We intend, Mr. President, to go out peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must; but I do not believe, with the Senator from New Hampshire, that there is going to be any war.  If five or eight States go out, they will necessarily draw all the other Southern States after them.  That is a consequence that nothing can prevent.  If five or eight States go out of this Union, I should like to see the man that would propose a declaration of war against them, or attempt to force them into obedience to the Federal Government at the point of the bayonet or the sword.

Sir, there has been a good deal of vaporing on this subject.  A great many threats have been thrown out.  I have heard them on this floor, and upon the floor of the other House of Congress; but I have also perceived this:  they come from those who would be the very last men to attempt to put their threats into execution.  Men talk sometimes about their eighteen million who are to whip us; and yet we have heard of cases in which just such men had suffered themselves to be switched in the face, and trembled like sheep-stealing dogs, expecting to be shot every minute.  These threats generally come from men who would be the last to execute them.  Some of these Northern editors talk about whipping the Southern States like spaniels.  Brave words; but I venture to assert none of those men would ever volunteer to command an army to be sent down South to coerce us into obedience to Federal power. * * *

But, sir, I apprehend that when we go out and form our confederacy—­as I think and hope we shall do very shortly—­the Northern States, or the Federal Government, will see its true policy to be to let us go in peace and make treaties of commerce and amity with us, from which they will derive more advantages than from any attempt to coerce us.  They cannot succeed in coercing us.  If they allow us to form our government without difficulty, we shall be very willing to look upon them as a favored nation and give them all the advantages of commercial and amicable treaties.  I have no doubt that both of us—­certainly the Southern States—­would live better, more happily, more prosperously, and with greater friendship, than we live now in this Union.

Sir, disguise the fact as you will, there is an enmity between the Northern and Southern people that is deep and enduring, and you never can eradicate it—­never!  Look at the spectacle exhibited on this floor.  How is it?  There are the Republican Northern Senators upon that side.  Here are the Southern Senators on this side.  How much social intercourse is there between us?  You sit upon your side, silent and gloomy; we sit upon ours with knit brows and portentous scowls.  Yesterday I observed that there was not a solitary man on that side of the Chamber came over here even to extend the civilities and courtesies of life; nor did any of us go over there.  Here are two hostile bodies on this floor; and it is but a type of the feeling that exists between the two sections.  We are enemies as much as if we were hostile States.  I believe that the Northern people hate the South worse than ever the English people hated France; and I can tell my brethren over there that there is no love lost upon the part of the South.