Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/148

THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS statement of the question. The South asks no discrimination in her favor. It is the North that is seeking to obtain discriminations against her and her people. And who leads in this en- deavor to control the action of the government for sectional objects? It is the gentleman him- self who brings this charge against the South. Sir, I deny the charge, and repel it. And I tell that gentleman and the House if these agita- tions are not to cease until the South shall quiet- ly and silently yield tc these demands of the North, it is useless to talk of any amicable settle- ment of the matters in controversy. If that is the basis you propose, we need say nothing further about agreement or adjustment — ^upon those terms we can never settle. The people of the South have as much right to occupy, en- joy, and colonize these Territories with their property as the people of the North have with theirs. This is the basis upon which I stand, and the principles upon which it rests are as immutable as right and justice. They are the principles of natural law, founded in natural justice, as recognized by the ablest publicists who have written upon the laws of nations and the rights pertaining to conquests. These ac- quisitions belong to the whole people of the United States, as conquerors. They hold them under the Constitution and the general govern- ment as common property in a corporate capae- ity. Under our Constitution the power of making 138