This brings me, sir, to the question of compromises.  On the first day of this session, a Senator rose in his place and offered a resolution for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the evils that exist between the different sections, and to ascertain what can be done to settle this great difficulty.  That is the proposition substantially.  I tell the Senator that I know of no difficulty; and as to compromises, I had supposed that we were all agreed that the day of compromises was at an end.  The most solemn compromises we have ever made have been violated without a whereas.  Since I have had a seat in this body, one of considerable antiquity, that had stood for more than thirty years, was swept away from your statute-books.  When I stood here in the minority arguing against it; when I asked you to withhold your hand; when I told you it was a sacred compromise between the sections, and that when it was removed we should be brought face to face with all that sectional bitterness that has intervened; when I told you that it was a sacred compromise which no man should touch with his finger, what was your reply?  That it was a mere act of Congress—­nothing more, nothing less—­and that it could be swept away by the same majority that passed it.  That was true in point of fact, and true in point of law; but it showed the weakness of compromises.  Now, sir, I only speak for myself; and I say that, in view of the manner in which other compromises have been heretofore treated, I should hardly think any two of the Democratic party would look each other in the face and say “compromise” without a smile. (Laughter.) A compromise to be brought about by act of Congress, after the experience we have had, is absolutely ridiculous.

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I say, then, that so far as I am concerned, I will yield to no compromise.  I do not come here begging, either.  It would be an indignity to the people that I represent if I were to stand here parleying as to the rights of the party to which I belong.  We have won our right to the Chief Magistracy of this nation in the way that you have always won your predominance; and if you are as willing to do justice to others as to exact it from them, you would never raise an inquiry as to a committee for compromises.  Here I beg, barely for myself, to say one thing more.  Many of you stand in an attitude hostile to this Government; that is to say, you occupy an attitude where you threaten that, unless we do so and so, you will go out of this Union and destroy the Government.  I say to you for myself, that, in my private capacity, I never yielded to anything by way of threat, and in my public capacity I have no right to yield to any such thing; and therefore I would not entertain a proposition for any compromise, for, in my judgment, this long, chronic controversy that has existed between us must be met, and met upon the principles of the Constitution and laws, and met now.  I hope it may be adjusted to the satisfaction