Year: 1861

complain, when we all disayow any intention


TO make use Of that victory we have won, a
to injurc you at all. This brings me here u
the question Of compromise. The first day
7 OF the session, Senator rises and offers
resolution TO inquire into the evils bctweer
J different sections, and TO ascertain wha,
could be done 10 settle the difficulty. tel


that Senator know of no difficulty. As tc
compromise, supposed we had agreed that
the day Of compromises was at an end.


The most solemn we have made have beer
violated, and where are they? Since have
had scat in this Senate one Of considerable
antiquity was swept away from our statute
book; and when in the minority I stood ur
here and asked you to withhold your hands
that il was sacred compact between sec.
tions-whet was the cry? Thatit 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 it showed the weakness Of compromises.
Now, 1 only speak for myself, that in view
of the manner in which compromises have
been treated, / should think hardly any two
members Of the Democratic party could look
each other in the face and say compromise
without smile. Acomprcmise to be brought
about after the experience we have had, is
absolutely ridiculous. What are we to com
promise? am one of those who went with
zeal to maintain the principles of the Re
publican party. In a constitutional way we
met and nominated our candidates. You
did the same The issue was made and we
went to tho people with it, and, although
usually in the minority, usually beaten, the
justice Of our principles and the bad admin
istration of the Government convinced 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 plainest and most palpable issue ever
presented to the American people, and one
they understood the best-and now, when
we come to the capitol, we tell you that our
candidates must be inaugurated and admin
lister the Government precisely as their pred
ecessors have done. 1t would be humiliating
and dishonorable to us if we listened to a
compromise by which we should lay aside
the verdict of the people. When it comes
to that, you have no Govsapnent, but an
archy intervenes and civil war may follow,
and all the evils that human imagination
can raise may be consequent upon such a
course as that. The American people would
lose the sheet-anchor Of Liberty, whenever
m fs denied on this Hoor that majority fair
ly given shall rule. I know not what Others
may do. but I tell you that with that verdict
of the peoplelin my pocket, and standing on
the platform on (which these candidates were
elected, I would suffer anything before
would compromise in any way. 1 deem it
no case where we have a right to extend
courtesy or generosity. The absolute right,


the most sacred that free people can be-
stow upen any man, is their verdict that
gives him full title to the Office he holds.


If we cannot stand there we cannot stand
anywhere; 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 that2 Mr.. Wade appealed to
gentlemen on the other side to say if they
believed if the result Of the contest had been
the other way the Republicans would have
threatened disunion? He claimed that II
MIR. Lincoln was an honest man, he would
administer the Constitution faithfully.


Therefore say to you, as far as am con-
cerned, l will yield to no compromise. l dc
not come here begging one 1t would be an
indignity to the people represent ifI was
to stand here recreant to the rights of my
party. We have won our right to the Chie1
Magistracy; and if you were as willing to dc
justice to others as to exact it from them,
you would never rise to ask for compromise.
Many of you stand in an attitude hostile To
this Government when you threaten, unless
we do so and SO, you will go out of this
Union and destroy the Government say,
in my private capacity never yield to any
thing by way of threats In my public ca
paclty nave no IienI W yiciu. 1ucrtiUTt,
/ would not entertain proposition for COM
promise. This long, chronic controversy
must be put upon the principles of the Con
stitution. 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 il
the wisest Constitution ever yet organized
and am willing to stand by it. ask fol
nothing more. There is another subject a
bout which 1 ought to say something. 1t il


claimed that you have right to secede a


you q pleasure. cannot fndany warrant TO
doctrine like that in the Constitution. Ii
! my Judgement II would be subversive ofcon
stitutional obligations. If that is SO, W
, have no Government. 1t would reduce thi
! Union TO mere conglomeration Of States
= to hold together at the will of any captiou
member of it. The State Of South Carolin'
is small State; but, probably, if she wa
a sunk by an earthquake, We hardly find
. out. except by the unwonted harmony tina
. would nrevial in this Chamber i saw thi