Between 1868 and now—­a period of thirty-six years—­we have had eight ministries.  This would give an average life of four and a half years.  Of these eight governments five lasted over five years.  Broadly speaking, then, our executive governments have lasted about the length of your fixed term.  As for ministers swept away by a gust of passion, I can only recall the overthrow of Lord Palmerston in 1858 for being thought too subservient to France.  For my own part, I have always thought that by its free play, its comparative fluidity, its rapid flexibility of adaptation, our cabinet system has most to say for itself.

Whether democracy will make for peace, we all have yet to see.  So far democracy has done little in Europe to protect us against the turbid whirlpools of a military age.  When the evils of rival states, antagonistic races, territorial claims, and all the other formulas of international conflict are felt to be unbearable and the curse becomes too great to be any longer borne, a school of teachers will perhaps arise to pick up again the thread of the best writers and wisest rulers on the eve of the revolution.  Movement in this region of human things has not all been progressive.  If we survey the European courts from the end of the Seven Years’ War down to the French Revolution, we note the marked growth of a distinctly international and pacific spirit.  At no era in the world’s history can we find so many European statesmen after peace and the good government of which peace is the best ally.  That sentiment came to violent end when Napoleon arose to scourge the world.

ROBERT TOOMBS

ON RESIGNING FROM THE SENATE, 1861

(Abridged)

The success of the Abolitionists and their allies, under the name of the Republican party, has produced its logical results already.  They have for long years been sowing dragons’ teeth and have finally got a crop of armed men.  The Union, sir, is dissolved.  That is an accomplished fact in the path of this discussion that men may as well heed.  One of your confederates has already wisely, bravely, boldly confronted public danger, and she is only ahead of many of her sisters because of her greater facility for speedy action.  The greater majority of those sister States, under like circumstances, consider her cause as their cause; and I charge you in their name to-day:  “Touch not Saguntum."[37] It is not only their cause, but it is a cause which receives the sympathy and will receive the support of tens and hundreds of honest patriot men in the nonslaveholding States, who have hitherto maintained constitutional rights, and who respect their oaths, abide by compacts, and love justice.