Year: 1861

been called the Monroe policy, and jealousy
inhibited the European powers from exercis-
ing dominion or establishing their authority
on this side Of the Atlantic But let disun-
ion take place-]et this great nation be sever
ed INTO several petty republics, and what will
become Of this policy Of our fathers? What
would become Of the Monroe doctrine, which
the government has 50 often pledged itself to
maintain, should this policy Of secession be
carried out Divide u into number Of
petty confederacies, and what will become Of
that doctrine2 England will seize on the
Island Of Cuba, the great gate to the Gulf
and the mouth Of the Mississippi, and it will
not be long before we find her setting up
claims for debt against Mexico, and making
the claim pretext to descend upon Mexican
territory and hold it as an indemnity. She
will do with her as She has done every where
else that an opportunity Or pretext has been
afforded her She will take advantage Of our
division and weakness, to extend her power
on this continent, and we cannot resist -
How will the South resist these cncroach-
ments She has no navy, and no army, and
if we reflect upon the proverbial greed for
power and territorial extension, that has
always characterized England, We behold
dangers which might we'll admonish the
South against 4 resort to any policy that in
wolves division and weakness


With such nations and such influences all
around the Southern States-hemmcd in by
such adversaries without the power Of ex-
panson-how long can Southern Confeder-
acy endure? How long can slavery exist
And put it to the gentleman to say whether
these suggestions are not more than fancy


Then, sir. there is another thing we must
look to. 1t is a very easy matter to pull down
a house, but difficult matter to build it up.
It is easy perhaps 70 break down thiS Govern
mcnt but sir when We break it down it will
not be % easy matter to build It np.


Again, gentlemen ask u, will we JOIN the
North o. will we join the South. | say
neither one nor the other We will stand up
on the old constitution. Let our dcstinies be
placed upon that; and not upon some miser-
able basis. which is liable to be changed to
accommodate every fancied necessity But,
sir, there are other perils to which this new
Government would be exposed, and | would
have the gentlemen reflect upon that


What sort Of Government will We get ?-
Look at what they are doing in Montgomery
What have they done ] had supposed, sir,
that standing i'll the midst Of a Convention
like this would recognize the great princi
pie that all power was derived from the reo-
pie had supposed sir, that was III the
midst Of a Conycntion-sincc the expression
Of the late election, requiring Us TO send back
to them for ratification Or rejection, whatever
action We take here-tlat recognizes the fact
that our people were determined not to sub
nit to any decision which should not have
their full and nndoubtod sanction How
does the matter stand i'll the seeded States
Alabama went out ofthe Union with popti-
lar majority against her action. The same
may DC said OF Mississippi: and it is recently
aseertaincd that Louisiana did the same thing


It seems To me that this Southern Confcd-
eraey is disposed to rcpudiate the principle
that the political power resides with the peo-
pie. Will Virginia agree to that WHAT
had the people 70 do with the choice Of the
Congress At Montgomery Nothing. II is
i kind Of self constituted body It was not
chosen BY the people II was called without
their sanction OF authority And yet it has
ordained government, and imposed it on
the people without their sanction Or author
ity 1t has appointed President and a
Vice President without any popular election
on ratification. a totally new government IS
formed, without the popular sanction, which
is imposing taxes, raising armies and levying
war, all. without any direct authority Or elec
tlon Of the people Could absolute despot-
ism do more And yet It i to such govern
ment as this that gentlemen wish to attach
us Gentlemen cry out against the tyranny Of
their own government and yet denounce as
because We hesitate to allow ourselves to be
thrust into the embrace Of such a military
dcspotiSm Whittier are We tending


What may we expect sir, in a Government
that acts in this mannar? What may We ex-
pect. sir, but strong military government
very nearly approaching military despotism.
| refer to these things merely to suggest the
idea Of the system Of Government which the
policy of these States foreshadow. And
these cotton States, thus premonishing Us Of
future oligarchy, or constitutional monarchy
OF military despotism, must always have the
balance ofpower in any Contederaey We shall
form with them.


/ would ask the Convention to bear with
me little while langer. regret that feel
myself unable to repay the courtesy which is