JOHN J. CRITTENDON

Whereas, serious and alarming dissensions have arisen between the Northern and Southern States, concerning the rights and security of the rights of the slaveholding States, and especially their rights in the common territory of the United States; and whereas it is eminently desirable and proper that these dissensions, which now threaten the very existence of this Union, should be permanently quieted and settled by constitutional provisions, which shall do equal justice to all sections, and thereby restore to the people that peace and good will which ought to prevail between all the citizens of the United States: Therefore,…

It is an admitted fact that our Union, to some extent, has already been dismembered; and that further dismemberment is impending and threatened. It is a fact that the country is in danger. It is our duty, if we can, to provide a remedy for this.

[The South] has come to the conclusion that in case Lincoln should be elected ... she could not submit to the consequences, and therefore, to avoid her fate, will secede from the Union.

This war is not waged ... for any purpose of conquest or subjugation, nor purpose of overthrowing ... established institutions [referring to slavery] ... but to defend … the Constitution and to preserve the Union.

The retiring head of the minority wing of a divided party that had been repudiated at the polls.

Mr. President, the cause of this great discontent in the country, the cause of the evils which we now suffer and which we now fear, originates chiefly from questions growing out of the respective rights of the different States and the unfortunate subject of slavery.

This Union was established by great sacrifices. The Union is worthy of great sacrifices and great concessions for its maintenance. I trust there is not a senator here who is not willing to yield and to compromise much, in order to preserve the government and the Union.

I hope to find my country in the right: however, I will stand by her, right or wrong.

This war is not waged ... for any purpose of conquest or subjugation, nor purpose of overthrowing ... established institutions [referring to slavery] ... but to defend … the Constitution and to preserve the Union.

I hope to find my country in the right: however, I will stand by her, right or wrong.

The retiring head of the minority wing of a divided party that had been repudiated at the polls.

Whereas, serious and alarming dissensions have arisen between the Northern and Southern States, concerning the rights and security of the rights of the slaveholding States, and especially their rights in the common territory of the United States; and whereas it is eminently desirable and proper that these dissensions, which now threaten the very existence of this Union, should be permanently quieted and settled by constitutional provisions, which shall do equal justice to all sections, and thereby restore to the people that peace and good will which ought to prevail between all the citizens of the United States: Therefore,…

It is an admitted fact that our Union, to some extent, has already been dismembered; and that further dismemberment is impending and threatened. It is a fact that the country is in danger. It is our duty, if we can, to provide a remedy for this.

This Union was established by great sacrifices. The Union is worthy of great sacrifices and great concessions for its maintenance. I trust there is not a senator here who is not willing to yield and to compromise much, in order to preserve the government and the Union.

[The South] has come to the conclusion that in case Lincoln should be elected ... she could not submit to the consequences, and therefore, to avoid her fate, will secede from the Union.

Mr. President, the cause of this great discontent in the country, the cause of the evils which we now suffer and which we now fear, originates chiefly from questions growing out of the respective rights of the different States and the unfortunate subject of slavery.