Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-01-31

Mr.. EALLANDlG IAN. Mr.. Speak
er, indorcrd at the recent election within
the same district for which | still hold
seat on this floor, by majority four times
greater than ever before | speak to-day
in the name aud by the authority of the
people who, for SIX years, have intrusted
me with the Office of a representatives.
Loyal, in the true and highest sense of
the word, to the Constitution and the Uni.
on, they have proved themselves devoted
ly attached 10 aud worthy of the liberties
to secure which the Union and the Con-
st.tution were established. With candor
aud freedom, therefore, as their Represcu
tstive, and much plaiuness of Speech but
with the diguity and deceuey due to this
presence, propose to consider the state
of the Union to-day, and to inquire what
the duty j. of every public man and every
citizen il this the very crisis of the Great
Rcvo luton.
1t is now two years, sir, since Congress
assembled 5000 after the Presidential cleo
ton. A sectional aut-sllvery party had
then Just succeeded through the forms OF
the Constitution For the FIRST time
President had been chosen upon platform
OF avowed hostility to an institution pceu.
liar to nearly one half of the States Of the
Union, and who had himself proclaimed
that there was an irropressibe conflict be-
cause of that institution between the
Statef and that the Union could not en-
dure part slave and part free Con-
gross met, therefore, i'll the midst'sof the
profoul dest agitation, not here only but
throughout the entire South. kevolution
glared upon US, Repeated efforts for con
citation and compromise were attempted
in Congress and out of it. All were rec
jcctcd by the porty just coming into pow
err except only by the promise of the last
hours of the session, and that, TOO, against
the consent Of majority of that party
both in the Senate aud House; that Cen
grcss-not the Executive-should never
be authorized to abolish or interfere with
slavery in the States where it existed -
South Carolina scceded Georgia, Ala.
bama, Florida, Mississippi, LOUISIANA, and
Texas speedily followed. The Conteder-
ate Government was cstabli,hed. Tho
ether slave States held back. Virginia
demanded peace congress. The Com
mis,ioncrs met, and after some time,
agreed upon terms Of final adjustment.-
But neither in the Senate nor the House
were they allowed even respectful con-
sideration. The President eltct left his
home in February, and iourneyed towards
this capitol, jos'ing as he came, proclaim,
inc that the crisis was only artificial, and
that "nobody was hurt lie entered the
oity under cover of night and in disguise.
On the 18th of March he was naugurated,
surrounded by soldicry; and swearing to
support the Contribution of the United
States announced in the same breath that
the platform of his party should be the
law INTO him. From that moment all
hone of peaceable adjustment fed ut
for little while, either with unste efdlast
sincerity or premeditate deceit the pol
icy of peace was proclaimed, even to the
evacuation of Sumpter and the other red
eral forls and arsenals in the seeded
States. Why that policy was suddenly
abandoned time will fully disclose But
lust after the spring elections, and the Sc
Cret meeting in this city of the Governors
| of several northern and western states, a
aeet carrying large number OF men was was
sent down ostensibly to provision Fort
Sumpter. The authorities of South Gar
DINA eagerly accepted the challenge, ana 40,
| bomborded the fort into surrender, while
the tect fred not gun, but, just SO soon
as the flag was struck, bore away and re
turrel 10 the North. It wa Sunday, the