Year: 1859

Washington, Dec Il, lS5o.
Senator Crtonden, Of Kentucky made n pow
crful Union speech to tho conference of oppos


tions held in Washington last night. Unfortn-
nately, there was no reporter present to take it
down; the meeting being private; but Mr.. A. S


MITCHELL editor Of the ST. Louis Evening Ne,cs


being present. undertook to write it out. Tho
following tho result. and it is regarded by thaso
who heard 1t rs remarkable case of tho vivid
and almost literal reproduction Of speech from
memory. several hours after it's delivery


Mr.. Critendcn having been called on to give
his views Of tho present condition of public affairs
rose and said =;


GENrLEMEN-You have given me a broad sub
icct-one that shall not easily eover tonight
the present condition of our public affairs and our
duties in view thereof. My share in tho work
before you cannot DO great. am beyond the
point oil taking an active part in now political nf
fairs | think am now very much like one Of
those Chinese insaumehts-gongs, | think they arc
called which arc sounded at taverns TO bring YOU
to breakfast, dinner and supper. Laughter nm
sounded now merely to summon others to work.
Bdt it is to no such entertainment AS this call
YOU. There is much work for tho country to be-
d"ue. trust there aro many ofyou able and
dy to do it. The subject, of present doep interest
to all Of Us, is the condition Of national lcgis


ature--th, failure Of the House Of Representa-
tives to organize. This protracted delay presents
" spectacle that is painful to the country. 1t





that ny to this tmo .hoy have not been able to as
sumo even the form Of " legislative body. Tho


fact cannot meat the appreciation or respect of the
country. | do Mt pretend to say where the re
proach Of this state Of things lies. The position
Of tho al called American members in the House
has boen embarrassing, and they have earnestly
sought the line Of duty. IL does seem to mo that
knowing nothing Of the purposes OF the two lea
ding parties Of the House. thoy did wisely to
nominate their own man, one Of their own body,
and adhere to that nomination. They have dunc
50. 1t is n question whether they shall not con-
tinue to do 10 to tho ond of tho contest. 1t may
be matter Of feeling with mo more than Of judg-
ment, but feel that ground that is good to stand
will do to fall on, Applause.


Bat beg that no one will tako this as my advice
in the matter give none. But all things must
have an end, and 50 mast even this contest for tho
Speakcrship. When or how We cannot yet see,
but it will end. Perhaps tho plurality rule may
be adopted though it seems that majority that
refuses To elect Speaker may refuse also To ndopt
that iue. But after all tho contcstment come to
end; and if before doing So the opposition party
resolve to ccahe casting u united vote, then every
one must take care of himself in leaving his pre-
sent ground But here again, must sny. feel
that would like TO be the last one to leave APP
plause, But, looking away from this contest, md
abroad over the country, we find much to distress
every true patriot in the present state of the pub
lie mind. | confess that never boloro in my lifo
did feel such anxiety for the fate Of our govern
ment have never believed it possible that
could bring my mind to the deliberate purpose Of
pulling down this great fabric. do not think
TINT any of US have reached that point and though
we should think So l am constrained to think
that when we come to the attempt we should turn
in horror from the work. For, think of it. what
is the deed proposedf 1t is one too great too
vast, for any mind fully to comprehend. hardly
dare think Of it. If we could overturn the Allie
ghany Mountains it would shock all this land MS
by an earthquake but to oyerturn this gosern-
meRt it would be mountains upon mountains fnll-
ing It would send shock throughout the civil.
lied world. No calamity that fell upon tho
nations of the earth would spread such horror
among men the falling ruins of this republic
among men. Deep sensation. Why, sirs, when
the Roman empire fell it was after centuries of
vice had sapped its strength and prepared the
world for its fate Corruption had undermined
its foundations. 1t sunk slowly, and the process
of dissolution was visible centuries before it fell


But yet, when il went down at last. it plunged
the world into the darkness Of barbarsm
for ages. But greater disaster than that
would be the fall OF this Republic, now in it's
youth and vigor. | cannot believe that we are
on the verge of such u mighty calamity. ]
trust aye, aud believe. that God in his providence
will watch over and preserve my country. He has
done it heretofore, and he knows how to do it. But
for his providence il would have fallen long since
There has been evil enough to destroy anything.
Evil is always springing up. The world would
have been more thnn filled with it but that it has
been overruled and turned TO good And 90 it will
be with theevils that threaten my country. Look
abroad, and see what, under Gods providence, this
nation has grown TO be. From Q small people, how
quickly has it become the greatest Power in the
world. Why, slrs since its citizen Of to-day has
been growing his six feet in height, the nation has
grown to statue that 10 fearful. Was ever the
III rth W.. n oJ
prosperous, so happy? Happy save in one
thing, and that an evil that need not be. There is
an earnest complaint of aggression, of threats of
nsurrection on the borders Of some of our States
and John Browns deeds at Harper's Ferry have
shown that this 10 no unreal grievance. And whence
does it come? We find certain deluded people in
the Northern State that indulge in moaning
slavery, and they intersperse their lamentations
with psalms and prayers. and appeals to their con-
sciences which are hurt, they say, by our sins,
What folly Do not these people know that the
Lord does not hold them accountable for our sins?
These deluded people at the North makiug
much mischief But let US remember that there
will be mischief makers found in every coun-
try. Let MS hope that this popular delusion
will be temporary, will pass away, and sound
and fraternal spirit return. Why may i. not 1t
existed for fifty years Let try to have it resior
ed-let US try to make our Northern brethercn
love us asain. To this end let US be patient and
forbearing-let US indulge in no ordinations, no
harsh language. cannot believe that the great
heart Of the people, North or South. has upon il
the guilty stain of treachery to this Union.
cannot believe that the people Of the North have
regard for US. and no love for this government,
for which their fathers and our fathers fought;
and hail the recent great meetings which have
been held thero signals Of that returning love
for US. Let us receive them as such, and with a
grateful spirit. Let US encourage them, and we
will vet find that the earnest and faithful spirit of
our N ,rthern brothers will be our surest protec-
tinn==lur decense anail ST NIL aggression. do not