“Nor do we suppose that there will be any overt acts upon the part of Mr. Lincoln.  For one, I do not dread these overt acts.  I do not propose to wait for them.  Why, sir, the power of this Federal Government could be so exercised against the institution of slavery in the Southern States, as that, without an overt act, the institution would not last ten years.  We know that, sir; and seeing the storm which is approaching, although it may be seemingly in the distance, we are determined to seek our own safety and security before it shall burst upon us and overwhelm us with its fury, when we are not in a situation to defend ourselves.”

That is what the Senator said.

Mr. Iverson.  Yes; that is what I said.

Mr. Wade.  Well, then, you did not expect that Mr. Lincoln would commit any overt act against the Constitution—­that was not it—­you were not going to wait for that, but were going to proceed on your supposition that probably he might; and that is the sense of what I said before.

Well, Mr. President, I have disavowed all intention on the part of the Republican party to harm a hair of your heads anywhere.  We hold to no doctrine that can possibly work you an inconvenience.  We have been faithful to the execution of all the laws in which you have any interest, as stands confessed on this floor by your own party, and as is known to me without their confessions.  It is not, then, that Mr. Lincoln is expected to do any overt act by which you may be injured; you will not wait for any; but anticipating that the Government may work an injury, you say you will put an end to it, which means simply, that you intend either to rule or ruin this Government.  That is what your complaint comes to; nothing else.  We do not like your institution, you say.  Well, we never liked it any better than we do now.  You might as well have dissolved the Union at any other period as now, on that account, for we stand in relation to it precisely as we have ever stood; that is, repudiating it among ourselves as a matter of policy and morals, but nevertheless admitting that where it is out of our jurisdiction, we have no hold upon it, and no designs upon it.

Then, sir, as there is nothing in the platform on which Mr. Lincoln was elected of which you complain, I ask, is there anything in the character of the President-elect of which you ought to complain?  Has he not lived a blameless life?  Did he ever transgress any law?  Has he ever committed any violation of duty of which the most scrupulous can complain?  Why, then, your suspicions that he will?  I have shown that you have had the government all the time until, by some misfortune or maladministration, you brought it to the very verge of destruction, and the wisdom of the people had discovered that it was high time that the scepter should depart from you, and be placed in more competent hands; I say that this being so, you have no constitutional right to complain; especially when we disavow any intention so to make use of the victory we have won as to injure you at all.