Year: 1860

settle the difficulty. l tell that Senator know


OF no difficulty. AS to compromise, suppos


ed we had agreed that the day of compromise


was at an end. The most solemn we have


made have been violated, and where are they


Since have had a seat in this Senate one o.


considerable antiquity was swept away from


our statute book and when in the minority


stood up here and asked you to withhold your


hands-that it was sacred compact between
| sections-what was the cry? That it was moth.


ing but an act of Congress, and could be swept


away by the same majority that passed it.


That was true, in fact, and true in law, and il
| showed the weakness OF compromises Now,


l only speak for myself, that in view of the


manner in which compromises have been trea-


ted, should think hardly any two members


OF the Democratic party could look each other
| in the face and say compromise without a


smile. A compromise to be brought about af-
| ter the experience We have had, is absolutely


ridiculous. What are we to compromise I
| am one of those who went with zeal to main


tain the principles of the Republican party.


In constitutional way we met and nominated


our condidates. You did the same. The is
| sue was made and we went to the people with
| it, and, although usually in the minority, usu-
| ally beaten, the justice of our principles and
the bad administration of the Government con-
vinced the people that change ought to be
brought about, and after trying your utmost,


and we our utmost, We beat you. We beat


you on the painest and most palpable issue
ever presented to the American people, and
| one they understood the best-and now, when


We come to the capital, we tell you that our
candidates must be inaugurated and admins


ter the Government precisely as their prede-
cessoTs have done. 1t would be humiliating
and dishonorable to us if we listened to a COM
promise by which we should lay aside the YER
dict OF the people. When it comes to that,
you have no Government, but anarchy inter-
venes and civil war may follow, and all the e.
wills that human Imagination can raise may be
consequent upon such course that. The
American people would lose the sheet-anchor
of Liberty, whenever it is denied on this floor
that majority fairly given shall rule. know
not what others may do, but tell you that with
that verdict Of the people in my pocket, and
standing on the platform on which these cam
didates were elected, would suffer any thing
before l would compromise in any way.
deem it no case where We have a right to ex-
tend courtesy or generosity. The absolute
right, the most sacred that free people can
bestow upon any man, is their verdict that
gives him full title to the Office he holds. II
we cannot stand there, we cannot stand any
where; and, my friends, any other verdict
would be as fatal to you as to us. You say
he came from one section of the country.
What OF that l appeal to gentlemen on the
other side to say if they believed if the result
of the contest had been the other way the Re-
pubiicans would have threatened disunion?
claim that if Mr.. Lincoln is an honest man, he
will administer the Constitution faithfully.
Therefore, L say to you, as far as l am con-
cerned, l will yield TO no compromise. l do
not come here begging one. 1t would be an
indignity to the people represent if l was to
stand here recreant to the rights of my party. |
We have won our right to the Chief Magistra |
cy, and If you were as willing to do justice to |
others as to exact it from them, you would |
ric tn for
you stand in attitude hostile to this Gov |
ernment when you threaten, unless we do SO |
and so, you will 60 out of this Union, and des- |
troy the Government. / say, in my private |
capacity, never yield to anything by way of |
threats. In my public capacity have no right
to yield. Therefore, [ would not entertain |
for compromise. This long, chro-
mic controversy must be met upon the princi-
Piles Of the Constitution. i hope it may be
adjusted, but know of no way except that
laid down by the Constitution of the United
States. When we go astray from that, we
plunge ourselves into difficulties. There are
different ways of constituting it, but in my
Judgment, it is the wisest Constitution ever
y ct organized, and / am willing to stand by
it. l ask for nothing more.


There is another subject about which ought
to say something. 1t is claimed that you have
2 right to secede at your pleasure. cannot
ind any warrant for doctrine like that in the





subversive of constitutional obligations. If
that is so, We have no Government. 1t would
reduce this Union to mere conglomeration
Of States, to be held together at the will of
my captious member of it. The State of South
Carolina is a small State; but, probably, if she
vas sunk by an earthquake, We should hardly
ind it out, except by the unwonted harmony
hat would prevail in this Chamber. i say
his from no i'll will. think she is unwse.
would be willing to let her go out if we could
10 so without an example fatal to all govern
nent. But, standing here, my wishes must be I
by constitutional duty. don't see
low any man can contend that State can GO
,ut OF the Government at pleasure. The ques-
ion was reviewed thirty years ago, and re- | {
eived verdict which it was supposed had
et it at rest forever. By Gen. Jackson, and
he men who surrounded him, it was pro-
ounced delusiOn, and utterly disruptive of
II Governments. Yet. here it is to- day, q
looming and fresh. Mr.. Calhoun even held |
o the doctrine that we have power to make {
-ar on State. You will find this doctrine in
is long letter to Gov. Hamilton. l acknowl-
dge to the fullest extent the right of revolu- '
ion. it You SO call it-a right to destroy the G
Government and erect another on its ruins
lore in accordance with your wishes. But 9
'hen you undertake it, you undertake it with 3
his provision: If you are successful, all is
ight; you are heroes but if you are defeat s
d, you are rebels! That is the character Of ?
if successful, all well if unsuc- a
essful, the Government treats them trail t
ors do not see cause to apprehend that t
ny party intends to make war on the seeding C
tates; l only assert the right to do so if they t
&c 1t. would not, however, counsel or adj C
Use any party to do it. would be very ten t
er with the rights of the people who were a.
out to break up the Government under which a
,ey had deliberately come to the conclusion P
,cy could not live--but apprehend that the r