iled? What interest
of the South has been invaded? What justice has been denied? And what
claim founded in justice and right has been withheld? Can either of you
to-day name one governmental act of wrong, deliberately and purposely
done by the government of Washington, of which the South has a right to
complain? I challenge the answer. While, on the other hand, let me show
the facts (and believe me, gentlemen, I am not here, the advocate of
the North; but I am here the friend, the firm friend, and lover of the
South and her institutions, and for this reason I speak thus plainly and
faithfully, for yours, mine, and every other man's interest, the words
of truth and soberness), of which I wish you to judge, and I will only
state facts which are clear and undeniable, and which now stand as
records authentic in the history of our country. When we of the South
demanded the slave-trade, or the importation of Africans for the
cultivation of our lands, did they not yield the right for twenty years?
When we asked a three-fifths representation in Congress for our slaves,
was it not granted? When we asked and demanded the return of any
fugitive from justice, or the recovery of those persons owing labor or
allegiance, was it not incorporated in the Constitution, and again
ratified and strengthened by the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850? But do you
reply that in many instances they have violated this compact and have
not been faithful to their engagements? As individuals and local
communities they may have done so; but not by the sanction of
government; for that has always been true to Southern interests. Again,
gentlemen, look at another act; when we have asked that more territory
should be added, that we might spread the institution of slavery, have
they not yielded to our demands in giving us Louisiana, Florida and
Texas, out of which four States have been carved, and ample territory
for four more to be added in due time, if you, by this unwise and
impolitic act, do not destroy this hope, and perhaps by it lose all,
and have your last slave wrenched from you by stern military rule, as
South American and Mexican were; or by the vindictive decree of a
universal emancipation which may reasonably be expected to follow.

But, again, gentlemen, what have we to gain by this proposed change of
our relation to the general government? We have always had the control
of it, and can yet, if we remain in it, and are as united as we have
been. We ha