Year: 1860

In the U. 8. Senate Dec. Z 5th go.


At l'oclock, Mr.. POWELL'S Dem.,


Ky.) resolution was taken up.


Mr.. WADE (Rep, Ohio) said: At a


time like this, when there seems to be un-


usual excitement, 1 have very little efficacy
of any argument. But must say, when


in this very chamber, where we have all


raised our hands to Heaven and taken an


oath that we would sustain the Constition
of the United States, we hear it said BY


many Senators that we are on the eve of a
dissolution of this Union, and that your


Constitution is to be trampled under foot,
silence under such circumstances seems to


be akin to treason itself. We have listen


ed to complaints from the other side of this


chamber patiently, and with ardent desire


to ascertain what they were. But / con-


fess am unable to understand what it is


of which they complain. The party which


has lately elected the President, and is


prospectively coming into power, have


never held office under this Govern


ment, nor any individual of them. There


fore, it is manifest that that party have as


yet committed no act of which anybody


can complain. If any one has fears as to


to what may hereafter ensue. they are


mere apprehensions-notbing else. A


bare Suspicion fear-rising ont Of un-


warrantable prejudices. l wish to ascer-


tain in the outset whether we are right,


for l tell gentlemen here if they can con-


vince me that am holding any political


principle that is not warranted by the Con-
stitution under which we live, or trenches
on ther rights, they need not ask me to
compromise, for will redress their rights
myself when am wrong. No man need
approach me with threat that the Gov
eminent is 10 be destroyed, because l hope
that l have now, and ever shall have, that
sense of justice that when any man shows
me 1 am wrong, I shall be ready to right
without threat or compromise. Now, what
is it of which gentlemen will complain ?
When l left my home in the West to come
to this place all was calm, cheerful and con-
tented. / heard of no discomfort, AMI ap-
pretended there was no cause to interrupt
The harmonious cause Of legislation. l did
not learn, since We adjourned, any fact in
tervening that could at all disturb the pub
lie mind. l did not know that there had
been any encroachment Upon the rights of
any section or any individual. Therefore.
came here expecting we should have
session. 1t is very true that
the great Republican party, which has
been organized ever since you repealed the
Compromise, which gave you four
years ago full warning that its strength
would result as it has resulted, and l sup
pose any man might have supposed things
would have resulted in the same way-it
is true this party has carried the election;
but l donot suppose anything growing out
of the election is the cause of the present
excitement in the country. Now, who is
it that is complaing? Is it the minority
hat they have subjected to an oppressive
and aggressive Government. No such
Thing as that, Sir. We might suppose
hat "a years ago, when the leaders of that
glorious Revolution met in Philadelphia,
here TO draw up bill ofindictment against
/ weak king and his ministers, they bad
oeen at loss what they would set forth
As the cause of their complaints. But they
mad no difficulty in setting them forth, and
so that great article of impeachment will
90 down to posterity to justify them for
all they did. Let US, then, suppose the old
patriots had been the Ministers of the
Crown, CT members of the British Parlia-
nent of the dominant party that had ruled
Great Britain for 80 years previous. In
'tead of dignifying what they did as revo-
utionary, who would not have hanged eve
y man of them as traitors? They would
'sk what right have you, who have had


he Government in your own hands, who
nave been Ministers doing everything that
las been done, to set up here that you have
'een oppressed and aggrieved by the &C.


ion of that very Go7ernment?' 1t would
lave been au act of treason, and nothing
ess. Now, they who sit here the leaders
# this modern revolution, they are in
'osition to complain of the action of this
Government for years past! Why, they


ave had more than two-thirds of this Sem


tie for many years. You that complain,
epresent but little more than one quarter


f the free people OF the United States
ret, you have prevailed for ten years past
n the Cabinet of the President, and in the
Supreme Court of the United States, and
learly every department of the Govern
nent. Those who voted with you have
lictated the policy of the Government
S It not strange that those who occupy |
his position come here complaining that
heir rights have been stricken down?
But what is the cause of this great excite
nent which undoubtedly prevails in por-
ion of our country for, if the newspapers |


re to be credited, there is a reign of ter
or in the cities and large towns of the
south that looks very much like the reign |
# terror in Paris during the French Revo-
ution. We hear OF Northern men being
ent back, or scourged and tarred and feath-


red, and no inquiry made in regard to the


ause. l do not suppose the regular Gov
in times of excitement like this,
6 really responsible for these outbreaks of |
,assioD. If the States where these outra-
res prevail were foreign government, and
f they were really authorized by the con-
tituted authorities, everybody knows, if it
we're the strongest government in the world |
Ve would declare war in one day. But |