Year: 1862

ty for new principles Of government amidst
the wild chimeras and bewildering specula-
tons which lie beyond the limits of its unerr-
ing light. Ii these acts are necessary for
public safety, let the Constitution itself be
changed under Its own provisions; but deny
the necessity. l am no apologist for slavery.
know of no argument in its favor. If the
abolition of slavery was within your power,
and should contribute to restore and give sta
bility to the Government without adding to
the inhumanity of war, or affecting recognized
rights of loyal citizens, l would give the ap-
proval of my own heart and judgment TO the
emancipation and colonization of every slave
of every rebel master. But while the Gov
eminent maintains its present position, the
only one it can maintain with safety-t.a The
Constitution Is supreme and embraces erery
.Sdfe-I cannot and viii not consent TO an act
in defiance of its authority. | have, sir, ever
denied the right of secession. In my judg-
ment, South Carolina and the other States
are States of the Union, and the Constitution
is still the same over all.


But, sir, independent of the constitutional
objection, would this effort at emancipation be
wise az a measure of policy? Would it pro-
mote the interests of mankind? Has not the
the recent advance of your army established
the fact that far beyond the loyal border
States in the very heart of the rebellion,
there is an ardent devotion to the Union; that
when your flag was unfurled, even in the re-
mote regions of Alabama. the young men
gathered around it, and the old men shed
tears of Joy at beholding again the old flag of
their fathers? The rebellion was produced
by the dishonest pretense that our Govern
ment was preparing to abolish slavery, and
this act of power would confirm the falsehood
and ALLEVIATE from us almost every man in the
South. 1t would destroy the hopes of restor-
ing the Union, and of building up again on
the loyal sentiment of the South the old fra
ternal relations This would become not a
war for the Union, but war of subjugation.
protest against this, sir, while there Is the
shadow of hope that the Union can be re-
stored. | believe it to be the ardent wish and
purpose of conservative and loyal men every
where to subduc this rebellion, and restore
the Union under the old Constitution, without
modification or change; and that when Provi-
dence shall have given such success TO our
arms as that the power of the Government
cannot be questioned, we should, in a spirit OF
noble magnanimity, hold out the olive branch
of peace and reconciliation, not to the arch
/ tnChi tiiC vi thSii
infamous crimes-but to the deluded masses.
Such spirit, sir, may re-unite the nation, and
restore again our old prosperity-the Consti-
tuition unimpaired, and the Government only
stronger, because the rage and bitterness of
war had only tested but not overthrown the
moderation and wisdom of the people.


With such views, | protest, sir, against a
! policy which will render, not the subjuSation
of the South, but the restoration of the Union
impossible. With me, sir, its restoration rises
infinitely above every other consideration. |
see in it the only hope for us or for our chill
dren. l see in its destruction an anarchy that
will lead to despotism. II your emancipation
policy did not induce servile insurrection,
how would it aid you? If it did, who does
not see that the war would become not war
for the Union, but on both sides a war of
fierce deadly determination? But, sir, shall
we excite by our policy war in the South,
in which not men armed to the teeth, but
feeble old age and prattling childhood and de-
fenceless women would be the victims? HUI
manity and justice and policy forbid it. 1t is
traitors in arms that we will crush. As your
Army advances, vast numbers of slaves come
within your lines; these you will not surrend
to disloyal masters. Would your proclama-
tions, unless they excited insurrection, accom-
plished any more? If they did, are the free
States prepared to open their doors for the
millions of this unfortunate population driven
from the South?


1Concluded tomorrow