Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-02-21
SPEECH OF R. III. T. Hunter, of Virginia, on the Forts and Arsenals in the States.
SPEECH OF
DELIVERED IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

|
 MT. LANE. l now move to take tp the resolution which was made the special or der for one o'clock
 The VICE PRESIDENT. The Sena- tor from Oregon moves to take up the re- solution offered by the Senator from Virgil n'a' { MT. Hunter J in relation to the retro cesslon of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, etc., to certain of the States. | 1he motion was agreed to; and the &c., nate proceeded to consider the following re- solution, submitted by Mr. Hunter on the 2d instant:
 WHEREAS, Certain forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards and other needfu buildings have been placed underline exclusive jurisdiction of the United States by cesson that effect from certain ates and 1t may be the desire of one or more of those States to resume the jurisdiction thus ceded: Now l therefore,
 Be resolped, That the President of the United States ought to be authorized by law, upon the ap- l plication of the legislature, or of regular con vention of the people of any such States to retro cede this jurisdiction to such States, upon taking | proper security for the safe keeping and return of all the property of the United States, or for paying for the value of the same destroyed or injured by the act of any of the States making sHch applica- ] tion
 Intldn Tas is ybGE 5sIJc PREs4pENT ss The tor rom Virginia ml. iiunrer) is eirrtted to the floor.
 I Mr, TRUMBULL desire to offer an amendment to the resolution of the Senator from Virginia.
 Mir. HUNTER. I give way to the amendment, provided do not lose the floor by it.
 The VICE PRESIDENT. The sena. tor does not lose the floor. It is by cour- tesy that the amendment is read.
 The secretary read the amendment of Mr. Trumbull which is, to strike out the preamble of the resolution, and after the word "that, and, in lieu of it, to insert:
 We fully approve of the bold and patriotic act of Major Anderson, in withdrawing from Fort Moul | trie to Fort Sumter, and of the determination of the President to maintain that fearless officer in his present position; and that we will support the Pre-. sident in all constitutional measures to enforce the l laws and preserve the Union
 Mr. HUNTER. Mr. P President, I have not sought to speak hitherto on the momen- tous question of the day, because did not believe that any good would be accomplish ed by speaking. The disease seemed to me to be so deeply seated that none but the most radical remedies would suffice; and had no hope that the public mind of the North was in a condition to receive any j such proposition. l do not know that it is even now prepared to weigh carefully such suggestion: but surely none can longer doubt the lmminence or the extremity of the danger. All must sec that the bonds which have hitherto bound together the members of this confe leracv are parting like flax before the fire of popular passion Our political fabric is reehng and tottering in the storm; so that, if 1t were not based lon the solid foundations of State organiza- tion, there would be every reason to expect its entire destruction Before the end of this month, it is almost certain that six or seven of the States will have seeded from this Union. It is therefore now no more a question of saving or of preserving the old Union. We cannot recall the past; we cannot restore the dead; but the hope and inc trust of those who desire a Union, are hat we may be able to reconstruct new government and new union, which per laps may be more permanent and efficient
 than the old. l know, sir, that there arc dlitculties in the way; but l put my trust iR the good sense and in the instincts of sEnpire, which have heretofore characteriz- gef the American people. to accomplish that great work. If we would do it, must not sit idly, bewailing the condition of pub lie affairs: bnt in the heroic spirit of the mariner whoi is cast away on a distant shore, see if we cannot find materials to build another ship, in which we may once more take the sea, and rei0in our kindred and friends. But MT President, to do this, we must face and acknowledge the true evil of the dav To-day we must deal wisely with the mighty present, that we may be ready for perhaps the still more eventiul future which will be on us tomorrow. New ideas, like new forces, have entered into our system; they are demanding the legitimate depression of their power, or they threaten Ito rend and destroy it in their wild and ir- regular play. There are now portions of this Union in which population already be- gins to press on the means of subsistence. In all of the States there is desire-in some of them necessity-for further ex IpanSion. It is that which has led to the warfare between the two social systems which have been brought together in our caastitution; war waged with bitterness and asperitv that has reduced us to the sad pass in which we now find ourselves.
 This constitution was designed to unite social systems, upon terms of equality and fairness. different in their character, but not necessarily hostile. Indeed, the very differ ences in these systems it would seem, ought Ito have formed causes of union and mutual attraction, instead of giving rise to the /" irrepreSsible conhict' which, it is said, some law of nature has declared between them. What the one wanted, the other could supply, If the carrying States did not make their provisions, the provision growing States, on the other hand had not the ships in which to transport their sur plus productions. If the manufacturing States did not raise the raw material, the planting States, on the other hand, did not have the manufactorieS to convert that ma. terial into useful and necessary fabrics.- Thus, what the one wanted, the other could supply. The very difference of products would seem to have afforded the means foi forming perfect system of industry, which should have been stronger by the mutual dependence and support of the parts. Un fortunately. however. as those who repre- sented the p-slavehoding system of SO ciety grew into power, they commenced { warfare upon the other system which wa associated with it under the constitution, = It was commenced in 1920, when it wa declared that the social systemic Of the Soutl was founded upon sin, was ani-republicaI in its character, and deserved to be represset and suppressed by the general governmen wherever it had exclusive jurisdiction The claim. was made, that so far as tn territories of the United States were con cerned, they were to be given up to the OK elusive expansion of one of these system at the expense of the other. Unhappily
 in that first contest, the weaker system wa