"I do not comprehend the policy of a Southern Senator who would
seek to change the whole form of our Government, and substitute
Federal force for State obligation and authority. Do we want a
new Government that is to overthrow the old? Do we wish to erect
a central Colossus, wielding at discretion the military arm, and
exercising military force over the people and the States? This
is not the Union to which we were invited; and so carefully was
this guarded that, when our fathers provided for using force to
put down insurrection, they required that the fact of the
insurrection should be communicated by the authorities of the
State before the President could interpose. When it was proposed
to give to Congress power to execute the laws against a
delinquent State, it was refused on the ground that that would
be making war on the States; and, though I know the good purpose
of my honorable friend from Missouri is only to give protection
to constitutional rights, I fear his proposition is to rear a
monster, which will break the feeble chain provided, and destroy
rights it was intended to guard. That military Government which
he is about to institute, by passing into hostile hands, becomes
a weapon for his destruction, not for his protection. All
dangers which we may be called upon to confront as independent
communities are light, in my estimation, compared with that
which would hang over us if this Federal Government had such
physical force; if its character was changed from a
representative agent of States to a central Government, with a
military power to be used at discretion against the States.
Pages:
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135