Year: 1860

among the citizens Of the States. Sir, |


extend to him the hand of fellowship, and


] meet him in the same spirit, and under


the same circumstances, for | have no


idea how my views will be received on


this side of the Chamber. In the spirit oil


the Senator from Illinois on this side


Mr.. Douglas, 20 with men of any party


and men cf every party who will devote


themselves to the great work Of rescuinl


the country from the impending danger.


MI. President, for veal or for woe, am


made by our fathers. ! am for the Cons


stitutional Union as il is, and, in the spirit


Of the remark of the Senator from Califor-


mia, yesterday, expect to be of and for


the Union as it is to be. Whatever q


humble individual like myself can DO, OF


suffer, or sacrifice in the cause of the


Union, shall be freely offered up.


But, sir, what can be done? think


the motion Of the Senator from Kentucky,


to refer SO much of the Presidents mes


sage as refers to this subject to a select


committee, is movement in the right
direction thank the Senator for it, and


shall cheerfully vote for its adoption.


was somewhat surprised at the view
taken OF that proposition by the distin-
guished Senator from Virginia, Mr.. Ma>
son. That honorable Senator said he
would vote for the resolution as mere
matter Of parliamentary courtesy, because


the message should be referred to n com.
mittce. lie said that much, lest lis vote
might be misunderstood by his constitu-
ents, that they should be under the inns
preston that he lad concluded that a
remedy for the present difficulties which


beset the country could by instituted.
while, in his judgment, Congress could do
nothing on that subject. That honorable
Senator must know, that, in some way or
other, any adjustment that may be made
on this subject must, to some extent. be
connected with Congress. Congress must
necessarily be connected with it, unless
1t be the question of secession, which be-
longs to the States only. If it be possible
to agree upon an adjustment in the shape
OF law, then Congress and the Executive
will perform the whole work. If the
Committee should find that it required an
amendment to the Constitution, then
Congress must either adopt that amend,
ment and submit it for the approval of
the States, or else, when two thirds of the
States petition Congress, provision must
be made for a Convention Of the States
so that, in any event, Congressional action
will be necessary. That is n reason why |
there should be no hesitation whatever in
considering the question here, and inquir>
ing, calmly, sobeily, and earnestly Of each
other what can. be done to rescue the
country.


Sir, have a word or two to say special,
ly 10 my friends on this side of the Cham
ber-l mean those from the far-off South
those with whom have So long and cor
daily co-operated here; for whose tights
zealously contended long before met
Them on this floor; whose cause has been
our cause in the North and whose cause.
10 some extent, in the late contest for
President, fifteen hundred thousand
1orthern men embraced. 1t scarcely be-
zones me 10 undertake to judge of their l
'ase. | confess. ] am, perhaps, incapable i
't approaching their precise position and |
ceilings. | acknowledge, as they are !
aware, the justice of some of their cont 4
1lalnts. l acknowledge that there has 7
'een kept up a war Of aggression upon {
heir feelings, well calculated to ALLEVIATE S
hem from the people of the North; that I
II some instances their clear constitution S
j rights have been vexatiously embarrass- |
ID, and at times defeated and further, J.
more, that the party about TO assume the f
ems OF Government, in the late contest X
vowed doctrines which, in my judgment. e
re inconsistent with the equality of the il
states; for so regard the doctrine of the "
EXCLUSION Of the owner of slave from the S
ommon Territories unless he leaves his n
property behind him. But, Mr. President. ST
dissolution a remedy! Is that the best o
nd wiSest of all the alternatives left ? G
las the time come to embrace that rene
y? ! think not. said before, that il "
las cot for ne to speak Of what concern
d them and their interests; but say no e
lore fatal step can be takea for the inter. 6,
sts of the great State which l represent b
ere and, as verify believe, for every T.
ther State in this Confederacy. b
/ know, sir, it may be said--it was said d
esterday by the Senator from Mississippi, e.
Mr. Brown, that war, and even death, W
'e to be preferred to dish onor. and that "