Year: 1860

unjust var upon the feelings Of the citi
zens of the southern States. Separate
them entirely, so that they can have no
connection which it, can in no way lnhu'
ence the question of where slavery shall
be, or where it shall 60, or whether il.
shall be carried into onr new Territories,
or even from the question of the admiS-
sion of a State, whether it be free or
slave.


How can that be done? Sir, do not
wish to be understood as presenting any
view to which | shall adhere with tenac-
iiy. i throw out general views for what
they are worth. am so convinced of the
wisdom and the true policy CT maintain,
ing this Confederacy entire, that l will
resort TO any honorable exredient, any
reasonable measure to save it. | think
the people of the North would 20 very
much further than their representatives
on the Republican sido believe, in order
to accomplish this desirable end. il need
be. sir, let the territory be dibided from
ocean to ocean north of which slavery
shall not 60, south of which il shall not
be disturb ed. Let us have deep gulf or
high wall between the North and the
South on this subject. If that will not
allay the demon of discord, then, instead
of the present provision that Congress
may admit States into the Union--which
alcne will induce certain class of people
to 5e anxious to elect anti-slayery mcn,
in order thtt they may keep out slave
State-l say, let the Constitution describe
State, fix its population and other ele-
ments, and provide for its admission by a
proclamation of the President upon the
establishment OF the facts Then, sir, the
North would be separated from this Ques-
ton the North and the South, on this
disturbing element, would be entirely free
Of each other; while all the other rela~
tions would remain, and this great Gov
ernmontg go on performing its functions.
We should retain its power, It's proves,
its dignity, and its influence in the world.
Perhaps less radical changes may do If
so, all the better


The President of the United States, with
patriotic desire 10 settle this quest on, has
suggested what he supposed would be suf-
ficient for the exigency. | must say and
| say it with regret, that do not think
his remedies will meet the case. I think
the disease is deeper and wider than the
re medy-in the first place, the points pre-.
sented by him embrace the ccntroverted
poiats over which parties have struggled
for years, the very source over which the
bitter struggle for ascendancy was made
in the late presidential contest. And
can see no reason toanticpate their adop>
ton BY the dominant party in the North.
Nor do think they would reach the scat
of the disease if they were adopted -
for my belief is, this war of elimination
and reclimination is the seat of this dis
case; and if you want permanent peace,
you must strike at the seat Of the disease
you must seperate tue non>slayeholding
States from the question Of slavery, in
order that the question may have no rest
ing place in the northern mind.


Honorable Senators yesterday said the
hearts Of men rlust be changed. The
hearts of men ought to be changed. trust
in Gods name that many of them will be
changed; but that is no work for politi.
clans or Senators. II will be idle to hope
for an escape in that way. You must sep
arate the agitating ause, il you expect
those men who are bitterly anti.s!a ,ery to
drop the subject. | am of those who
thiuk they ought to have done 50 long ago
! have never been in a political struggle
in my life that the rights ofthe South
were not leading issue and never fallen
that | did not fall by the weight of a
southern issue.


But Mr.. Presid ent, do not know that
/ can usefully pursue this subject further
desire to say, however, in reference to
my own State, notwithstanding its vote
for the Republican candidate at the late
election, that it is a conservative and jus,
State that our Southern friends Gun re
ly with confidence upon the future action
of that State. If they ask redress in the
form in which have indicated, or any
other in which the people can act separ'
ate from other con siderations, have no
doubt that they would give all the guar
antees which any reasonable southern mar
would demand.


1t may be said that, in minority, as
am, am not warranted thus to speak, fol
l should not be regarded as authority but
sir, every intelligent man of my State
knows tina. ether potent Influences thar
the mere distinctive principles OF the Re