Year: 1861

enlorceu Dy snreatS, can we nave any as
surance that this is the last demand to be
made upon us Can we be certain that
success in this instance will not whet the
appetite for new concessions and new de-
manGs, and that similar threats of seces.
sion and revolution will not succeed ev-s
cry future Presidential election Will
the demand for new guarantees stop here
Shall we not be as liable to have our trade
paralyzed, our finances deranged, our ma
tional flag insulted, the public property
wrested from us and destroyed, and the
government itself overthrow four years
hence, if we amend the Constitution, as
we should be if we now stand firmly by
our principles and uphold the authority
OF the government? Ell s.sfa


The question before the country, lit
seems to me, has assumed gigantic pro-
portions. 1t has become something more
than an issue on the Slavery question,
growing out of the construction Of the
Constitution. The issue ROW before us
is, whether we have country, whether
or not We have nation. Is this gov
ernment, which Florida, with eighty thou
sand people can destroy by resolving her
self out of the Union, and seizing the
forts and arsenals within her borders p
That is the question presented us for our
decision. Can great and prosperous
nation of 33,000,Oo0 of people be des-
troyed by an act of secession Of some Of
its members? Florida and her sister
revolutionary States answer in the affirm
atiye. We deny it. They undertake to
act upon their professed belief, and Sc
cede, or as | term it, rebel against the
government. While they are in this at
titude of rebellion compromise is pre-
sented to us for adoption by which il is
proposed, not TO punish the rebellious
States, but to entice them back into the
Union. Who does not see that BY adopt
ing these compromise propositions we
taciuy recognize the right of these States
to secede Their adoption at this time
would completely demoralize the govern
ment and leave 1t in the power of any
State 10 destroy. If Florida and South
Carolina can secede because of the Slav-
cry question, what shall prevent Penn
sylvania from seeding because the gov
ernment declines TO adequately protect
her iron and coal interests, or New Eng
land because her manufactures, or New
ork because her commerce is not suffi-
ciently protected ? could agree TO no
compromise until the right to secede was
fully renounced, because il would be a
recognition of the right of one or more
States TO break up the government at
their will.


Iowa has peculiar interest in this
question Ii this right OF State reyolu-
ton be conceded, her geographical posi-
ton is such as TO place her completely in
the power of revolutionary States. Will
they agree that one State can secede and
take from her the mouth of the Misss-
sippi river, that another can take from her
the mouth of the Missouri, and that 9th
ers shall be permitted 10 deprive her of
the right OF passage TO the Atlantic ocean?
Ii she will not agree TO this il becomes
her people to insist that the Constitution
of the country shall be upheld, that the
laws Of the land shall be enforced, and
that this pretended right of State to
destroy our national existence shall be
sternly and emphatically rebuked.
know the people of Iowa we'll enough to
believe that appeals to their magnanimi-
ty, if not successful, will be kindly re-
ceiyed and considered, whilst appeals TO
their fears will pass by them as idle wind.
and that they will risk all things and eL-
dure all things in maintaining the honor
of the national flag. and in preserving the
national Union.


One word more and | close this letter,
already too long. At the commencement
OF the session, before revolution had as
sumed lis present gigantic proportions,
before any State had pretended to secede
except South Carolina. before the Folts
and Arsenals of the United States had
been captured, the flag of the country
fired upon, and the Capital of The Nation
threatened, | assented, rs member of
the Senatorial Committee Of Thirteen. E
three propositions which were 10 the fol-
lowing effect, viz:


First, That Congress should never be
permitted 10 intel fere with the domestic
institutions OF any State, or 10 abolish
slavery therein.


Second. That the several States should
be advised to review their Legislation in
regard TO persons of color and repeal or
modify all such laws as might conflict
with the Constitution of the United States
or with any OF the laws OF Congress made
IN pursuance thereof.


Third, 10 admit Kansas into the
Union under the Wyandoue Constitution.
and then 10 admit the remaining terri,
tory belonging 10 the United States AS
two States, one North and one S.,uih of
the parallel OF So deg. 30 min. with the
provision that these States might be sub
divided and new ones erected therefrum
whenever there should be sufficient pom
ulation for one Representative ia Con.
gress upon sixty thousand square miles.


These propositions. if adopted, would
have quieted the apprehensions of the
Southern people as 70 the intention Of The
people Of The Free States to Interfere wi,h
slavery in the States. and would finally
have disposed Of all the territory belong.
my TO the government. They would
have made Two very inconvenient States.