Year: 1860




[The Senate having under consideration the
resolution of Senator Powell of Kentucky, refer
ring $50 much of the Presidents message as
relates to the present agitated and distracted con
diton of the country, to Committee Of thirteeH
mcmbers"--]


Mr.. BIGLER said:


/ took the floor, Mr.. President, on YES
tcrday afternoon, for the purpose of making
q very few remarks on the present unhappy
condition Of the country. | intended then
only to say what was necessary to indicate
my own position on the great question
which is agitating the people of this coun-
try. That is my only purpose this morn
ing. | shall reserve for some subsequent
occasion, when perhaps this whole subject
will be more fully before us, the discussion
of the main question which it necessarily
presents.


Sir, it was too truly remarked by the
Senator from Mississippi, Mr.. Davis, yes
terday, that we have fallen on evil times.
1t is too sadly apparent that this great
Republic of ours is in imminent danger of
dissolution. The whole political, social,
and commercial system is seriously dis
turbed, and shows unmistakable evidence
Of depression and distress. Commerce,
trade, and finances are disturbed. The
banks have ceas ed to redeem their notes
in specie, and the Treasury of the United
States is unable to meet the current de-
mands upon it. Indeed, sir, general
gloom seems to have sprendover the entire
country. Why is all this ? Have the ele-
ments OF prosperity, progress, and thrift
in the country become suddenly exhaust
ed? No, sir; these were never more
abundant than now. What is Il, then =?
Why, sir disguise it as you may, this rad
picture is the result of political panic.
Ialmost shrink from enunciating the pre-
else cause, obvious as | think it is to every
Senator, and to every intelligent ruan in
the land. The startling cause is, that men
are beginning 10 doubt tine integrity and





after State has taken steps on the subject
of Withdrawing from this Confcderacy.
We hear of Legislatures being assembled,
conventions of the people being ordered,
all to consider the grave question whether
our relations are to continue or not. 1t
is not singular, then, that we hare seen
manifestations OF deep concern and dis
tress in the land


Sir, this is q startling picture; but it
seems to me it is the part Of patriotism
and duty to took it fairly in tho face. Ny
own impressions first were, that the less
that was said here the better. have
changed that Impression. ] believe that
the times require that the public men, the
selected men of the nation here, should
come up to this great question. Let the
people understand what view is taken
of it here. For one, | am prepared TO
separate myself as far as possible from past
prejudices and party allegiance, and cons
slider the condition of the country in a
spirit of devotion to its interests most
heartily commend the noble position of
the Senator from Connecticut, Mr.. Dix
on without understanding the desires
of the men OF his own party, as he has
told us, regardless Of his connection with
them, of his party prejudices-ior | be-
lieve he is friend OF the President elect
he has ccme boldly forward and taken
his position for the Union, for the Union