Year: 1861

only salu Wnat he would do, be


has also said what he would not do; and l


do not believe there can be two interference


about that, Some candidates only say what


they will do; but MIR. Lincoln has not left


you to infer what we will not do. That is


the man we have elected and you can find


in his record that he will not disturb Slavery


anywhere. He is against any such thing


and if he where not, he has family connec.


tions, social ties, and kindred, that would


prevent him. These are higher garantiee


than parchment. | would rather have the
fervent, etfectual prayer Of righteous man
tor this Union, than all you can write on


parchment to save it. l thought when got


up that would keep my voice from rising,


because, when mems voices rise, sometimes
their feelings get the better Of them. I
thought would talk as if l was talking to
my brothers, making net arguments for
suggestions. No man felt more deeply i'm .
pressed with the beautiful effort of the Sena.
tor from New York, (Mr. Seward) than did.
1t came from the right quarter to give peace.
But the very next speech that was made af-
tel it was the bitterest have heard in the
Senate. That was the response. say this
with the utmost kindness to my friend from
Missouri (Mr. Polk). who made that speech.
1t was very bitter. The effort of the Senator
from New York did not seem to have arpeas


q hi Of oil ,al>
York went great way. Why, Mr.. Presi-
dent, it is something for party in the ma
Jority to agree to couciliate in the present
aspect of this country. I will do anything
that can do that will not demoralize the
Government. l am afraid of that-absolute-
ly afraid of it. l am afraid to do anything
that will bring reproach upon the Govern
ment love. The Senator from New York
said, that to threats he would offer ooneilia-
ton. That | would do. He said that to
exactions he would grant concessions. That
am not quite certain that would do. lie
said that to hostile array he would give the
right hand of brotherhood Tha. is good.
have faith that the millennium will come; but
| do not think it is here now. That would
be good doctrine then. No, Sir. the milen-
mum has not come. I know the reading
but suppose it was wrongly rendered. l
could hardly ever interpret the Scripture
there where it said that generation should
see it; bat I suppose the translators render
ed it wrongly; they did not quite under-
stand the original tongue. But, Sir, the mil


lennium did not come while Judas Iscariot
lived, nor will it come while others like him
tester and poster the society in which they
race. 1t will not come while such men are
here. They will be disposed of before that
time comes. The Senator from Kentucky
believes with me in that res peet. l shall not
utter sentiment that he will not agree with.
If do, will take it back Immediately. lie
and | have lived too long together for mo to
say anything disrespectful to him. | never
had any unAasiness in reference to him but
about one thing, and that was about my
children. was not afraid that they would
love him any better than did but I was
afraid that they would love him better than
they did me, Laughter, and that is the
case with all Rhode Island. There is no
Prince of Wales or his mother, or any other
crowned head of Europe that Rhode Islam
defs would travel SO far to see as the Sena-
tor from Kentucky. 1t is so now, and has
been SO for the last quarter of century.


have read over these resolutions, ard |
have said all that intend to say about max
ing The proposed amendment perpetual. /
hope the Senator from Kentucky will run out
in his own mind the idea that I gave him
about that, and will feel just as l do in re-
gard to it. The series of resolutions intro
duced by Edmund Randolph into the Con-
vention, declared that there ought to be a
Government which could be changed by
majority less than the whole. That was one
of the cardinal principles laid down when
this Government was framed. Now, it is
proposed to make shis proposition so that it
cannot be changed. The Senator from Ken
lucky loves the Constitution as we'll as I do.
lie was brought up under its teachings. He
has illustrated it in every speech he has
made, and his whole life has illustrated it,
Guarantees of Slavery are proposed as if the
Republican party Intended to invade the
right of Shareholders. Why, Sir. they wo'd
not have corporaps guard with them in
either House of Congress if they attempted
it. 1t would not be as large as the Tyler par
ty, and that consisted of but five. I made
some memoranda when Senators were speak
ing, for l though ! would answer some of
their arguments in detail; but never did
write a sheet of paper over with notes but it
bothered me, for never can read them. 1
am sorry it has got to be the fashion to take
them at all except by the reporters. Now,
want tie Senator from Kentucky to turn his
mind and his energies to some method of
these difficulties that shall not de-
stroy the Government. am willing to say
that any interference with Slavery in the
States by the General Government is not
amsng the powers granted to Congress, and
ought not to be granted or exercised for all
time. do not believe the General Govern
ernment has any such power now. I never
did believe it; and if you want to make it