The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-02-06
Speech of Hon. John Sherman OF
Ohio, On the State of the Union,
II = 10 : , y DN AsE1E 't-7R0 Z y I
January l8, 1861.

Speech OF Hon. I0hn ShSEmA an OF
Ohio, On the State of the Union,
IN THE HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIYE
January l8, 1861.
The House being in Committee of the
Whole on the State of the Union
Mr.. Sherman said
Mr. Chairman have listened with re-
spect and attention to all that has fallen
from my colleague Mr.. Pendleton Much
that he has said | approve !; but it seems to
me that instead of appealing to this side OF
the House for conciliation, kindness and
forbearance, he should appeal to those
around him, who alone provoke the excite
ment now prevailing in this country.
He says the army should not be used to
coerce State If by this he means that the
army should not be used to conquer State,
to compel her to be represented, to main
tain the courts or post Offices within her
limits, to burn her cities or desolate her
fields, he is entirely correct. do not be-
lieve that any Administration will pursue
such policy. But, sir, we have Govern
ment, great Government TO maintain. 1t
is supreme within the powers delegated to
it, and it is provided with ample authority
to protect itself against foreign or domestic
enemies. 1t has the exclusive right to col
lect duties on imports. 1t is the exclusive
owner of forts, arsenals, naVy-yards, vessels,
and munitions of war. 1t has flag the
symbol of its nationality, the emblem of its
power and determination to protect all those
who may of right gather under its folds.
It is onr duty, as the representatives of this
Government, to maintain and defend it in
the exercise of its just powers. Has it
trespassed upon the rights of single indi-
vidual ? Does any citizen of South Carroll
ma come here and say that this Govern
ment has done him wrong? No man can
say that. The Government for years has
been in the hands of tie Democratic party,
controlled chiefly by Southern citizens.
They have controlled its power and patron
age and now, when the Republican party
is about to assume the reins, they seek to
subvert it. They organize revolution under
the name of secession.
What have they done? The people Of
the State of South Carolina have seized the
custom-bouse in the city OF Charleston
they have closed that port, and prevented
the United States from the exercise of their
conceded exclusive power of collecting tie
revenue from imports. They have taken,
by force money from the Treasury of the
United States, and applied it to their own
use. They have seized the arms and muni-
tions of war of the United States, deposited
in arsenals within the conceded exclusive
jurisdiction of the United States, and turn
ed them against the Army Of the United
States They have seized the revenue and
the property of the United States. They
have seized loyal citizen of the aited
States engaged III the discharge of his duty,
imprisoned him, and threatened his life, for
the exercise of plain constitutional duty,
charging him with treason against the State
of South Carolina. They have taken citi-
zens of different States, rightfully and peace
fully attending to their business, insulted
them, inflicted the most degrading indigni-
ties upon them, and then forcibly expelled
them. They have raised military force of
artillery, cavalry, and infantry, with the
avowed purpose of expelling, or, to use their
own chosen word, coereing, the United
States from the forts, arsenals, and other
property still in the possession of the United
States. When Major Anderson, for the
safety Of his small force, removed it from
Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, they seized
Fort Moultrie, Fort Pinckney and other
property.
More recently they fred upon vessel in
the employ of the United States, conveying
reinforcenents and provisions to our troops.
In this act of war, they used the cannon
and munitions OF war paid for out of our
Treasury. Forts ceded by the State of
South Carolina to the United States were
used to expel a vessel of the United States
in the pursuit of its lawful commerce. -
When the "star-spangled banner" was
hoisted to her masthead, as a sign of ma
tionality, appealing to all the patriotic re-
collections which cluster around it-your
flag, my flag, the flag of Virginia, of Ohio,
of Kentucky of Massachusetts, the flag of
every State and of the whole Union the
rustic of whose folds has so often excited
the pride and patriotic ardor of Americans
! in every part OF the habitable globe-that
| flag, invoked for the protection of an un-
/ armed vessel, carrying provisions to our
/ own troops, was fired upon and dishonored.
An act of war by citizens of the United
States, and therefore an act of treason, was
applauded by officers and citizens of that
! State, and perhaps by those of other States.
1t was not an act of war against you aud me
merely, but against every loyal and patri-
otic citizen of this great Republic. Up to
that moment we had done nothing. This
Government has been more forbearing,
more quiet, more complacent, under this
series of offenses, than any Government in
sttuted since the foundation of govern
ments.
And now, Mr.. Chairman, the same law
less violence is breaking out in other parts
of the country. Forts, arsenals navy yards
and vessels of war, entrusted without de-
fense to the patriotism of the people, have
upon one pretext or another, been seized
and are now held by lawless force. Upor
the recommendation of members of Con
gress Fort Pulaski was seized by troops
under an order from the Governor of Geor
gia. l suppose there is not member upoI
the other side who will declare that it woulC
be given up peacefully to the troops of th
United States if it were demanded by ou
national authorities. More recently still
the navy yard at Pensacola was taken b,
an armed force, under the order of the Gov
ernor of Florida. have here telegraph
dispatch sent to this Government;
"JANUARY II, l861.-CommisSone ap
pointed by the Governor of Florida, with
e regiment of armed men at the gate, demand
, ed the surrender of this navy yard, haviui
previously taken possession Of one of til
= magazines. ! surrendered the place ali
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