Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-05-31


/ the lavying of an export duty upon every
ta1shol of corn and every pound Of meat we
ruay choose to send TO the markets of the
| world to pay for imports.
/ Bear In mind that these very cotton States,
who have ia former tunes been 50 hoisterous
| Tor free trade, have among their 6rst acts es-
tablished an export duty ou cotton for the FIRST
| time 10 American history.
| It is a historical fact, we'll known to every
man who has read the debates Of the Couveu-
/ ton which framed tho Constitution, that the
Southern States refused to become parties TO
! the Constitution unless there was an express
proEision in the Constitution prohibiting Con-
eress to levy an export duty on any product
| of the earth. No sooner have these cotton
States seeded than an export duty is levied;
| and if they will levy it on their cotton do you
not think they will levy il on our pork, and
/ our beef, and our corn, aud our wheat, and
our manufactured articles, and all thst We
| have to sell! Then what's the proposition? 1t
| is to enable the tier of States bordering ou the
Atlantic aud the Pacific, and on the Gulf,
sarrounding-us on ell sides, to withdraw from
the Union form an alliance among themselves,
aud then lcvy taxes on US without our consent,
Land collect rev euue without giving US any
! just proportion or part of all OF tbe amount
collected. Can we submit to taxation without
4 representation? lSeveral voices, ''no. Can
we permit nations foreign to US to collect
revenues off our products--tbe fruits OF our
Elaborl | ask the citizens of Illinois; | ask
every citizen 10 the great basin between the
Rocky Mountains aud the Alleghenies; 10 the
vallies Of the Ohio, Mississippi aud Missouri,
| to tell me whether be is ever willing 10 sane
ton line of policy shat may isolate us fro M
the markets of the world aud make as depen-
/ dent provinces upon power that thus choose to
4 soIate u.s. Many voices ''no," and 'snever.
/" ] Warn you, my couutrYmen, whenever
1 you permit this to be done in the Southern
4 States, New York will very soon follow their
example. New York, that great port, where
4 two thirds of our revenue is collected, aud
whence two-thirds of our goods are exported,
/ will not long he able to resist the tempta tion
4 of taxing Gifeen millions of people in the
great West, when she can munopolize the re-
rources and release her own people from any
taxation whatsoever Hence I/say TO you,
nv countrymen, from the best consideration
4 | have been able to give TO the sntjset, after
the most nature reflection, aud through iu-
vestigation, 4 have arrived at the conclusion
that, come what may, war if IL must be,
although deplore il as great calamity, yet,
come what may, the people of the great Mis-
sissippi Valley, can never consent TO be ex-
cluded from free access to the ports OF the
Atlantc, the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico.
[Great apTsznse.l Hence / repeat that | an
not prepared TO take up arms or to sanction a
policy of our Government to take up arms
take up arms to make aoy war upon ihe rights
I ~
upon their rights of persons or property: but,
on the contrary, would rush to their defence
+ and protect them from assault; but while that
is the case, will never ceass to urge my
couutrymeu to tako arms to fight 10 the death
in defence Of our indefeasible rights. Loud
applause Hence, if war does come, II Is a
war of self defence on eur part Il Is war
ia defence of our oWn just rights; 10 defence
of the Government which We have Inherited
priceless legacy from onr patriotic fathers
10 defence Of the great rights OF freedom OF
trade, commerce, transit, and intercourse from
: the center to the circumference OF our grea
; continent These are rights We must Strug
: gle for and never surrender.
have struggled almost against hope Z
avert the calamities of war, and 10 eHect
; reunion aud reconciliation With our brethre'
10 the Sooth. / yet hope it may be done, bu
| am not able 10 point out to you how 1t may
! be. Nothing short of Providence can revea
to US the issue of tSis great struggle. Bloody
-calamitous--I fear it wal! be. May we sc
conduct il, if collision must come, that w'
will stand justified in the eye OF him wh'
knows our hearts aud who will justify ou
every act. We must not yield to resentments
e nor to the spirit of veDgance, much less to ih'
desire for conquest or ambition.
, | see no path Of ambition open in blood.
struggle for triumphs over my eOuntrymen
There s no path Of ambition open fox me Il
: a divided country. Hence, whatever we ma.
y do must be the result of duty, of conviction
= of patriotic duty the duty we owe to OUT
selves, to our posterity, and to the friends 9
= constitutional liberty and self-governneu
= :, throughout the world. Loud apPiansel
Q Nv friends, can say no more. To discus
r these topics is the most painful duty OF M
Y life. Il ls with IL sad heart with grief ina
a have never before experienced, that | haV
e TO contemplate this fearful struggle; out
o believe in my conscience that it IS a duty "
owe to ourselves, aud our children, aud ou
God, to protect this government, aud that ia
!, from every assaiIant, be be who be ma.
: Tremendous aud prolonged applause.l
J Ou motion OF Mr. Hacker, the house &C
+, iourned.
" w