Year: 1860

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 OF
the Senator from Illinois on this side


Mr. Douglas, go with men of any party,
and men ef every party who will devote
themse Ives to the great work of rescuing
the country from the impending danger.


Mr.. President, for veal or for woe, | am
Union man. | am for the Union as
made by our fathers. ] am for the Con-,
stitutional Union as it is, and, in the spirit
Of the remark of the Senator from Caliior-
mia, yesterday, | expect to be of and for
the Union as it is to be. Whatever a
humble individual like myself can do, OF
suffer, or sacrifice in tho 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 select
committee, is movement in the right
direction thank the Senator for it, and
| shall checrlully vote for its adoption.


was somewhat surprised at the view
taken of that proposition by the distin-
guished Senator from Virginia, Mr. Ma
son. l. That honorable Senator said he
would vote for the resolution as a mere
matter of parliamentary courtesy, because
the message should be referred to a COM
mittee. He said that much, lest his vote
might be misunderstood by his conslitu-
ents, that they should be under the im=
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 dc
nothing on that subject. That honorable
Senator must know, that, in some way oil
other any adjustment that may be made
on this subject must, to some extent, be
connected with Congress. Congress mus
necessarily be connected with it, unles:
it be the question of secession, which be-


longs to the States only. fit 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 al
amendment TO the Consultation, ther
Congress must either adopt that amend


ment aud submit it for the approval O
the States, or else, when two thirds of TIE
States petition Congress, provision must
, be made for Convention of the States


so that, in any event, Congressional action
will be necessary. That is a 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 to my friends on this side Of the Cham
ber-I mean those from the far-of South
those with whom have SO long and cor
daily co-opcrated here; for whose tights
| zealously contendod long before met
them on this floor; whose cause has been
our cause in the North and whose cause
to some extent, in the late contest fol
President, fifteen hundred thousand
northern men embraced. 1t scarcely be-
comes me to undertake to judge of THEN
case, confess. | am, perhaps, incapable
of approaching their precise position and
feelings. acknowledge, as they are
aware, the justice of some of their COM
plants. | acknowledge that there mas
been kept up a war of aggression upon
their feelings, well calculated to ALLEVIATE
them from the people of the North; tina
in some instances their clear constitution
al rights have been vexatiously embarrass
ed, and at times defeated and furtker'
more, that the party about TO assume the
reins of Government, in the late contest
Iavowed doctrines which, in my Judgment
are inconsistent with the equality Of the
States; for so regard the doctrine of the
exclusion of the owner of slave from tn,
common Territories unless he leaves Iii
property behind him. But, Mr.. President
, is dissolution a remedy? Is that the bes
and wisest of all the alternatives left
, Has the time come TO embrace that rene.
} dy? think not. | said before, that
, was cot for nc 10 speak Of what concern


ed them and their interests but | say nj
more fatal step can be taken for the inter
ests of the great State which represen
here and, as | verify believe, for ever.
T other State in this Confederacy.


/ know, sir, it may be said-it was sal.
Yesterday by the Senator from Mississippi
Mr.. Brown, that war, and even death
are to be preferred to dish onor. and tina
n St,ta ra,aoininr in this IInion loss Inn,