Year: 1860

Il


vantage here. / feel it frequently. l
feel that it often places all of us here
at the mercy OF those who, not having
adopted the same Just sentiment, act
towards us as If they construed our
constrained forbearance into a want OF
courage. Our Northern people have
no reason to distrust the courage OF any
portion Of their fellow w-citizens. Phys
ical courage, with our Northern peo-
pie, is a sentiment so general, that |
must say that it is cheapened by its
universality. No man uspects anoth-
er to be a coward; for it would be an
exception to almost universal rule.
Who ever has seen the Northern peo-
pie called into the field of combat to
maintain their rights, and not known
that Drawer men never stepped upon
the quarterback, Drawer men never en-
tered the perilous breach? Who ever
heard of coward among them all,
where duty calls? Sir, we on this
side, if / understand the Senator from
Georgia, and the untold millions whom
we represent. have not the courage to
maintain our honor. Even il / thought
that


Mr.. Toombs-I refer the honorable
Senator to my speech. ] made no such
allegation against the people of the
North. | said that people who did
not maintain their obligations, and
was alluding especially to the Repub-
lican party,) people who would violate
their compacts. were not to be dreaded
when they threatened to march down
their millions upon us. The speech is
in print. There is no such allegation,
against the people of the North; but
the gentleman seem to consider them
selves the people of the North, and |
do not. That is the difference between
us.


Mr.. Wadc-lIerc is precisely what
the Senator did say. | may construe
it differently from him, perhaps. Let
us see what was his language:


Il doubt if there be five, ont of all
the members of the Republican party
on the floor, who will stand up here
to-day, and say they.~are willing.
either by State or Federal legislation,
or in any other manner, to uphold and
comply with this provision of the Con-
stitution. | do not believe there are
enough to meet Gods final requisi-
tion to save Sodom. No, sir; they
mock at constitutional obligations,
jeer ut oaths.''


\ little further on he said:


"They place great reliance on this
arm of Black Republican phalanx.
alluding to the slaves, suppose. :
When they get ready for MS brother
ly work, in the name and behalf of my
constituents | extend to them cor
dial invitation to come down and see
us. Bnt 'ir is due to candor,to say
that their reputation needs some
building up among my constituents.
We do not think those men the most
dangerous who are the most faithlcss
to their compacts; and, in very truth,
we have but small fear of men, even
as leaders OF untold millions. who have
not manhood enough to maintain and
defend their own honors."


l suppose that the leader was as
courageous at all events as those he
led. That was the construction that
| put upon it. supposed that it was
a declaration that we, and those whom
we represent, lacked that courage
which is necessary to maintain our
own honor when it is impeached. If
the gentleman says that was not


Mr.. Toombs-I call the Senator's
attention to this. said that those
persons who were faithless to their
compacts, who passed personal liberty
bills, were not to be dreaded; and there
is no other construction, L think, to
put on the language fairly. though the
Senator can give it what construction
he pleases.


Mr. Wade-I accept the gentleman S
construction of it. | put much larger
construction on it than that; but am
very glad to hear the Senator's cxpla-
nation. because | see that it is no par
ticular merit to us, nor to the gentle
men on that side, that we generally
have physical courage. We inherit it
from our heroic ancestors, who. when
occasion required it, dragged guilty
kings from their thrones, ,and deprived
them of their crowns, because they un-
dertook to trample upon the rights Of
the people; and we, their descendants.
| trust in God, are as ready to vindi-
cate, not only our honor, but our
rights, as were our ancestors at any
period.


| do not differ widely with the Sem
ator on one point. The mar. who would
be faithless to his obligations, and
would commil perjury, | think would
be very apt to be coward: but on
the subject of duelling l do not wish
to be misunderstood either here or by
our people at home. agree with
them, that it is a barbarious mode of
settling difficulties at best. and ought
to be totally unnecessary in the ad-
vanced stage of civilization to which
we have arrived in this country. The
restraints of civilized life with us are
generally sufficient, and they ought to
be always sufficient among us. to cb-
liSe every man to suppress violent ut
terances. and to keep within bounds OF
moderation and respectful considera-
tion of the. rights and feelings OF
others. The case may be quite differ
ent in semi-civilized communities,
where there are no such other re-
traints. do not know but the duel
may be necessary there. In any COM
munity, If man cannot be restrained
from offering insult by any more ele-
/