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either in America or in the British Parlia on the way he came out on this occasion. ment. His logic, keen as Saladin's scimetar, In the concluding part of his oration, he flashed upon the sight. Its incisive power reached a culmination — a climax of argu penetrated the armor of his adversary. He ment and oratory that was grand indeed. rallied his forces, and by his single arm I can only quote a sentence or two. " It has gallantly redeemed the day." been said by the senator from Tennessee It was a battle royal between giants. The (Mr. Grundy) to be a measure of peace! question to be solved was whether or not Yes, such peace as the wolf gives to the this was a Union of free, equal, sovereign lamb — the kite to the dove! Such peace States with the right to each to withdraw as Russia gives to Poland, or death to its from the same whenever in its judgment its victim! A peace, by extinguishing the po Constitutional rights were infringed upon, or litical existence of the State, by awing her a government bound together and established into an abandonment of the exercise of under a constitution in such a way as to be every power which constitutes her a sov indissoluble and indestructible. The whole ereign community. It is to South Carolina debate hinged largely upon one word, com a question of self-preservation; and I pro pact. Was the Union a compact between claim it, that, should this bill pass, and an sovereign States? attempt be made to enforce it, it will be re As is usual in such cases, both sides sisted, at every hazard — even that of death itself. Death is not the greatest calamity; claimed the victory for their champion. there are others still more terrible to the And even yet it is an unsettled question free and brave, and among them may be to whom the decision should be awarded. placed the loss of liberty and honor. There I have read and re-read the speeches of each recently and I find myself very much in the are thousands of her brave sons who, if condition of a petit jury after listening to need be, are prepared cheerfully to lay down two able lawyers,-— I am disposed to think their lives in defense of the State, and the both are right, When I read Mr. Webster's great principles of constitutional liberty for speech, it seems to me to be unanswerable; which she is contending. God forbid that this should become necessary! It never can be, and then when I read Mr. Calhoun's argu ment, I find myself coming to the conclusion unless this government is resolved to bring that he has right on his side. Dr. Charles the question to extremity, when her gallant Cotesworth Pinckney, who was present at the sons will stand prepared to perform the last time and heard both speeches, says that he duty — to die nobly." Says Mr. Stephens was impressed the same way on hearing "That speech was not answered then. It them — whichever he heard last, he thought has not been answered since, and, in my the best at the time. On sober second judgment, never will be, while truth has its thought, however, he decided in favor of legitimate influence and reason controls the Mr. Calhoun. Mr. Webster's argument judgment of men." The venerable John Randolph of Roanoke, then in the evening seems as clear as crystal. I may be mis taken, but Mr. Calhoun appears to me to of his days and with the shades of night make his points too fine,— to draw such nice gathering fast around him, who in the distinctions that it is hard to follow him, and years that had passed had himself felt the to that extent he is unsatisfactory. And yet keen strokes which Mr. Calhoun knew so I have somehow always been impressed well how to deal, was present and heard with the idea, that, if either got the best of this speech. Now, standing on the thresh the contest, it was Mr. Calhoun. Certainly old of another world,— with all spirit of re he had every reason to congratulate himself sentment and jealousy gone, — true to his