Year: 1860

every drop of blood; but to maintain that
| Union the constitution must be maintained
| in its spirit, in its letter, and in its mean
! ing. The principle Of Justice and equal
ity must prevail in this country OF ti-sre
| can be no Union. Sir, as much SIS lcve
| this Union, as much as am devoted to it
and no one is more than myself
| would not ask to have this Union main
tanned by the violation of the Constitution
itself.


| If the Northern States of this Confede-
racy could not have equal rights with the
Southern States in the Territories, aid
equal Justice under all circumstances.
would they remain in the Union? If We
want to preserve it let us be just, do right
deal fairly by every portion Of this conn-
try, and not hold that the territory belongs
to the North, to free labor or to fhe South
to slave labor; for it is not so. It belongs
equally to all all of them have an equal
right in it; and I would submit to no
wrongs from the South. Being a North
ern man [ would submit to nothing that
1nfringed the rights of the Northern
States in territories of this Union. No
man would be more prompt to resent a
wrong, an insult, or an indignity, or in
justice attemptedto to be perpetrated on the
Northern States by the South, than N.Y.
self; and while submit to no wrong from
that quarter, [ would ask them to submit
to none from us.


[ intend to be just by all to deal right
ly with the whole country; to know no
section but the Constitution and the Union
and the constitution can discriminate be-
tween the sections Of this country. and
pretend to say that the common territory
Of all shall be given exclusively to free la
Dor. The citizens Of the States have equal
rights in the Territory while it remains in
the Territorial condition; and when the
people who inhabit it come to form
State Constitution, then it is their right to
be admitted into the Union as they shall
decide.


I did pot intend, sir, to say anything
on this Territorial question, and [ should
not have said anything on this occasion
but that heard very indistinctly some
question which was propounded by the
honorable Senator from Ohio, to which
the honorable Senator from Minnesota rose
to respond, and | desired to know what
the question was, SO that [ too might res
pond. L say again to that Senator that
the Democracy Of the Il orth differ in opin-
ion upon this question | regret it. I can
agree with him and our old friend Doug
las-for they both are good democrats
upon all essential questions, this only ac-
cepted. They will both labor to prevent
the election of a sectional man to the
Presidency, and will | have no doubt, do
all in their power to secure the election
Of the nominees of the Charleston Conven-
ton. Both love this Union; they stand
upon the principle of right, as they un-
derstand it, but | must differ from them
| as to the power of the people in a Terrific
| ry, while in a Territorial condition; but,
as | said before, they will, I have no doubt
! labor faithfully with the Democracy to
| secure the election Of the nominees OF the
| Charleston Convention.


Now, sir, hope the Senator from Ohio
is satisfied with my position as to the Ter
ritories, and also with the fact that [ rec
ognize him as q good Democrat, because I
know hiu1 to be so, and I know he will
not dispute my Democracy because I
happen to differ in opinion With him up
on a matter that [ regard as essential to
the peace and harmony of this country.


l will say before take my seat, that
this question was made in our late elec-
| ton in Oregon and I took an active inte-
rest In it; and it required the labor OF
sound Democrats there to secure the cleo


ton OF a reliable national man to repre-


sent that State in this Congress- The


question was plainly and fairly submit


ted to the people Of Oregon, and in every


speech that the member who represents


that State, in the other branch of Con


gress made before the people, he took the
ground that the citizens of all the States


had equal rights in the Territories, and


that the North had no right to infringe


the rights of the South, or the South to in
fringe the rights of the North.


l canvassed nearly every county in the


State in that ca npain, and made myself


understood everywhere. I made the


point clearly that, in my judgment, all the


States Of this Union have an equal right


and all their citizens had an equal inter


est in the Territories-rights that coule


not nor must not be violated. The De


mocracy of that State triumphed and by
their vote at the ballot boz, endorsed thai
great principle-one that must be main


tanned, one that cannot be violated fol


on that great principle, the equality O


the States in everything that belongs tc
| the General Government, the happiness
of this country depends.


/ Mr.. BROWN. Mr.. President rise te


express the deep qualification feel a


having listened to the speech Of the Sena


tor from Oregon. There is in it more
4 conservatism, more of genuine nationality
| more of that broad sentiment which GOV.


ers this whole country than in any speech
I have heard pronounced in the Senate
i during the present session and / perhaps