LIFE OF GENERAL ROBERT HATTON.



Bnt in vain were his counsels given. In vain did he exhortthe
American people to forbearance and compromise. In vain did
he warn them, both North and South, "that while we obtained
our liberties in one revolution, we may lose them in another."
Reason was unthroned, and passion ruled the hour. The Bor-
der State Committee of Thirteen, the Committee of Thirty-
Three, Peace Commissioners, all had labored in vain. Ten of
the Southern States had already seceded. The 36th Congress
had adjourned, having accomplished nothing towards an ad-
justment of the difficulties and the restoration of peace. The
Union seemed in the very last throes of dissolution, and the
midnight of despair brooding over the nation. Under this
state of circumstances, Mr. Hatton returned to his constituents,
with a sad heart and fearful forebodings for the future. Already
had he caught the drift of public sentiment. With sorrow and
mortification, he discovered that the hearts, as well as the heads,
of the people were fast turning towards the great maelstrom of
secession. In his great speech at Lebanon, unpreserved, except
in the memories of those who heard it, he gave a faithful ac-
count of his stewardship, while in Congress; " and, also, a full
history of the disunionists, North and South, to prevent a com-
promise." He stated, " that the legislation of the 36th Con-
gress, (whilst it was not every thing he wanted,) placed slavery
upon higher ground than it had occupied for the previous
twelve years; that Congress had passed a resolution, to be in-
serted as a part of the Constitution, that the Federal Govern-
ment never should possess the power to interfere or meddle with
slavery in the States, and that it had organized three Territo-
ries, leaving the people of the South perfectly free to carry
their slave property therein, North, as well as South of the
line of 36:30, and be protected in the enjoyment of the same."
This speech was listened to with marked attention, and received
the hearty approval of the Union men; but they did not now con-
stitute all of his audience, much less, of his constituency. By
others it was hissed at, whilst others still, received it with signifi-
cant indifference. Well might he have exclaimed, " when the
rabble hisses, the patriot may tremble." It was now that Mr.
Hatton felt, that " the last link was broken." It was now that



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