Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-08-03
GenaressionaI Nstus
EXTRA SESSION.
WAsnINoroN, July ~.
SENATE.

lie said he was unwilling to let the Senate ad
tourn without Saying something OF the present
state OF affairs On our return here we nno
ourselves 10 the midst OF civil war; whlch
seams TO be progressive, with not much bope
of a speedy termination. 1t seemed to him
that the Government had reached one OF three
periods which all governments must pass
through FIRST, They have TO pass through
the ordeal Of establishing their independence.
This Government passed that 10 the war oil
the Revolutioh Next. after having obtained
their independence, and taken o position
among nations, then they must maintan
themselves against foreign Powers and ioes.-
The Government passed that ordeal 10 1872.
We are now iu the midst Of the third ordeal.
The struggle now is whether the Government
is capable OF maintaining its existence against
traitors to the Constitution oi the country
This is the problem now before our people,
He trusted, aud had perfect confidence that
the Government would successfully pass this
ordeal: but the time had arrived when the en-
ergies of the people must be put forth, and
there must be unity and concert OF action
1t bad been argued that it we proceed we VIII
be great danger Of q Dictatorship, aud that
the character aud genius oil our Government
would be wholly changed. 1t is argued that
this is an attempt TO change the nature and
red to Mr.. Breckinrdge's speech. We agree
ia an effort to change the Government. but
differ as to the psrties trying to make the
charge. 1t is o struggle now whether the
people shall rule, aud have Government
based on the intelligence, integrity. aud purI.
ty Of the people. There is an effort being
mnde, and it is the result ofa long contempla
ted plan, to overthrow the institutions OF this
Government.
lie referred again TO MIR. Brecknridge's
speech, when he said that Washington car
red the country through the Revolution with
out the suspension OF the habeas corpus out
President Lincoln could not carry on the Gov.
ernmen. three months without It. de cited
Q case during the Revoluton when forty clt-
gems were taken and imprisoned eight months,
mud the soldiers refused to deliver them up on
u writ of habeas corpus, and the Legislature
Uf Penusylvaua inde unified the officers for
the suspension Of the writ. He referred to
the case of General Jackson, at New Orleans,
as q PRECEDENT for establishing martial law in
case of an emergency. Had Gen. Jackson
iefused 10 put the city under martial law, ana
thus lost the Government, be ought TO have
lost bis head. The President was obliged to
uct as be did to save the Government and
this is very unproptious time to assall the
Government, when armed bands oil traitors
are actually 10 the field trying to overthrow
it, The increase OF the army and navy was
justified by the great Plea Ul necessity. But
how does the case stand now, when we are
called on TO suppoat the Government Who
will fud fault with the President for doing
lust what Congress ought to do? Why not
come forward and support the Government? !?
No! The fact is too apparent that we had
enemies TO the Government here last winter,
and in my opinion we have enemies to the
Government here pow-that We have got
those here who make long pathetic speeches IN
favor OF compromise. Bot the Senator trom
California, Mr.. Latham, showed most conclu-
srely that the thing the traitors most feared
last year was compromise. and great effort
was nude to get out Of Congress before the
compromise could be made.
The argument has been made that the Free
States would get the power, and then amend
the Constitution so as to destroy the lnstitu
ticn Of slavery; hence the South must not
wait till the fatal hour came. Then eight
States withdrew, aud we reached u point
where the Free Ststes had the ma ority and
the power TO amend the Constitution SO as to
overthrow the institution Of slavery. Now
what was done then? Why we passed an
amendment to the Constitution that no
amendment should be made TO the CoDsttu'
tion that would give any power to leglsiate on
the subject OF slavery. Talk about compro'
mise How car we get any guarantee more
binding than that? This was done when the
Free States had the power, and it places sla'
very completely beyond the control OF Con
press What more can be askedR Why
don't the States who talk OF compromise come
forward aud accept this offer? But no in
stead Of It, they pass ordinances to violate the
Constitution ana take the States out. Wba'
else did Congress do when the Free States
had the power? They came forward anc
passed the territorial bills, aud none Of theu
had any slavery prohibltioD, and declared
that no laws shall be passed by Territoria
Legislatures impsiring thee rights Of private
property. Can there be anything more con
clusiveG Now, take this amendment to th,
Constitution and the Territorial bills, aut
what else is left OF the slavery question? Ye
the Union must be broken up! Some ar
sincere in the com promise, but others com
here simply to make IT q pretext, IN the hop
that it will be refused and then, on the retu
sal, these States will be declared out Of tn
Uuou. A Senator from Georgia, once said
" hen traitors become numerous enough
treason would be respectable" Perhaps
is SO now; but, God being willing, let the;
be as many as they please, he commended
war against traitors and treason against th
GoVCrnment framed Dy our lalhersi ana We IL
tend to continue it to the end Applause
the galleries Now we are in the midst Of
civil war blood has been spilled and life sacr
feed. Who commenced it? Yet now vel
told that We must come forward and separa'
the urion, and make peace with traitors al
rebels! Let them ground their arms, oot
the laws, and acknowledge the Constitution
Then, perhaps, we will talk about compr
mise. The best compromise is the Copsti.
tion of the United States.
lie referred to Mr. BreckiCridge's speec
that il is desired 10 change the Governmen
aud quoted from Alabama papers that
manarchy was desirable, aud from NJ
Russelrs letter to the London Times. l.
also quoted the Richmond papers, that sal
rather than submit to the United State
they would 60 under the rule of the emiab
Queen of Great Britain. He quoted fro
Memphis paper, which said if it be nece
sary let Harris be the king and the mayor
Mempbis dictator. That state of thing
under the law of terror, now reigns. lsha
q. Harris king King over the State
Tennessee, where lie the bones of the immC
tai jackson! Isbsm G. Harris king
know the component parts that form lsha
u. Harris aud he to be my king-my mi