Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/222

THE WORLD^S FAMOUS ORATIONS ceives the sympathy and will receive the support of tens and hundreds of thousands of honest patriot men in the nonslaveholding States, who have hitherto maintained constitutional rights, and who respect their oaths, abide by compacts, and love justice. And while this Congress, this Senate, and this House of Kepresentatives are debating the constitutionality and the expediency of sece- ding from the Union, and while the perfidious authors of this mischief are showering down de- nunciations upon a large portion of the patriotic men of this country, those brave men are coolly and calmly voting what you call revolution — aye, sir, doing better than that: arming to de- fend it. They appealed to the Constitution, they appealed to justice, they appealed to fra- ternity, until the Constitution, justice, and fraternity were no longer listened to in the legis- lative halls of their country, and then, sir, they prepared for the arbitrament of the sword ; and now you see the glittering bayonet, and you hear the tramp of armed men from your capitol to the Rio Grande. It is a sight that gladdens the eyes and cheers the hearts of other millions ready to second them. Inasmuch, sir, as I have labored earnestly, honestly, sincerely, with these men to avert this necessity so long as I deemed it possible, and inasmuch as I heartily approve their present conduct of resistance, I deem it my duty to state their case to the Senate, to the country, and to the civilized world. 212