Year: 1860

thal iaiu down oy the Constitution Of the Uni.


ted States. When we go sstray from that, we


plunge ourselves into difficulties. There are diff


ferent ways of constituting it, but. in my judg.


ment. it is the wisest Constitution ever vet or.


ganized, and am willing to stand by it, ask


for nothing more. There is another subject


about which ! ought to say something, 1t i:


claimed that you have a right to secede at youl


pleasure. / cannot find any warrant for doctrine


like that in the Constitution. In my Judgment


it would be subversive of constitutional obliga
| tions. If that is so, we have no Government


1t would reduce this Union to a mere conglom


Grafton of States, 10 be held together at the vii


of any captious member of it. The State o.


South Carolina is a small State; but, probably


if she was sunk by an earthquake, we should
| hardly ind it out, except by the unwonted har-


mony that would prevail in this Chamber.


say this from no i'll will. l think she is unwise


would be willing to let her go out if we could


do SO without an example fatal to ali govern
ment. But, standing here, my wishes must be
| controlled by constitutional duty. l don't see
how any man can contend that State can 60


ont Of the Government at pleasure. The ques-


ton was reviewed thirty years ago, and receiv-
ed verdict which it was supposed had set 1t at
rest forever. By Gen. jackson, and the men


who surrounded him. it was pronounced delu-


sion, and utterly disruptive Of all Governments.
.
Calhoun, even, held to the doctrine that we have


power to make war on State. You will find


this doctrine in his long letter to Gov. Hamilton.


/ acknowledge to the fullest extent the right of


revolution, if you so call it-a right to destroy
the Government and erect another on lis ruins


more in accordance with your wishes. But when
you undertake it you undertake 1t with this


provision. If you are successful, all is right


You are heroes. But you are defeated you are
rebels.


Tha, is the character of revolution; if success


ful all WE'LL if unsuccessful the government treats


them as traitors, He did not see cause TO ap-
prehend that any party intended to make war


on the seeding States; he only asserted the right
to do so if they saw fit. He would not, howev-
er, counsel or advise any party to do it. He


would be very tender with the rights of the peo-


pie who are about to break up the Government


under which they had deliberatly come to the


conclusion they could not live-but he appre-


hended that the position of the Republicans


would compel them to take austere ground


Although a State secedes, they cannot recognize


her right 10 90 out of the Union until she gains


The consent of the Union. The duty of the Chief


Magistrate is to execute the law in every part of
the Government. He cannot be released from


this obligation. Nothing in the Constitution of
the United States will warrant his saying that
single star has fallen. He is sworn not to


know that State has seeded, and to pay no
respect TO resolutions that declare that she has
done So In doing this it does not follow that
he must make war upon her, but he should ex-
ercise every Federal right Cver her, the most im-
portant of which is the collection of the reve-
nue.. There are many rights for the benefit of
the beople of u State that might be dispensed
with. If they do not want the mails carried
the President could abolish the Post Offices
Tbaxy a1a to ii
here, but they could do as they liked about that.
They have right to be perfectly represented
here, but if they choose 10 forego that privilege
it is not incumbent upon the President to force
them to send representatives here. But the
Chief Magistrate must collect the revenue pre-
cisely the same as in every other State. No
State can be released from that obligation, for
the Constitution demands it. What f1llows?-
If the seeding State shuts up her ports of en-
try, that ships cannot discharge their cargoes,
then ships will cease to go there; if the Govern
ment blockades her ports to collect revenue, she
will not have gained her independence by seces-
sion. If she will feel contented TO live under
this equirocal state of things, all will be well,
but she cannot do so. What will she do? She
must take the initiative and declare war upon
the United States. Then force must be met by
force, and she must hew out her independence
by violence and war. There was no other way
under the Constitution that be knew of if
State secede and declare wax He did not sup
pose that there was lawyer on the floor but who
will say that the act of levying war is treason
against the United States. That is the re
suit and we may as well look the matter in the
face. The Senator from Texas says that the
South viii force an ignominious treaty from us
in Faneuil Hall. To this he would answer,
We'll you may; we know your powers; We know
your bravery; we do not want to fight with you,
but. nevertheless, if you drive to the necessi-
ty we viii nse all our powers to maintaiA the
Government intact, in all its integrity. If we
are overthrown the Government will be sub
vered rs thousands of other Governments have
been. If you are the weakest then you must go
the wall. That is all there is about it. That
is the condition in which we stand. / can see
no power in the Constitution that will release
the Senator from this position. He did not take
State seeded. There was no such immunity
for him. There was no way, then, for State
to go out of the Union, but she could demand
equal justice under the Constitution, and indi-
cate her grievances while the flag of the nation
waved over her. There was no way for State |
to go cut of the Union, except by making war |
and vindicating by the force of arms her right |
to independence, and il she did this, he had |
propheSy in his mind. No man would regret |
more than himself the disruption of any portion |
Of the United States where the people think
themselves aggrieved,i if there was any honorable
release from it. But all this trouble is matter
of prejudice superiuduced by listening to the
of the Republican party. We are lock-
ed upon in the light of enemies; we are brand
ed as traitors; we are styled John Brown men;
but if the South will secede We will preserve
The Union and await the glorious future.


Mexico owes England eight millions of dol
lars. and asks of us protection, and she has all
he elements to build up glorious Republican
Empire. The Republican party will do any,
hing for the Union. The Senator from Illinois
md his colleague had said that the Black Re-
Jublicans were going for a reign of equality,
md would build up black Government. He
Wade) thought it would he one of the most
blessed things, if inducements could be made to
very btack man among US to find home in
Central America or Lower Mexico. Then adopt
he homestead policy, and we will have such
,owor, vested in native white men. as was new
n before seen. Men of every cline come among
IS, and we will build up nation of laboring
men. Then Canada will knock at our doors, ,
md we will have all the elements 10 build ,
Up republic more powerful and more just than
he world has ever dreamed Of he was Tor
the Union of the States. He would
acrifice everything to maintain it. The glorious
Id flag of ours never shall. by any act or word {
( his, cease to wave over this nation it is ,
But, if we will have il in the new renovated .
government of which he had spoken, the old
Durth of July will never be repealed, and the
Id flag Of l776 will float over this nation forev-
r. This capitol, gentlemen had said. would do j
Or Southern Republic. Sirs, il shall ever be n