Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-02-06


slaves? lie said, as say, you wouid nave
to retain them there; and if the South
were conquered provinces OF the Nor'h'
,h. institution of slavery would have TO
hs maintained, and the right of property
!, slaves recognized. What hazard We
arc running, then, Mr.. President, for an
;d,,. abstraction or vain delusion?
have no pleasure, sir, IN this s'h' u
talk. As God is my judge, my hesr' 10
not in it at all. am in no spirit Oh ''''"
,oa,;or ! stand hero between the eH-
,remes Of the North and the South ge'-
,ip.Lut little countenancs or 'ynfa'n!
from either side, but | stand for my coo"'
try. for the Union OF these States lo' '"'
couse of ius,;co and humanity Tor the
light for duty and fidelity ON all hanoS'
.end against a iratricidal war at a!! times
and in every contingency. -,
I bsye always snid that do not hoia
.outbern men blameless on thi" SUBJECT
They have INDUCED spirit Of recrlmina'
tion and retaliation towards the North
neither wise nor philosophical; and II
cannot be denied that vexatious system
orespionage has been kept M IN some
soutberp States as TO northern men visit
ing that region, and in some instances
cruel and condgn punishment infictea
upon them in amanner disgraceiu' 10 the
ace. and well calculated TO provoke ag-
erosion and hostility. They have, in adj
dition, been unnecessarily sensitive and
exactlng on unimportant points, and AZ
times have left thu impression that moths
ing iha. the northern people could do or
say would relieve their apprehensions or
assuage their feelings.
As for secession, am utterly against H.
] deny the right, and abhor the conse'
ouences but shall Indulge in no argu-
ment US to the right 1t is no remedy for
any one of the evils lamen'ed and in my
judgement, it viii aggravate rather than
remove them and, in addition superin-
duce countless others of q more distress
ing and destructive character. at were
wiser to beai the ills we have, than fly 10
others We know not Of" viii dissolu'
ton arrest aggressions upon the rights OF
tho Soutl Will extend the area OF their
peculiar institution? Will it break up
Vaccinations of those who conspire to
carry off slave property? Will it assuage
popular feeling in the North rs to slavery 7
will il give &C ditional security TO the
holders Of slaves? and will it prevent in>
surrection' In my judgement, it will do
none of these things. Nor can it BY any
possibility improve the material interests
in either section of the Union and ! do
not intend to dwell upon the question Of
material interests in considering the val
ue OF the Union. / we could have two
republics Of equal size and live in harmo.
nv and in unrestrained commercial and
political intercourse, the national growth
might not be seriously affected. But
would this revolution stop with two repub
lies and can peaceful relations be main.
tanned? Both are possible; but neither
the one nor the other is probable. II
once disruption becomes permanent, the
history of the world would seem to teach
that subdivisions would follow until the
Americas Union would be divided into q
score or more of petty, wranging, and
demoralized republics, exciting only the
pity and contempt OF the world.
Acknowledging the justice and COM
plants of the southern States to no incon.
siderable extent, deprecate with all my
heart the remedy they pursue, and am
prepared TO resist it by all proper means
in my power. Even if the right of seces-
sion we're clear, Mr.. President, main
lain that justice and good faith 10 the
other States require that redress for alle-
ged grievances 10 the South should first
be cought at the hands of The people, the
fountain of political authority, and in the
forms prescribed in tho Constitution. -
The southern States should have petition.
cd Congress for Convention ofStates to
revise the Constitution and remove tho
grievances Of which they complain. In
this way they could have ascertained the
real sen timents and intentions of the
northern people towards them, and the
great alternatives of oninued Union or
peaceful separation could have been de.
termined upon. This was the course of
our fathers in reference to the old confed,
Grafton. which was intended to be perpet-
ual, but was changed because it did not
answer the purposes for which it was Gre
ated. Let our southern friends follow
this example, even at this late day, and
al may yet be saved. Bet ter counsels
will prevail in such body than in Cons
gress. Men will come fresh from tho peo.
pie, unembarrassed by party politics and