denied on the
floor that majority fairly given shall rule.
| know not what Others may DO, but tell
you that with that verdict Of the people in
my pocket, and standing on the platform
on which thcsc candidates were elected,
would suffer anything before I would COM
promise in any way. deem IL no case
where we have RICH, TO extend courtesy or
generosity. Tho absolute right, the most
sacred ,ha, free people can besiuw upon
any man, is their verdict that gives HIM
full title 10 the Office hc holds. II we san.
no, stand there. We cannot stand anywhere
and, my friends, any other verdict, would be
as fatal TO you as 10 US. You say he came
from enc section Of the country. wha, Of
,ha,' Mr.. Wade appealed 10 gentlemen
on the other side TO 'ay If they believed II
the result Of the contest had been the other
way the Republicans would have threatened
disunion? lie claimed that IL Mr.. Lincoln
was an honest man. he would administer
the Constitution faithfully. Therefore |
say 20 you. 80 tar as am concerned, will
yield 10 no compromiss. do not come
here begging one. I, would be an indisni'
,y to the people | rcprc.cn, II | was TO
stand here recrcant 10 the rights Of my
PARTY. We have won our rights to the
Chief Mas'racy, and II you are Us ~illinS
TO DO justice TO Others as TO etac, |, from
them, you would never rise 10 ask Tor CON.
promise. Many Of you stand in 40 attitude
hostile 10 this Government, when you threat.
en-, unless we do 50 and 80, you will So Ou,
Of this Union, and destroy the Government.
| say, in my private capacity never yield
to anything by way Of threats. Inmy pub
llc capacity have no rish, TO yield. There.
fore, would no, entertain proposition Tor
compromi.c. rhi. long, chronic con,ro'er-
" mus, be mo, upon the principles oi the
/ Constitution. ! hope it may be adjusted,
bu. know Of no way except sha, LAID down
by the Constitution Of the United States.
when We ~ as,ray from that, we plangc
ourselves into diticultie, There are differ
ent way. Of constituting il. bat IN my Juds-
ment, u is the wiscst Constitution ever yet
organized, aud ! attn willin; To stand by It.
| ask for nothing more. There is another
subjcc, abou, which | oush, to say some
thing. II is claimed that YOU have right
% seccde at your pleasure cannot ind
any warran, for doctrine. like that in tho
Constitution. In my Judgment, /, would
/ DO suhyersiye Of constitutional obligations.
/ II that Is 50, We have no Government. II,
would reduce this Union 10 u mere cOuglom-
Grafton OF States, 10 be held together At the
will Of any cap,ious member OF II. The
State Of South Carolina 10 q small State
but. probably, II she was sunk by an earth
quake, we should hardly find /, out. except
/ by the unwouted harmony that would pre-
vail in this Chamber. | say this from no
| III will. think she is unwi,o. would
DO willing TO le, her 80 on, II we could DO
50 without, mn example fatal 10 all govern.
meu,. But, standing here, my wishes must
bo controlled by constitutional duty. |
DON, soe how any man can contend that a
State can 60 out Of the Government a,
pleasure. The question was reviewed thirty
years ago, and received verdict which il
wa. supposed had sc, i, at res, forever. By
Gen. Jackson. and the men who surrounded
him, 10 was pronounced u delusion, and Ut
terly di.rup,lvc o, all Governments. Yet,
hero i, is to.dsy, blooming and fresh. Mr..
Calhoun, even. held 10 the doctrine that we
havo power TO make war ON State. You
will find this doctrine IN his long letter to
Gov. Hamilton. acknowledge TO the full
e., exten, the righ, Of revolution, II you 50
call it-a rish, to destroy the Government,
and erect another on its ruins more in &c.
c0rdance with your wishes. But when you
undertake it you undertake it with this
provision: II you are successful, oil ls
right. You are heroes. But lfyou are de-
iea,ed you are rebels.
That is the character o! revolutions (; IL
successful all well, IL unsuccessful the Gov.
ernmen, treats them as traitors. llc did
no, see u cause to apprehend tina, any par.
ty intended making war upon the seeding
States; hc only asserted the right to do 50 IL
they saw iit. lle would not, however,
counsel or advise any party to do it. iie
would be very tender with the rights OF the
people who were about to break up the Gov.
ernment undor which they had deliberately
como to the conclusion they could not live
but he apprehended tha, the POSITION Of
Of the Republicans would compel them To
take austers ground. Although State
secedes. they cannot recognize her right to
60 ou, Of the Union until she gains the con-
sent Of the Union. The duty oi the Chief
Magistrate is to execute the law in every
A