Page:The Collected Works of Theodore Parker volume 6.djvu/194

Rh Church; they were prophetic—ominous of what we see to-day. I. Here is the Gadsden Treaty which has been negotiated. How bad it is I cannot say ; only this. If I am rightly informed, a tract of 39,000,000 acres, larger than, all Virginia, is "re-annexed" to the slave soil which the "flag of our Union" already waves over. The whole, thing, when it is fairly understood by the public, I think will be seen to be a more iniquitous matter than this Nebraska wickedness. II. Then comes the Nebraska Bill, yet to be consummated. While we are sitting here in cold debate, it may be the measure has, passed. From the beginning I have never had any doubts that it would pass; if it could not be put through this session—as I thought it would—I felt sure that before this Congress goes out of office, Nebraska would be slave soil. You see what a majority there was in the Senate; you see what a majority there is in the House. I know there is an opposition—and most brilliantly conducted, too, by the few faithful men; but see this: the Administration has yet three years to run. There is an annual income of sixty millions of dollars. There are forty thousand offices to be disposed of—four thousand very valuable. And do you think that a Democratic Administration, with that amount of offices, of money and time, cannot buy up Northern doughfaces enough to carry any measure it pleases? I know better. Once I thought that Texas could not be annexed. It was done. I learned wisdom from that. I have taken my counsel of my fears. I have not seen any barrier on which the North would rally that we have come to yet. There are some things behind us. John Randolph said, years ago, "We will drive you from pillar to post, back, back, back." He has been as good as his word. We have been driven " back, back, back." But we camiot be driven much farther. There is a spot where we shall stop. I am afraid we have not come to it yet. I will say no more about it just now—because, not many weeks ago, I stood here and said a great deal. You have listened to me when I was feeble and hollow-voiced; I will not tax your patience now, for in this, as in