Year: 1861

ers and preservers OF the hepupllc, anu
utterly inconsistent with the principles, or
with the peace, the stability or the exist
ence even, of our Federal system. Sir,
there never was an hour, from the organi.
cation of this sectional party, when it was
not predicted by the wisest men and truest
patriots, and when it ought not to have
been known by every intelligent man in
the country, that it must sooner or later
precipitate revolution and the dissolution
Of the Union.


The President forgets already that, on the
4th of March, he declared that the plat
form of that party was ga law unto him."
by which he meant to be governed in his
administration; aud yet that platform an.
nounced that whereas there were two sep
arate and distinct kinds of labor and forms
of civilization in the two different sections
of the Union, yet that the entire national
domain, belonging in common to all the
States, should be taken, possessed, and
held by one section alone, and consecrated
to that kind of labor and form of civiliza-
ton alone which prevailed in that section
which by mere numerical superiority, had
chosen the President, and now has, and
for some years past has had, a majority in
the Senate, as from the beginning of the
Government it had also in the House,
He omits, too, to tell the country and the
world-for he speaks, and we all speak
now, to the world and to posterity-that
he himself and his prime minister the See
rotary of State, declared three years ago,
and have maintained ever since, that there
was an ''irrepressiblc conflict" between the
two sections of this Union that the Un-
ion could not endure part slave and part
free; and that the whole power and infu
ence of the Federal Government must
henceforth be exertcd to circumscribe and
hem in slavery within its existing limits.


And now, sir, how comes it that the
President has forgotten to remind us, also
that when the party thus committed to the
principle of deadly hate and hostility to
the slave institutions of the South, and the
men who had proclaimed the doctrine Of
the irrepressiblo conflict, and who, in the
dilemma or alternative of this conflict were
resolved that "the cotton and rice fields of
South Carolina, and the sugar plantations
of Louisiana, should ultimately be titled
by free labor" had obtained power and
p ace in the common Government of the
States, the South, except one State, chose
first to demand solemn constitutional guar.
antees for protection against the abuse Of
the tremendous power and patronage and
influence of the Federal Government, for
the purpose of securing the great end of
the sectional conflict, before resort to secess.
ion or revolution at all Did he not know
how could he be ignorant that at the
last session of Congress, every substantive
proposition for adjustment and compro-
mise, except that offered by the gentleman
from Illinois, Mr.. KELLoG-and we all
know how it was received-came from the
South Stop moment, and let US see.


The committee Of thirty three was NOV.
ed for in this House by a gentleman from
Virginia, the second day of the session,
and received the vote of every southern
Representative present, except only the
members from South Carolina, who de-
clined to vote. In the Senate, the COM
mittee of thirteen was proposed by SEN
ator from Kentucky, [Mr. PowELLI and
received the silent acquiesence of every
southern Senator present. The Critten-
den propositions, too, were submitted also
by another Senator from Kentucky, Mr..
CRITTENDEN,] now member of this
House; man venerable for his years,
loved for his virtues, distinguished for his
services, honored for his patriotism for
four and-forty years Senator, or in 9TH
er.public Office; devoted from the first hour
of his manhood to the Union ofthese States;
and who, though he himself proved his
courage fifty years ago, upon the battle
field against the foreign enemies of his
country, is now thank God, still for COM
promise at home, to-day. Fortunate in a
long and well spent life of public service
and private worth, he is unfortunate only
that he has survived Union and, fear "a
Constitution younger than himself.


The Border State propositions also were
projected by a gentleman from Maryland
not now a member of this House, and pre-
sented by gentleman from Tennessee
(Mr. Etheridge,) now the Clerk of thi;
House. And yet all these propositions