"The South has no right to demand any other compromise.

The Constitution was the bond of union; and it was the South that sought to change it by amendments, or to subvert it by force.

The Disunionists of the Southern States are traitors to their country, and must be, and will be, subdued." -- Mr.Breckinridge, replying to Mr.Sherman, believed that he truly represented the sentiment of Kentucky, and would submit the matter to the people of his State.

"If they should decide that the prosperity and peace of the country would be best promoted by an unnatural and horrible fraternal war, and should throw their own energies into the struggle," he would "acquiesce in sadness and tears, but would no longer be the representative of Kentucky in the American Senate." He characterized personal allusion which had been made to himself as ungenerous and unjust, and declared that he had "never uttered a word or cherished a thought that was false to the Constitution and Union." -- Mr.Browning of Illinois, the successor of Stephen A.Douglas in the Senate, closed the debate.

He spoke of "the indulgence shown to Mr.Breckinridge," and of his having used it to "assail the President vehemently, almost vindictively, while he had not a single word of condemnation for the atrocious conduct of the rebellious States." Was the senator from Kentucky here to vindicate them, and the hurl unceasing denunciations at the President, "who was never surpassed by any ruler in patriotism, honor, integrity, and devotion to the great cause of human rights ?" The resolution was adopted with only five dissenting votes,-- Breckinridge and Powell of Kentucky, Johnson and Polk of Missouri, and Trumbull of Illinois.