Year: 1861

domestic insurrections, should be seized and
punished; and il was in the power Of every State
Government to punish that intent according to
the constitutional definition of treason. He was
the last man in the world who would interfere
with the institution Of the press, but the man who
went about the country circulating documents
with intent Of exciting domestic insurrection
against the law-any man who would thus raise
his suicidal arm against the Southern bosom, and
raise his fratrcidal hand against his brothers
heart-he would have him duly and common
surately punished. If there were one thing more
than another that distinguished this country
above all others, il was that the free voting
people OF the country made the laws, and il was
therefore the more incumbent upon all to obey
them freely. He had said enough to show that
If any law of any State had been passed intend
ing to impede Southern men in the recapture Of
men owing them service or labor, or in the
recovery of his property. such law was totally
void, and it most futile (probably) at
tempt for any Legislature to lift up its puny arm
against the strong, gigantic of the glorious
Constitution, which declares that al its laws,
made in pursuance of that instrument, must be
regarded as paramount to all State laws and
State Constitutions.


lie now came to another question. 1t had
been sedulousy and zealously attempted by a
certain set OF politicians to induce the people of
the South to believe that the party calling itself
the Republican party, when IL should have at
tanned the command of the Congress ofthe United
States, when il shall have the command of the
Executive and the judiciary, that one of its first
acts would be, by some means never explained
to seize the power of the Federal Government
and then, interfering with the Slave States, seize
and deprive them of their property. The news
papers Of the South had zealously fostcred that
idea, and kept tho Southern mind excited upon
this bugbcM Of the rrodominaney of Black Re
publicanism-not from anything that the party
had ever avowed, not from any principles ever
put forth by them. but from the rawlings of the
Abolition party greatly magnihed. The Consti
tuition of the United States gave to the Congress
and the President no more power over Slavery In
the States where IL exists than II gave them power
TO legslatc over the people Of England, the
affairs Of Ireland or Scotland. This they had not





supposed that they would attempt to ovorlcap all
constitutional bosnds. II any of the States
should continue In their secession from such vain
and improbable causes as these. IL was plain and
obvious that the future historian. looking at the
events of these times, would come 10 the conclu-
sion that the great experiment which this CONT.
nent was intended to demonstrate, that man was
capasle of self government, had entirely failed
that II failed from the insanity Of the people, ex
hibtcd in this question now before the country.


lie would ask the Southern men TO explain
how il was that they could possibly fear that the
Republican party, or any other party, might. If
such were possible, entertain so foolish and un
constitutional a design as that they attributed,
or how they could suppose such design could be
accomplished They might begin by saying,
whenever they got majority of two thirds in
both branches of Congress that they would then
propose to the people of the States alteration
OF the Constitution, by which Congress would
have power over this question Of slavery. But
there never could be that change in the political
system which would permit Of this. He would
proceed to show how this plausible, feasible and
wicked design could never be accomplished.
How would they get fifteen States of the Union
to give two-thirds of majority ia both branches
to agree to the changer IL was plain before this
could be done that there must be forty-fve States
in the Union. But they could not get two thirds
or a majority TO agree to this change in the Con
stitution as long as the fifteen States remained
aud stood firm in defence of their rights. There
must be 80 free States, all agreeing to change the
whole structure of the Constitution. There were
now eighteen free States, and 10 these they must
add twelve more before they could effect the
change He would appeal, therefore, to every
man on the floor if he believed that such a state
of things can ever exist in this Repuolic' Where
would they get the additional free States from
! ANY of the present Territories No man
believes such n thing possible. And yet the
very first step which they said would be certain
to be taken towards that which utterly i'm
possible was not within the territorial domains
to accomplish. But they also said that other
Territories would be acquired for that purpose,
and they sravcy stated in the halls Of legislation
that if only successful they would take to them
selves the Territories and distribute them among
themselves.


They looked forward to the possession of
Mexico, Nicaragua, and Brazil. But all this was
an idle dream. 1t was idle to suppose that the
Republicans could DO wat had been charged
against them Their rights in their slave prop
erty were safe, and would not be iniringed by
any interference on the part of the North.
Then, what did they want7 Would they, upon
idle rumor or unfounded suspicion, break up the
only great republic that existed on the earth
This country of Mexico which they intended to
carve out had been struggling since lclO to
initiate the example OF the United States, and
having elected our Presidents from time to time,
as they had hemselves-although since lc24 no
President has sat undisturbeG-would they at
tempt to crush out that spirit of freedom which
had drawn its inspiration from their example
But let them take retrospect of the beautiful
route over which they had been obliged to travel
He would address himself 20 sensible men, u
men of sane mind. 1t is said that New Mexico
should be given over 10 the South. They did
rot claim the right Of occupying with slave labor
any portion of the territory of the United States
except that lying soeth of thrty-si4 degree.
thirty minutes. lie said to them, take all tha
beyond-wouId that stisfy theml


They had, after sixty years. come to the opn


ion that it was the duty of this Government Il
protect Slavery. Now, he could assure then
I -. IL tfrs